Auckland Orthodontist – What to look for
Orthodontics

Auckland Orthodontist – What to look for

By March 25, 2022 No Comments

What to look for when considering treatment with a specialist orthodontist:

Proximity to your work, home or child’s school – consider that orthodontic treatment occurs over many months and requires many ongoing visits. For this reason, it is important to consider the proximity between your chosen orthodontist to your place of work, home or the school of your child. You should also assess the traffic around the area and the peak hours for traffic. Well organised specialist practices will carry out specific procedures at certain times of the day, meaning that a level of organisation is required when scheduling appointments.

Parking – consider how easy it is to park in the immediate vicinity of the practice and where the nearest car parks are. To allow you to decide how convenient your trips are likely to be with every treatment visit.

Use of technology and efficient systems – practices that focus on treatment efficiency are aligned with providing the highest standards of care. Generally, choosing a digitalised practice provides confidence that your specialist not only values principles and core of their chosen field of speciality but also on their focus for making it better.

Relationship – as orthodontic treatment is a long-term commitment, it is crucial to feel comfortable and ensure that the relationship with your providing specialist develops through trust and professionalism.

Questions and Answers – you should feel comfortable in asking any orthodontic questions that come to mind. The specialist’s job is to communicate key ideas about the jaw/bite/teeth problem(s) you have.

Communication – ensure that you feel respected, listened to and have all your questions answered before committing to this long-term relationship. Most specialists will require a set of measurements, photos, scans and X-rays to be taken so they can study every aspect of the teeth and bite to ensure successful orthodontic treatment.

Research – look up the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists website and ensure the practitioner you are seeing is a registered specialist orthodontist. In New Zealand, to be a specialist dental provider, you must be approved by the Dental Council of New Zealand and recognised as a specialist. People sometimes refer to themselves as a specialist in a treatment modality, but that is certainly misleading.

Cost – ask about a cost estimate to make sure you understand the commitment that is to follow. Insist on a one-off fee structure which should include all the treatment, reviews, adjustments necessary and retainers at the completion of the treatment. Know what you are paying for as often, a quote a low initial cost may have you paying for the adjustments/retainers separately. These end up costing much more than the initially quoted cost for the entire treatment.

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Dr. Adriana Perez

BDS (Ven/Esp) | MDS-Orth (Arg)
 
Dr. Adriana Perez grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. She is one of the registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland.

 

In 2008, Adriana graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. After graduation, she worked in Venezuela in private practice, at the Orthopaedic Children’s Hospital (Dentistry/Orthodontics unit), and as a lecturer in the National Experimental University of the Armed Forces.

In the year 2011, Adriana moved to Argentina to specialise, gaining the Specialist Orthodontist degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 2013. While in Argentina, she worked as a part-time lecturer at the Orthodontics Department in the University of Buenos Aires, private practice, and at the Craniofacial Unit in the Paediatric Hospital Garrahan, looking after cleft lip new-born, children, and adolescent patients.

Adriana is a Spanish speaker. On her spare time she likes going to the beach, travelling, socialising with friends, playing video games, cooking, and going to the gym.

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Orthodontist Adriana Perez

Dr. Azza Al-Ani

BDS | DClinDent | MRACDS-Orth | MOrthRCSEd

Dr Azza Al-Ani, grew up in Christchurch, is a registered specialist orthodontist working at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland. You can find her at one of the clinics in the city, or at their Takapuna clinic on the North Shore. 

In 2009, Azza graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Credit from the University of Otago.

She worked as a dental house surgeon at Auckland, Greenlane and Middlemore Hospitals; and as a dental officer at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.

In 2012, she completed the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS) primary examinations.

Before commencing her specialist training, she held a part-time Professional Practice Fellow position at the Faculty of Dentistry, while working as a dentist in private practice.

In 2016, Azza graduated from the University of Otago with a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Orthodontics. She passed examinations to gain memberships into the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

She is also certified with the Australasian Orthodontic Board, and is a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, and the New Zealand Dental Association.

Azza’s area of research interest is hypodontia.
She has presented about this topic at the European Orthodontic Society Congress, and at the International Association Dental Research ANZ Scientific Meeting, and has been involved in the publication of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Outside of work, Azza loves spending time with her son and Mo (her husband), socialising with family and friends, overseas travel, and tries to keep up with Mo mountain biking.

Dr. Mo Al-Dujaili

BDS | DClinDent | MRACDS-Orth | MOrthRCSEd

 

Mo is a Specialist Orthodontist. He grew up in both New Zealand and Australia.

After completing a year in Health Sciences, and later physiotherapy, he qualified as a dentist in New Zealand. He spent the next four years working alongside his father in Sydney where he practised general dentistry. Mo then returned to Dunedin to specialise, gaining his specialist degree – Clinical Doctorate in Orthodontics from the University of Otago.

During the three years of specialist training, Mo had the privilege of learning from the best. The combined clinical and academic acumen of professors, doctors and staff provided an invaluable experience.

Meanwhile, Mo published and presented significant research and clinical cases at both national and international forums, including the International Association of Dental Research, the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontics, the European Orthodontic Society and the New Zealand Dental Association conference.

A firm believer in maintaining high clinical standards, Mo successfully completed further examinations to become affiliated with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) and the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (Sydney).

Mo is currently a part time senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, a Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists and also holds professional memberships with the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists, the New Zealand Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontists.

He has also been involved in the supervising and lecturing of students at the Auckland University of Technology.

Outside of work, Mo enjoys the precious time with his young family and the outdoors. He especially loves mountain biking, running, fishing, diving and, in winter, snowboarding.

Traveling along with his best friend and wife (Azza) around the world has also been a big part of Mo’s life. Mo is primarily based in Shakespeare Orthodontic’s city clinics and on the North Shore.

 
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