What's the Difference Between Orthodontists and Dentists?

You can choose to practice as a general dentist or dedicate yourself to a specialty such as orthodontics, which requires additional training, explains the California Association of Orthodontists (CAO). Approximately 6 percent of dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontic courses go beyond basic dental training and have a more specific focus. Additional education includes a two-year or three-year residency and more than 4,800 hours of orthodontic training.General dentists can sometimes provide orthodontic care to patients. However, there are some requirements before that can or should happen. Both orthodontists and dentists help patients improve their oral health, but in different ways. Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gums, nerves and the jaw, while orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on correcting teeth bites, occlusion and straightness. An important difference is that all orthodontists, such as Drs.Burk and Flinn are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists. Orthodontic treatment does more than move your teeth in a straight line. While one of the benefits of braces is undoubtedly having nicer teeth, orthodontists are trained to detect and correct complex bite and jaw problems that are normally beyond the skill level of general dentists. To understand a fundamental difference between dental care and orthodontics, you should know that not all dentists are orthodontists, but all orthodontists are dentists. General dentists are highly qualified professionals who care about the overall health, well-being, and beauty of your smile.Orthodontists are dentists who have received additional education to specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting teeth and jaws that are out of position. While a dentist may be trained to provide orthodontic care in addition to extractions, temporomandibular joint treatments and fillings, entrusting your smile to an orthodontist can better balance the different procedures you need. To learn more about the difference between dentists and orthodontists, or to schedule an initial consultation with Drs., The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that an orthodontist perform an evaluation at an early age, including the fact that initial treatment may offer results that won't be possible once your child's face and jaw have finished the growth process. In most cases, your dentist will recommend that you seek orthodontic care if needed, or that you work in collaboration with an orthodontist who will provide the type of care you need if you need more specialized treatment. Unfortunately, workshops and seminars lack the kind of tests and exams that would allow orthodontists to really learn the material in depth. And if you ever need treatment for crooked teeth or a problem that affects your bite, your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist.What this means in practice is that orthodontists offer treatments to correct crowded teeth, spaces between teeth, teeth that protrude, and jaws that don't align properly. Carrie regularly attends continuing education courses and is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Illinois Society of Orthodontists, and the Illinois State Dental Society. Many dentists will be much more familiar with developing short-term outcomes and treatment plans for crooked teeth, tooth pain, root canal, tooth decay, while orthodontists typically carry out long-term care plans for patients. Just remember that since orthodontists focus solely on orthodontic issues, they are much more likely to have experience treating specialized cases. Another difference is that orthodontists specialize in helping patients align their teeth, improve their bite, or place them in appliances and corrective appliances.While there are some similarities between orthodontists and dentists, there are also a number of differences that set them apart. Orthodontists and dentists receive the same training initially for crowded teeth, teeth whitening,teeth alignment, teeth cleaning, overall oral health, tooth movement, but orthodontists complete their training after graduating from dental school. Orthodontists continue their studies for two or three years after dental school and dedicate thousands of hours to specific classes on malocclusions, bone growth problems, jaw problems, craniofacial anatomy, biomechanics and more. Orthodontists often use tools and devices to help correct alignment and promote healthy jaws, bites, and smiles.