Many people need to find an orthodontist on the weekend. Whether work or school schedules prevent a visit during normal business hours or an orthodontic emergency occurs, the weekend is often the only time available. Keep reading for tips on locating an orthodontist who takes weekend appointments.
Easily locate an orthodontist with weekend availability
Getting an appointment on the weekend is possible. However, not every practice offers weekend hours. People must look into practice hours before scheduling an appointment. Here are some good places to start looking for an available orthodontic practice.
Ask a local orthodontic practice
Due to the demand for weekend appointments, an increasing number of orthodontic practices are offering weekend hours. Practices with several orthodontists able to trade off weekend shifts can be the most likely to take patients on these days. It can be easier to find practices with hours on Saturday than Sunday. Saturday office hours can be more limited than those on weekdays. Popular local orthodontists who do not have weekend office hours may be able to recommend an orthodontist who does.
Look into dental clinics
Similar to urgent care, there are dental clinics with a staff of general dentists and orthodontists that cater to patients who need weekend appointments. While this type of facility is not as common, larger cities may have a few. Dental clinics like this typically accept same-day appointments and offer various payment options for those without insurance. It is important to note the medical professionals at traditional urgent care clinics are not able to perform the following common dental procedures:
- Pulling a tooth under braces.
- Applying orthodontic appliances.
- Repairing loose or broken orthodontic appliances.
- Orthodontic surgery.
Most orthodontic treatments require specialized training and should only be performed by a certified, licensed orthodontist. Also, avoid going to a traditional emergency room or hospital when these types of treatments are needed, as the medical staff at a local hospital will be unable to help except to provide temporary pain relief in the form of medication.
Use specialized websites
Some websites can help people locate orthodontists offering weekend hours in their area. Most of these sites, such as the American Association of Orthodontists, search a database for results in a specified region based on the zip code provided by the user. When using a website or search engine to help find an orthodontist, use specific search terms such as the word orthodontist or tooth extraction in addition to providing a city name or zip code. This can help narrow the search parameters and exclude medical professionals who cannot perform dental procedures.
Need care on the weekend?
Locating a dental professional for same-day or weekend treatments can be as simple as asking an orthodontist, finding a dental clinic, or using the right websites. It can be a good idea to find an orthodontist accepting weekend appointments before the need for one arises. This can prevent spending an entire weekend in pain or being unable to find the right treatment for a dental emergency.
Request an appointment or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at 703-391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.
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