Orthodontists Dentists

In the world of dental and oral care, dentists and orthodontists are two completely different but very similar dental care professionals. In fact, they’re so similar that people often confuse one for the other. Dentists and orthodontists provide services that can help individuals improve their overall health and the quality of their smiles. But in seeking dental care, you must understand the distinctions between these two professionals. That way, you’ll be better prepared to choose the right one for you based on your unique needs. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between orthodontists and dentists.

Who is a Dentist?

A dentist is a dental professional that is trained and certified to provide day-to-day dental and oral care for patients. Dentists are expected to have completed undergraduate study and four years of dental training. Dentists are licensed to provide general oral care to patients, treat abnormalities or diseases and perform restorative work. Dentists also see patients routinely to examine them and offer preventative care and education where necessary.

Educational Requirements

The journey to becoming a dentist begins with getting a bachelor’s degree in an undergraduate school. This is then followed by professional dental training at a dental school. Typically, this professional dental course takes about four years. Usually, the first two years of training in a dental school are theoretical (in classrooms and labs). Then for the last two years of their training, dentists work with patients in a residency program under the supervision of senior professionals so they can gain practical knowledge.

After completing their dental degree, dentists get a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD) degree. Either of these two certifications confirms that the dentist has completed their dental degree at an accredited dental school. In addition to this certification, dentists are also required to write and pass the national licensing exam. Passing the National Dental Examination gives the dentist license to practice as a dentist anywhere in the country.

What Type of Care Do Dentists Provide?

Dentists are doctors that take care of your teeth and provide general oral care. They’re generalists trained to treat a wide range of oral problems or provide simple routine checkups and care.

A certified dentist is trained to diagnose and provide treatment for health conditions that affect the gums, teeth, tongue, and mouth in general. Some of the dental and oral care provided by dentists include:

  • Filling cavities
  • Tooth extraction
  • Repairing cracked teeth
  • Teeth filling and bonding
  • Treating gum diseases and infections
  • Teeth whitening
  • Installation of dental crowns and veneers
  • Performing oral surgery

Within the world of dentistry, dentists may focus on cosmetic care, which is focused on creating and restoring patient smiles. Some dentists also focus on family and kids’ dentistry which involves overseeing the development of children’s teeth and providing focused care for children and teenagers.

When Do You Need to See a Dentist?

Your dentist is a general dental care practitioner who you need to see on a regular schedule. Generally, experts recommend visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup. Regular visits to your dentists like this help to detect and prevent potentially serious dental and oral health issues that may cause problems if left unattended.

Dentists provide general preventative care but are also there for restorative treatment. This means if you’re feeling tooth pain, in need of a tooth extraction, dealing with tooth decay, inflammations, or infections, you’ll have to go in to see your dentist. They also provide cosmetic care such as teeth whitening, filling, bonding, and other related treatments to make your smile look better.

Who is an Orthodontist?

If the dentist is like a general practitioner, an orthodontist can be compared to a specialist. They’re basically dentists with specialized training that allows them to treat tooth and jaw alignment issues. Orthodontists specialize in very specific treatments. Although having basic dental training means they can also diagnose and treat various oral health conditions, the work of an orthodontist is focused on ensuring that your teeth and jaws are aligned correctly.

Educational Requirement

The educational journey of an orthodontist is similar to that of a general dentist at the onset. They start with a pre-dentistry degree and then proceed to a dental school for a four-year training program. Like general dentists, they also are required to take a certification test and get licensed.

After completing their basic four years of dentistry training, orthodontists go for a residency program that may take between two and three years. This residency program equips them with additional knowledge of orthodontics and also allows them to get a specialty certification in orthodontics.

What Type of Care Does an Orthodontist Provide?

An orthodontist is a dental professional who specializes in correcting teeth and jaw alignment issues. They’re specially trained to track the growth of facial bones and fix both major and minor issues caused by improper development. Orthodontists install braces, fixed space maintainers, aligners (such as Invisalign), jaw positioning appliances, palate expanders, and other dental appliances that can help correct the positioning of facial bones and teeth.

When Do You Need to See an Orthodontist?

Unlike general dentistry, orthodontics is specialized care. This means routine visits to an orthodontist may not be necessary unless you’re undergoing care. In most cases, people get referred to an orthodontist by their dentist. People dissatisfied with their smile or who desire healthier smiles visit orthodontics to improve their teeth alignment. Some of the issues that require orthodontic care include:

  • Overbites — people with overbites have their front teeth sticking out over the lower ones.
  • Underbites — this is the opposite of an overbite. In this case, the lower teeth extend forward over the upper ones.
  • Crossbites — crossbites occur when a person’s upper teeth do not come down properly in front of the lower teeth.
  • Crowding & spacing issues — crowding occurs when too many teeth are in a limited jaw space. Patients with too many gaps between their teeth may also need the services of an orthodontist.

In addition to these corrective treatments, orthodontists can also help track bone development in children to catch potential alignment issues in time. Generally, experts recommend that children be checked by an orthodontist before age 7 to see if they’ll need orthodontic treatment later.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. A dentist is the professional to see for general dental and oral care. An orthodontist, on the other hand, provides specialist care to help correct misalignment issues. So, if you’re dissatisfied with your smile or suspect teeth alignment issues, you’ll need to talk to an orthodontist. The good thing is you don’t have to struggle to figure out who is who; when you visit a dental clinic, you’ll be referred to the appropriate professional based on your unique needs. Or contact OMG Smiles directly to set up a consultation about your orthodontic needs.