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 the bites, occlusion and straightness of the teeth. A dentist is a doctor trained to specialize in the teeth, gums, nerves, and jaw. Orthodontists are also dentists, but their specialty in dentistry focuses on correcting bites, occlusion, which is the way teeth come into contact with each other, and the straighteness of the teeth.
Both dentists and orthodontists work on teeth and help patients deal with problems affecting the teeth, gums, and jaws. An important difference between them is education. Both graduate from dental school, but orthodontists must complete additional training. The differences should help you determine who to go to if you have dental problems.
If you are thinking about orthodontic treatment, you should consider your orthodontist. Orthodontists and dentists share a lot of similarities: they work together to help you improve your overall oral health, but they actually work in very different ways. Dentists cover a wide range of oral health issues. An orthodontist, on the other hand, is a dental specialist who focuses on issues such as straightening teeth and correcting inadequate bite patterns.
If you've been given an orthodontic appliance and you need to repair it, your orthodontist can help. A dentist can refer patients to their preferred orthodontist if it is determined that additional oral care is needed beyond the scope of general dentistry. To help you decide between a dentist and an orthodontist and determine which one is right for you, we will first highlight the main aspects of each of them and then explain the difference between dentists and orthodontists. In Australia, orthodontists must have at least two years of clinical experience as dentists before becoming orthodontists.
If you're trying to remember the differences between dentists and orthodontists, remember that dentists will help you with general oral care, tooth decay and gum disease, as well as with procedures such as tooth extraction, crowns or root canals. Orthodontists will help you correct the overbite, underbite, tooth crowding, and tooth alignment. An orthodontist is a licensed dentist who specializes in improving dental defects, such as overcrowded teeth, crooked teeth, and excessive or insufficient bites. The American Orthodontic Association recommends that children visit an orthodontist for a checkup no later than age 7.
Orthodontists and dentists receive the same training initially, but orthodontists complete their training after graduating from dental school. Here at Masterpiece Smiles, we hope to have helped clarify the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. Because alignment problems are unique to each patient, orthodontists use x-rays and photographs of the teeth to create individualized treatment plans, the AAO notes. While you may see dentists advertising orthodontic treatments, only a dental professional who has received appropriate training can be called an orthodontist.
To become an orthodontist, a dentist must complete at least two additional years of courses specific to the field of orthodontics. Your dentist must complete 8 years of higher education, while your orthodontist must complete 10 or 11 years to become a specialist. .
