Everyone knows that dentists play an essential role in helping you maintain a healthy smile. They thoroughly clean your teeth, conduct bi-yearly oral examinations, and perform certain procedures to keep your oral health in optimal condition. How about an orthodontist? Do you know what they do and when you should see one? Being well-informed on the services each one provides can help you decide on the right person to address your needs. That said, here’s a brief rundown on the key differences between an orthodontist and a general dentist.
What Does Each One Do?
Each dental professional is qualified and specially trained to provide different services for their patients. Let’s take a closer look at each one:
Dentist
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), dentists are known to treat a patient’s overall oral health. It’s important to visit one every six months for a checkup and cleaning because they can prevent, detect, or treat oral health problems before they become severe complications. Not only can dentists perform medically necessary procedures like root canals and tooth extractions, but they improve the appearance of your smile with cosmetic dentistry. If your dentist spots an issue they are unable to address, they’ll refer you to a specialist or physician as appropriate.
Orthodontist
Orthodontists specialize in aligning the jaws and moving the teeth. They’re qualified to offer treatments for crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, teeth that stick out, and jaws that don’t align properly. Many tools are available to address these orthodontic issues, including traditional braces, lingual braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic appliances. Since alignment problems vary from patient to patient, orthodontists use X-rays and photographs to develop individualized treatment plans.
Training Differences
Both orthodontists and dentists must complete four years of undergraduate education and four years of dental school. Afterward, dentists must pass certain exams before they’re qualified to practice. They can then decide to practice as a general dentist or pursue a specialty like orthodontics. A dentist must complete additional training to become an orthodontist, including a two-to-three-year residency and more than 4,800 hours of orthodontic training.
When to See an Orthodontist vs. a Dentist
Sometimes there’s an overlap in the services that each professional may offer. For example, in some states dentists are allowed to provide certain orthodontic treatments (i.e., braces) in addition to their usual services. However, orthodontists typically only provide treatments that fall within their specialty. So, when should you see one over the other? If you have an issue regarding your oral health, it’s best to see your general dentist for a diagnosis. If you have a problem with the alignment of your teeth or jaw, an orthodontist will be able to help.
While you may only see your orthodontist for the duration of your orthodontic treatment, you’ll visit your general dentist for a lifetime. Together, the two dental professionals can help patients achieve their happiest, healthiest smiles.
About the Practice
At Rauchberg Dental Group, we offer exceptional and compassionate dental care that’s guaranteed to exceed even your highest expectations. From standard checkups to orthodontic treatments, we have everything you and your family need to achieve optimal oral health. We have a full-time orthodontist on our team, meaning we’re more prepared than ever to assist your family at every stage of their dental development. To make an appointment, visit our website or call (973) 718-9887.