Learning how to choose the right orthodontist comes down to four things: specialty training beyond dental school, a technology and appliance mix that suits your case, a communication style you trust, and a treatment philosophy that fits your family. Skill matters. So does fit. A free consult lets you evaluate both before you commit.
This is a decision your smile lives with for decades, so give yourself permission to ask questions, compare honestly, and take a few notes along the way. Dr. Jimmy Martineau and the team at Viva Orthodontics welcome families across Bountiful, UT and nearby communities at every stage of life, and the free consult is always a conversation rather than a sales pitch. When you’re ready, you can learn more about your options or schedule your visit. Hablamos español.
What Does Choosing the Right Orthodontist Actually Mean?
Choosing the right orthodontist means selecting a specialist who finished an accredited orthodontic residency, offers the appliance range your bite actually needs, and explains your diagnosis in plain language. The right match balances clinical credentials with everyday practicality: hours that work, warm communication, and a team your family feels comfortable seeing for a year or more.
Not every dental professional who straightens teeth is an orthodontist. That distinction is the first thing to understand.
Orthodontists complete dental school, then continue into a full-time residency in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics that typically runs two to three years. During that time, they study tooth movement, jaw growth, facial development, and the biomechanics behind every wire, bracket, and aligner. General dentists don’t complete this residency, though some take continuing education courses in aligner therapy.
A few terms worth knowing before you start comparing practices:
- Specialist: A dentist who has finished an accredited residency in a recognized specialty. In orthodontics, that means the American Dental Association-recognized program in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
- Board certification: A voluntary step beyond residency. The orthodontist submits finished cases for peer review by the American Board of Orthodontics and passes rigorous examination.
- ABO Diplomate: The title earned by an orthodontist who achieves board certification. Dr. Jimmy Martineau at Viva Orthodontics is a Board-Certified Orthodontist and American Board of Orthodontics Diplomate.
- Treatment coordinator: The team member who walks you through your treatment plan and what to expect at each stage.
Why Does Fit Matter as Much as Clinical Skill?
You’ll be visiting this practice regularly for a year or two, sometimes longer. Ask yourself practical questions.
Do the hours work around school and your job? What happens when a bracket pops off on a Saturday? Does the orthodontist explain the diagnosis in plain language, or rush through a sales pitch?
Families who feel heard tend to follow through on wear time, elastics, and retainer instructions, and that follow-through is what drives the confident smile you’re paying for.
Why Is the Free Consult Your Best Evaluation Tool?
Most orthodontic practices offer a complimentary first visit, which is the standard way to compare options without financial risk. You should leave that visit understanding your diagnosis, your appliance choices, and your estimated timeline.
At Viva Orthodontics, the free consult is built around education rather than persuasion, with no pressure and no sales pitch. Bring your questions. Bring your list. A good orthodontist welcomes both.
How to Evaluate an Orthodontist: A Step-by-Step Process
To evaluate an orthodontist, verify their specialty credentials, review before-and-after cases similar to yours, read patient reviews for recurring themes, book a free consult to compare plans, ask detailed questions about technology and timeline, then confirm retainer and emergency-care policies in writing before you sign anything.
Here’s how that works in practice.
Step 1: How Do You Verify Credentials and Residency Training?
Start with the basics: confirm the provider completed an accredited orthodontic residency, not just weekend aligner courses.
Board certification adds another layer. Only about one in three practicing orthodontists holds ABO Diplomate status, and the credential requires ongoing recertification. Dr. Jimmy Martineau is a Board-Certified Orthodontist who served in the U.S. military as both a general dentist and an orthodontist.
Step 2: What Should You Look For in Before-and-After Cases?
Photos tell you more than a website tagline. Look for cases that resemble your situation: severe crowding, an open bite, a crossbite, or adult retreatment.
Ask how long each case took, and find out which appliance was used and why.
Step 3: How Do You Read Reviews for Patterns Instead of Perfection?
One frustrated review means little. Ten reviews mentioning long wait times mean something.
Scan for themes around communication, chair time, team warmth, and whether people felt their confident smile matched what was promised.
Step 4: Why Should You Book a Free or Virtual Consult?
Compare at least two practices when you can. Bring the same questions to each so the answers line up side by side.
Virtual consults are a practical starting point when your schedule is tight, and many practices, including Viva Orthodontics, offer them.
Step 5: What Should You Ask About Technology, Appliances, and Timeline?
Questions worth asking:
- What imaging will you take, and what will it show?
- Which appliance options make sense for my case, and what are the tradeoffs?
- How often will I come in for visits?
- What’s the realistic range for total treatment time?
- Who handles my adjustments, and will I see the orthodontist each visit?
Step 6: What Should You Confirm About Retainers and Emergency Care?
Ask what happens after active treatment ends. A good practice has a clear retainer protocol, a follow-up visit schedule, and a plan for handling emergencies like a poking wire or a lost aligner.
Get these details in writing. A practice with a clear process should have no trouble putting it on paper.
Signs You’ve Found the Right Orthodontic Practice
You’ve likely found the right practice when it offers several treatment options, shows you your own imaging, screens beyond tooth alignment, welcomes orthodontics for all ages, and has a clear plan for emergencies.
Some signals show up quickly once you’re in the chair. Watch for these.
They present multiple treatment options. When a practice recommends the same appliance to every person walking through the door, that isn’t diagnosis, that’s a sales approach. Metal braces, clear braces, and clear aligners each have a place, and your orthodontist should explain which suits your bite and why.
They show you the imaging. X-rays, photos, and digital scans should appear on a screen while your diagnosis is explained. You should walk out with a written treatment plan, not a verbal summary.
They screen beyond tooth alignment. Airway and sleep concerns, jaw growth patterns, and bite-related headaches are all part of a complete evaluation, not just how straight your teeth look.
Choosing the right orthodontist is worth the extra research. Bring your list of questions, compare a couple of practices if you can, and trust your own read of the fit. When you’re ready to see how Viva Orthodontics measures up, schedule your free consultation with Dr. Jimmy Martineau today.
