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Originally Posted On: https://robisonortho.com/blog/dentists-vs-orthodontist/
Dentist vs. Orthodontist: Making the Right Choice
Properly caring for your teeth, gums, and jaw is an important task that you don’t need to do alone. In fact, there are a number of different specialists who can all play a part in maintaining your oral health. Most people will see both a dentist and an orthodontist before they reach age ten.
So, what’s the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist, and how can each help you maintain your oral health? While both practice areas are primarily focused on your teeth, there are specific roles that make each unique. Understanding their respective roles can help you determine whether you need to see a dentist or an orthodontist for your specific circumstance.
Let’s explore dentistry and orthodontics and see why each exists separately to help you care for your teeth.
What Is a Dentist?
Dentists are also known as general or family dentists because they specialize in caring for and treating general oral problems. A dentist is also responsible for helping educate their patients on preventative measures to reduce the risk of cavities, gum disease, and other issues related to oral hygiene. Most people visit a dentist every six months or so for routine checkups and cleaning in keeping with good dental practices.
The education of a dentist is extensive, including an undergraduate program of study as well as post-graduate study. Licensing requirements to become a dentist vary from state to state, but in all cases in the United States, dentists have studied for an above-average amount of time in order to treat patients.
What Is an Orthodontist?
Orthodontists are also involved in dental care but have a specialized focus on movement. This movement can pertain to teeth, jawbones, facial bones, and even soft tissue in the mouth. Oftentimes, orthodontists are associated with the provision of braces for patients who need to straighten their teeth. However, braces are not the only way an orthodontist provides care – orthodontists can recommend braces, clear aligners, apparatuses to move the jaw and palate, retainers, whitening treatments, and much more.
Orthodontists focus on the overall alignment of the mouth, not only to ensure that it looks pleasing to the eye but also to ensure overall mouth comfort. They can focus on bite, the setting of the teeth, and more. As it takes time to move teeth, bone, and soft tissue, orthodontic work is typically accomplished over an extended period of time rather than in one appointment.
Can a Dentist Do Orthodontics?
A dentist may offer orthodontic services, especially applying braces to correct teeth alignment or even installing a spacer to prepare your mouth for braces, but even so, they are not an orthodontist. Orthodontists are the only ones with extended training and education regarding teeth alignment that goes above and beyond dental education. As such, an orthodontist is the best option for even the most basic alignment problems.
In many cases, a dentist may work with an orthodontist to treat a patient. Since a dentist is primarily concerned with the health of the mouth and an orthodontist with alignment, both can provide essential services to one patient in tandem. Often, general dentists will refer a patient to an orthodontist when alignment issues become apparent, but this is not always the case.
As the patient, the decision of who to allow to treat your oral problems is an important one. First, you should understand why an orthodontist is more qualified than a general dentist to work on alignment issues and the movement necessary to fix them.
Dentists and Orthodontists: The Educational Differences
While dentists and orthodontists both complete an impressive amount of education and obtain plenty of real-life experience before they ever start practicing, it is important to note that there are differences in the training they receive. Both dentists and orthodontists are required to graduate from dental school. However, afterward, an orthodontist studies for an additional two years or more in a program where they learn about orthodontics.
In some cases, dentists spend a short amount of time studying and learning about the topic of teeth and jaw alignment. However, this cannot be compared to the years that orthodontists have dedicated to studying the subject of their specialization. They are more familiar with the complexities that come with the practice, whereas dentists typically have only a general understanding of what’s involved.
Where Do Dental Hygienists Fit In?
Another term you may be familiar with is “dental hygienist.” A dental hygienist is a licensed oral health provider who is responsible for performing a wide array of functions within the dentist’s office.
Some of these can include:
- Teeth Cleaning – The dental hygienist typically cleans your teeth, removing plaque and tartar and polishing your teeth.
- X-Rays – A dental hygienist may take x-rays of your teeth.
- Administering Anesthesia – If you need your mouth to be numbed for tooth extractions or to have a cavity filled, the dental hygienist can administer this medicine.
- Administering Fluoride Treatments – Dental hygienists can administer fluoride treatments of various types after your teeth are clean.
Dental hygienists do not take the place of a dentist but rather work alongside the dentist. The dental hygienist’s role is to focus primarily on preventative care, helping you keep your teeth clean so that cavities and oral diseases never come to fruition.
Dental hygienists have likewise spent years of time studying to fulfill their duties, but not to the extent of a dentist or orthodontist.
When To See an Orthodontist
Orthodontists have spent significant time studying, analyzing, and learning to understand everything about teeth and jaw alignment. This area of study is extremely specialized and detailed, meaning that not just anyone can know the best course of action for any given issue. It takes experience to know what is best for each patient.
Because of this, there are some very specific circumstances in which it would be helpful to consult the help of an orthodontist rather than a dentist. Their specialized training sets them apart and makes them better equipped to care for and treat alignment issues.
These include:
Overbite
An overbite refers to a particular misalignment of the teeth in which the teeth in the upper jaw overlap the teeth in the bottom jaw. If this issue is left alone and untreated for an extended period of time, it can result in jaw and face pain, cavities, and even gum disease. It can even affect the overall structure of your lower face, leading to even more issues.
Underbite
An underbite is a misalignment of the teeth as well, but in this case, the teeth in the lower jaw overlap the teeth in the upper jaw. This is the result of the jaw being unnaturally protruded. If an underbite is severe enough, it can also lead to jaw and face pain as well as gum disease.
Crowded Teeth
This is also sometimes referred to as malocclusion. In cases involving crowded teeth, the teeth are simply too big for the mouth. As they crowd one another, it can become difficult to keep your teeth and mouth clean, thus resulting in a myriad of problems, such as cavities and oral diseases. It can also hinder the teeth from aligning properly. The most typical way to treat this is through the implementation of braces.
Crossbite
Crossbites are considered to be a form of malocclusion in which the teeth are misaligned in such a way that the upper teeth fit into the lower teeth. There are various reasons behind why this may happen, but it should be corrected when it does. If left untreated, a crossbite can cause the jaw to shift or even grow incorrectly, wearing down the enamel on the teeth and more. An experienced orthodontist can implement braces and other solutions to solve this issue.
Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth refer to the case in which an individual’s teeth simply are not straight. Similar to crowded teeth, this issue can make it difficult to maintain a clean oral environment because it can be difficult to get to all the right places with a toothbrush or floss. Braces are the primary way to treat crooked teeth, which is the responsibility of an orthodontist.
This is not an extensive list of issues that require the attention of an orthodontist. Any issues with your jaws or the alignment of your teeth could be addressed by an orthodontist. In some cases, your dentist and orthodontist may even work together to solve a particular problem. Regardless of whether or not your dentist refers you to an orthodontist, acquiring their analysis and opinion can be helpful in such cases.
Treatments an Orthodontist Can Offer
An orthodontist is licensed to offer an array of treatments to help with alignment issues. Depending on your case and its complexity, there may be multiple steps that need to be taken in order to ensure that your mouth is properly aligned and that there will not be issues in the future as a result.
Some of the ways an orthodontist can help with your alignment include the following.
Braces
There are many different forms of braces that are available now, including clear braces, ceramic braces, and traditional metal braces. Orthodontists offer braces for individuals with alignment issues, teeth crowding, and more to correct those problems gradually over time. When you have braces, you will typically see your orthodontist periodically to ensure that progress is being made. Almost anyone can wear braces, from children of an appropriate age to adults who wish to straighten their teeth and improve their dental health.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a clear, plastic orthodontic device that does a similar job as braces. Invisalign works to straighten and adjust the teeth via clear plastic trays that fit over the teeth. They are custom-made to fit each patient’s mouth and are changed out every week or two to progressively move the teeth into position.
Spacers
Spacers are small rubber or metal objects that are placed in between teeth in order to create space. They are typically administered so that there will be space for other orthodontic materials, such as braces, later on. They may also be used in children in cases where some baby teeth have come out, and permanent teeth have yet to grow in.
Retainers
Retainers are administered after a patient has had braces in order to maintain the progress that has been made by the braces. Each retainer is molded and fitted specifically to each patient. Because mouth tissue moves over time, something is needed to ensure that teeth do not regress back into their original positions after administering braces. Retainers work to prevent movement after braces.
Early Alignment Treatment for Kids
There is no specific age at which children must begin orthodontic treatments, but the American Association of Orthodontics advises that children visit an orthodontist around the age of seven. At this stage, an orthodontist may be able to take preventative action to guide a child’s oral health in a positive direction that may save time and money in the future.
This is not an exhaustive list of all services an orthodontist may provide. It is, however, a general list of things you may want to have taken care of by an orthodontist rather than a dentist due to their varying levels of expertise, education, and experience.
Can My Dentist Straighten My Teeth?
As stated previously, some dentists are licensed to offer certain limited orthodontic practices. In some cases, your dentist may offer to put in a spacer or braces to help with your teeth alignment. However, there is a reason specialized orthodontic practices exist. The additional education of an orthodontist better equips them to assess your situation properly and offer a course of action that is personally suited to your specific case.
An orthodontist may also have more suitable equipment at their disposal. Because an orthodontist focuses only on alignment, their resources are likely more extensive than most dentists’.
Overall, oral care and treatment are not a matter to be taken lightly. When it comes to your teeth and jaws, issues such as misalignment can go on to cause more long-lasting, serious, and expensive issues in the future. By ensuring that you are being treated by an orthodontist specializing in treating issues such as yours, you are saving yourself from potential heartache and expenses.
Is an Orthodontist More Expensive Than a Dentist?
People often assume that orthodontic treatment is more expensive than regular dental treatment. This can be true when the issues at hand are more complex than general cleanings and fillings. In addition, an orthodontist has more training and expertise than a general family dentist and applies orthodontic equipment.
However, the cost of the treatment must be considered in light of the big picture. When you go to an orthodontist for braces, spacers, or to get help with other alignment-related issues, you are experiencing the expertise of a professional who has completed many of these procedures before and is more familiar with the process than a general dentist will be. This means that the potential for any issues will be much lower.
So, can a dentist do orthodontics? To some extent, yes. That does not, however, mean that you should only consult your dentist regarding orthodontic problems. There cannot be a price put on your health, and choosing the best type of medical professional for your situation can end up saving you money in the future.
Schedule Your Robison Orthodontics Consultation
If you think you may have an issue with the alignment of your teeth or jaws, it is important to get the opinion and analysis of someone who is familiar with and trained to treat these problems. While it may seem easier to rely on your dentist for help, they do not have the extensive education necessary to address the issue quickly and easily. Reach out to Robison Orthodontics today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how we can help you.