Dictionary.com defines “commodity” as “An article of trade or commerce, especially a product as opposed to a service” by contrast a service is defined as an “act of helpful activity”.
To set the scene, if you call into “Mc Donalds” and buy a “Big mac” you purchase a commodity. By contrast if you visit your general medical practitioner when feeling unwell you avail of a service. The doctor examines you reaches a diagnosis and then gives you advice as to a solution to your problem. This may or may not involve the purchase of an appropriate commodity e.g a prescribed medication.
Unfortunately the manufacturers of various orthodontic appliances/treatments are relentless in their efforts to sell one solution to all patients. That is one solution (the marketed orthodontic appliance/ commodity) suits ALL patients.
Lets compare the way things are when you view orthodontics as a service as opposed to a commodity.
Orthodontics a service.– A patient attends an orthodontist who examines the patient reaches a diagnosis and then has a detailed discussion with the patient as to what they expect the treatment outcome to be. If orthodontic treatment is indicated, then a discussion can be had as to how to achieve the desired outcome. Utilising the most appropriate treatment. It is essential to understand that there are limitations to the scope of various orthodontic appliances. So it is only at this stage that the most appropriate appliance can be chosen.
So the treatment provided to the patient is only DETERMINED at the END of the process. That is the “shoe fits the foot.”
By way of contrast Orthodontics as a commodity– The treatment provided is DETERMINED at the START of the process. That is the appliance/treatment is the same for every patient regardless of their condition.This is like a shoe shop that stocks one size of shoe, or a pharmacy that dispenses only one type of medication. This often (obviously) results in poor orthodontic treatment outcomes, as the treatment is not tailored to the problem.
The solution is simple to attend an orthodontist , have a thorough examination , reach a diagnosis , decide on your wishes for the outcome of treatment , and then and ONLY THEN have a discussion about the types of orthodontic appliances which will achieve an optimal result in your case. If the appliance is chosen at the START Of the process the orthodontic results achieved can be very dissappointing.
This orthodontic blog was written by Dr John Buckley who is a specialist orthodontist at Clonmel Orthodontics in Riverhouse orthodontic practice in Clonmel County Tipperary, Ireland. They provide orthodontics to county Tipperary and the neighbouring counties of Waterford, kilkenny, Limerick and Cork , and beyond.
This orthodontic blog was written by Dr John Buckley who is a specialist orthodontist at Clonmel Orthodontics in Riverhouse orthodontic practice in Clonmel County Tipperary, Ireland. They provide orthodontics to county Tipperary and the neighbouring counties of Waterford, kilkenny, Limerick and Cork , and beyond.
Dr Buckley has practised as a specialist orthodontist in Clonmel for 20 years. In addition to his orthodontic qualifications which he held before he commenced orthodontic practice , Dr Buckley was awarded a First class masters degree in Lingual orthodontics from the University of Hannover medical school (MHH) in 2012. This masters degree is directed by Professor Dirk Wiechmann who is the inventor of both the incognito™ and win™ lingual appliances. Dr Buckley was the first orthodontist in Ireland to be awarded this qualification. In 2016 he was accepted as an active member of the European Society Of Lingual Orthodontics (ESLO). To become an active member it is necessary for candidates to submit the records of finished lingual cases. If the cases are deemed to be of a sufficiently high standard then the candidate is accepted as an active member of ESLO. Dr Buckley is the first orthodontist in Ireland to be accepted as an active member of ESLO.