Narrowed Orthodontists down to Caplan & Steinberg, but...
Jun 1, 2014 at 5:03am Edited
If you trust your regular dentist, you should look to him for a recommendation.
Our regular dentist sent his xrays to Dr Caplan so they didn't have to be retaken. He's conservative and doesn't like to expose kids to radiation unnecessarily. All three of my kids have been seen by Dr Caplan and he only took xrays on one of them (the one who is currently in braces, another kid had a spacer and the last kid will need braces eventually, but not for a few more years).
kraines said:
Our regular dentist sent his xrays to Dr Caplan so they didn't have to be retaken. He's conservative and doesn't like to expose kids to radiation unnecessarily. All three of my kids have been seen by Dr Caplan and he only took xrays on one of them (the one who is currently in braces, another kid had a spacer and the last kid will need braces eventually, but not for a few more years).
Same.
Both of mine have been/are Dr. Caplan's patients. I'm very, very happy with him, and the entire practice.
All my kids are in braces and I am happy with Steinberg who was recommended by our dentist. The office staff is great, very accommodating, even meeting us after office hours for emergency repairs for patient comfort. We are there approx once a week. Steinberg recommended different treatment for each kid, showing me with all his computer technology how the treatment will run. So far we have had a palate expander for one kid (that has not changed much since the 80s!), teeth removed for the next kid, a springy apparatus thingy for the third kid, and kid number four had braces at age 8 to allow room for new teeth to come in. So far, so good.
My boys have been going to Dr. Benard Gorkowitz in Livingston for many years. One had braces off, the other has a ways to go. Dr. G is awesome and he takes Sunday appointments. We've never had a problem.
Whichever dentist or orthodontist you use, please make sure that they use a thyroid guard when doing x-rays. It should be used for everyone, kids and adults alike, but the younger the patient the more important it is to use. A thyroid guard is NOT the apron they make you wear, that only covers the chest. The thyroid guard covers the neck area.kraines said:
He's conservative and doesn't like to expose kids to radiation unnecessarily.
What is Dr. Steinberg's first name? We need an ortho consult to see what we might be in for!
Another vote for Steinberg. Second child in braces, third one in a few months. In the five years since the first one's braces were removed they have tightened her retainer at no charge (she still wears it nightly). Office staff is great.
Interesting what you said about the x-rays. We brought our own panoramic xrays to both of them (and Kaswiner) for consults. Steinberg was the only one who noticed a problem that ultimately required surgery by an oral surgeon. He colorized the xray (no charge) to better highlight the problem. He spent an hour with us at the office and countless hours consulting with his colleagues and with radiologists. He then called us at home to tell us the experts' consensus. All before we ever spent a penny and before we ever committed to using him!
Bottom line, Caplan and Kaswiner looked at the same exact xray and didn't notice a thing. And if we had gone ahead with one of them, my child's jaw was likely to break without having had his problem fixed first by an oral surgeon.
To give Caplan's side of the story, after I told him what Steinberg found, he said, "I would have taken my own xray and discovered the problem if you had started with us." I didn't understand that because I brought a very recent xray with me.
Anyway, just one person's story. Lots of people love him. YMMV.
Bottom line, Caplan and Kaswiner looked at the same exact xray and didn't notice a thing. And if we had gone ahead with one of them, my child's jaw was likely to break without having had his problem fixed first by an oral surgeon.
To give Caplan's side of the story, after I told him what Steinberg found, he said, "I would have taken my own xray and discovered the problem if you had started with us." I didn't understand that because I brought a very recent xray with me.
Anyway, just one person's story. Lots of people love him. YMMV.
We are also Steinberg fans. Our dentist sent us to him for a couple of consults when teeth were coming in faster than palate/jaw was growing. I don't recall that those consults cost us anything. Jumping forward to the ortho planning, Steinberg had a multi-step plan, (retainer, braces, retainers) and we were able to pay upfront. The only extra I recall is a charge for a second lost retainer.
His routine visits are done after school, and there can be a bit of a wait, but the visits are quick. Installations and removals are during school hours, usually first thing in the morning.
Loved him and his staff.
His routine visits are done after school, and there can be a bit of a wait, but the visits are quick. Installations and removals are during school hours, usually first thing in the morning.
Loved him and his staff.
I mention this because I see several comments about Steinberg's staff, because it matters. We like Dr. Caplan, but don't care for some of his front office staff. Seems petty maybe, but they are the people a patient deals with most. We appreciate competence and professionalism, yet that is often lacking in our interactions. That was actually the feedback we received from others when we researched the practice as well, but didn't realize the impact it can have on the overall patient experience. I realize others may disagree and have had different experiences, but as a current patient, that was our experience FWIW.
Thank you, everyone. Cost isn't really an issue for something as important as this. It's just that Steinberg having provided advice only after taking and reviewing X-rays says a lot about his experience and what he will be like through out this process. I'm sure Caplan is great too, but Steinbergs more informed advice made me feel confidence in him.
Thx again for your feedback.
Thx again for your feedback.
Ride2day said:
I mention this because I see several comments about Steinberg's staff, because it matters. We like Dr. Caplan, but don't care for some of his front office staff. Seems petty maybe, but they are the people a patient deals with most. We appreciate competence and professionalism, yet that is often lacking in our interactions. That was actually the feedback we received from others when we researched the practice as well, but didn't realize the impact it can have on the overall patient experience. I realize others may disagree and have had different experiences, but as a current patient, that was our experience FWIW.
As with everything else, experiences will differ from person to person. For every rave about a doctor/dentist, there will be a complaint. It's the nature of the beast.
I've never had a problem with Dr. Caplan's front office staff. However, I can understand how, if you do, it will help propel you to another practice. I'm leaving a different practice - one where I've been a patient for a very long time - for this very reason.
Steinberg is a perfectionist, for sure. He takes all the time needed. My son's teeth were a complicated mess, and he has. Great smile now... But Steinberg would have done even more if we had let him.
Without reservation can recommend him
Without reservation can recommend him
Good experience with both front offices, but Steinbergs seemed more down to earth. Little things like these certainly do matter.
For those of you that are fans of Dr Steinberg, I just got a call that he is on medical leave. I called to see if he was still taking patients because I saw he had reduced hours. His partner, Dr. Chung is seeing the patients while Dr Steinberg is on leave. Does anyone have experience with him?
Aug 21, 2015 at 6:46am Edited
Yes! My son started with Steinberg and is now seeing Dr. Chung. Younger, very careful and non-alarmist. My son likes him a lot, and we will stay with him even if Dr. Steinberg returns. We are very pleased. (My daughter, who went elsewhere and had a less good experience, is jealous.)
Really like Chung's demeanor. Steinberg seems a bit ready to retire, IMHO, not that I personally see him much now that we are towards the end of process. But can't say enough about their office staff. Very professional, sweet and accommodating.
Swimmom said:
For those of you that are fans of Dr Steinberg, I just got a call that he is on medical leave. I called to see if he was still taking patients because I saw he had reduced hours. His partner, Dr. Chung is seeing the patients while Dr Steinberg is on leave. Does anyone have experience with him?
Oh no... Quite a few years ago he had cancer which requires a bone marrow transplant. I hope he's ok. Bothe my kids went to him and they have beautiful smiles. He's a great guy.
My guys were patients at that time. No complaints. And my extremely fastidious dentist only sends his adult patients in need of orthodontia to Steinberg or to a practice in Chatham.
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I've read the threads on orthodontists and Caplan appears to be favorite. However, my gut tells me to consider Steinbergs advice because his advice is based on X-rays, which he took for first consult. Caplan did not take X-rays during consult so he didn't see the underlying problems that older kid has. Caplan does take X-rays, but not during first consult and he charges for them. As great as both doctors seemed, Caplans consult seemed like a waste of time, because we were talking in the abstract with nothing real in front of us. That is a negative for me when deciding to chose one over the other.
So, those of you who have gone through this or are in the middle of this process, is my gut correct? Or at least going in the right direction?
My husband and I had braces in the 70s and 80s. Don't need to tell you that these are very different times!