Private orthodontist but seen by orthodontic therapist

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I just wanted to get a feel for whether this is normal. My dd needed braces, and the NHS waitlist was two years in our area. As she’s nearly 16 we decided to go private. We went to a consultation with an orthodontist who seemed great and agreed to a treatment plan of fixed braces.
we went to the initial appointment today and she had the braces fitted etc. It was a different lady so I asked if she was the orthodontist who was going to be in charge of her treatment. She replied that she was an orthodontic therapist. I was a bit taken aback as we are paying quite a lot for this treatment, and it was never mentioned that we wouldn’t be seeing a qualified orthodontist for the appointments.
I checked with the lady on reception and told her that it hadn’t ever been mentioned to me that we wouldn’t see an orthodontist at the appointments and she said that we would only see her at every 3 or 4 appointments, but that she was overseeing the treatment.
I’m feeling pretty annoyed to be honest… is this normal??

In my case the therapists seem to do the grunt work ie attach brackets and inset wires etc. however we are seen and reviewed every appointment by the main orthodontist which is about every 8 weeks. She then explains what the next stage is, how well teeth are being cleaned etc.

So no not usual if you don't see them every time

This was standard practice when I had my braces 16 odd years ago and I was a private patient also.

Not private but under NHS I am with a consultant orthodontist. Occasionally see the therapist who changes bands and wires etc. What odds does it make when both are more than capable of doing the job? Your daughter will have a beautiful smile at the end of it. The main will oversee the care plan

Thanks for your replies everyone- that makes me feel better. I think one thing I would have liked was to see the orthodontist at the initial appointment yesterday as they were fixed on, so she could explain what’s happening at this initial stage etc. Anyway, one of the metal squares has already fallen off, so I guess we’ll be back there this week and maybe I’ll see her then!

It's understandable that you're concerned about your daughter's treatment. In the Netherlands, it's common for an orthodontist to establish the treatment plan and oversee the process, but daily procedures may be carried out by an orthodontic assistant or orthodontic therapist. This is often efficient and cost-effective.
If you live in Amsterdam and are looking for more information or an alternative, you can visit a specialized practice like orthodontics amsterdam. There, experienced professionals will be happy to answer all your questions and provide more clarity about their approach.