Can You Switch Orthodontists in the Middle of Treatment?
Yes. You can switch orthodontists at any point in treatment, whether you are moving, unhappy with your care or your orthodontist is retiring. The new orthodontist will need your records, a fresh examination and a little time to understand where your case stands before continuing. It is more common than most patients think.
A switch does not mean starting over. In most cases the work already done carries forward, and the new practice picks up from where your teeth are now. What does change is usually the paperwork, sometimes the appliance and occasionally the plan. This guide covers why patients switch, the steps to take, what happens to braces and aligners, how fees and insurance are usually handled, and how to choose the practice that takes you on.
Why Do Patients Switch Orthodontists Mid-Treatment?
The reasons fall into a few categories, and most of them have nothing to do with the quality of care.
Moving to a new city or country
Relocating for work, school or family is the most common reason. Patients moving to Los Angeles from abroad can read our guide to orthodontics in California for overseas patients.
Your orthodontist retires or sells the practice
When a practice changes hands, some patients prefer to move rather than continue with an unfamiliar team.
Concerns about care or communication
Treatment that seems to have stalled, questions that go unanswered or a sense that nobody is accountable can all prompt a change. Raise your concerns directly first — sometimes that resolves them.
Wanting a different approach
Some patients want to move from braces to aligners, or the reverse, and their current practice does not offer the option they want.
Practical changes
A new job, a new school or a change in schedule can make an office that once worked impractical over the months that remain.
What Are the Steps to Switch Orthodontists?
A smooth transfer usually follows the same sequence.
1. Choose your new orthodontist before you leave
Arrange the new practice first, so there is as little gap in care as possible. Long gaps are where treatment tends to drift.
2. Tell your current orthodontist
Let them know you are transferring. A professional practice will help, and it gives them the chance to update your records before you go.
3. Request your records in writing
Ask for your original diagnosis, treatment plan, progress notes, scans, X-rays and photos, plus details of your current appliance. You are entitled to copies of your records, and most practices can send them directly.
4. Settle the financial details
Ask for a statement of what you have paid and what treatment it covered. You will need it for the new practice and for any insurance claim.
5. Book a transfer consultation
The new orthodontist examines you, reviews your records and explains how they would continue. Only then can they give you a reliable plan and fee.
What Happens at Your First Visit With a New Orthodontist?
Expect a full assessment rather than a quick handover.
A fresh examination and records
Even with recent records, the new orthodontist will want to see your teeth for themselves. At BHO we use 5D iTero digital scans to capture exactly where your teeth are today.
A review of your original plan
They compare where you started, where you are now and where the original plan was headed. That shows how much progress has been made and how much remains.
Their own diagnosis
A new orthodontist takes responsibility for the result, so they will form their own view. Sometimes they agree with the original plan entirely; sometimes they suggest changes.
A clear plan for the rest of treatment
You should leave knowing what will happen next, roughly how long it will take and what it will cost to finish.
Questions worth asking at the transfer visit
Ask how far along the new orthodontist thinks you are, whether they would change anything about the original plan and why, which appliance they would continue with, how often you will be seen and who will treat you at each visit. Clear answers to those questions are the best sign that you have chosen the right practice to finish your treatment.
What Happens to Braces or Aligners When You Switch?
This depends on the appliance and on what the new practice uses.
| Situation | What usually happens | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Metal or ceramic braces | Often continued, with brackets or wires changed where needed | Will you keep my current brackets? |
| Clear aligners | A new scan and a new aligner series under the new provider | Can my remaining plan be transferred, or will you start a new series? |
| Lingual braces | Depends on whether the new practice treats that system | Do you treat my appliance, and if not, what are the options? |
| Near the end of treatment | Final adjustments, then retainers | What is left before I can finish? |
| Early in treatment | May be an opportunity to review the approach | Would you treat my case differently? |
Braces
Bracket systems differ between practices. A new orthodontist may keep your existing brackets, replace some or change wires to suit their approach.
Aligners
Aligner treatment is tied to a specific provider’s plan. When you transfer, the new orthodontist will typically take a new scan and design the remaining stages themselves. Our Invisalign page explains how we plan aligner treatment.
Lingual and specialty systems
If you have behind-the-teeth or another specialty appliance, ask the new practice early whether they treat it. BHO offers InSmile lingual treatment.
How Do Fees and Insurance Work When You Transfer?
Money is the part of a transfer patients worry about most. Clear information removes most of the uncertainty.
Your new fee depends on the work remaining
The new practice sets its fee based on what is left to do, which it can only judge after examining you. Expect the fee to be discussed after the transfer consultation, not before.
Ask your old practice about any balance
Depending on your agreement and how far treatment has progressed, you may have a balance owed or a credit. A clear statement makes that conversation simple.
Check your insurance before you move
Orthodontic benefits often have limits and conditions. Call your insurer to find out how a transfer affects what remains of your benefit.
Ask about payment options
Many practices offer payment plans. BHO has a payment calculator to help you estimate monthly costs.
How Do You Choose the Right Practice to Take Over?
A transfer patient needs a practice comfortable picking up someone else’s work.
Experience with transfer cases
Ask how often the practice takes over treatment in progress. Our Invisalign before-and-after page includes a patient who came to us after treatment elsewhere had left him unhappy with his smile.
Clear communication from the first visit
You should understand exactly where your case stands after the consultation. If you leave confused, keep looking.
Experience with your appliance
A practice that already treats your appliance can usually continue with fewer changes.
Honest answers about what they would change
A good practice tells you plainly if it would have treated your case differently, and whether changing course now is worth it. Be wary of a practice that criticizes your previous orthodontist without explaining the clinical reasoning behind the criticism.
A convenient location
You still have visits ahead of you. BHO has four Los Angeles-area locations, which helps when work or school moves you across town.
What If You Have Already Stopped Treatment?
Some patients do not switch so much as stop: they move, life gets busy and months pass without a visit. That situation is more common than people admit, and it is fixable.
Get seen as soon as you can
Teeth with braces on and no adjustments, or aligners left in a drawer, do not stay put. The sooner an orthodontist sees you, the less ground there is to recover.
Do not restart old aligners on your own
If you have unused aligners from an old plan, do not simply pick up where you left off. Your teeth may have moved, and an aligner that no longer fits can do more harm than good.
Expect a fresh plan
After a long gap, the new orthodontist will treat your case as it is now. Sometimes that means a short finishing phase; sometimes a new plan. Either way, you will not be judged for the gap.
Keep wearing retainers if you have them
If treatment had finished and you simply lost touch with the practice, keep wearing any retainers you have until you can be seen.
How Do You Make a Transfer Easier for a Child or Teen?
Children and teens can find a change of orthodontist unsettling, especially alongside a move.
Explain what is changing and what is not
Tell them their treatment is continuing, just with a new team. Most of what they are used to doing stays the same.
Bring them into the first visit
Letting your child meet the new orthodontist and ask questions helps them feel in control of the change.
Keep the routine going in between
Brushing, elastics, aligner wear and food rules should continue during the gap between practices. Consistency makes the handover much smoother.
Ask about school-friendly appointments
A new school schedule is a good moment to set up appointment times that cause the least disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions About Switching Orthodontists
Will switching orthodontists set my treatment back?
Usually not significantly, as long as the gap between practices is short and your records transfer. Some cases need adjustments while the new orthodontist settles into the plan.
Do I have to tell my current orthodontist I am leaving?
It is best to. It lets them prepare your records and settle your account, and it keeps the transfer professional on both sides.
Can I switch from braces to Invisalign when I change orthodontists?
Sometimes. It depends on your bite and how far treatment has progressed. The new orthodontist will tell you whether the change makes sense for your case.
Is it normal to switch because I am unhappy with my care?
Yes. Raise your concerns first, but if they are not resolved, moving to a practice you trust is a reasonable decision.
Transferring to BHO — Free Consultation
If you are moving to Los Angeles or looking for a new orthodontist partway through treatment, bring your records and we will tell you exactly where your case stands. Request your free consultation at any of our four Los Angeles-area locations, or call or text us at (310) 785-0770.