Dentists and Orthodontists: What is the Difference?
While your dentist may offer orthodontic services, leading you to assume that he or she is an orthodontist, putting aligners or braces on teeth does not make your dentist an orthodontist.
Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gums, and jaws, while orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that focuses on correcting bites. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.
Both dentists and orthodontists provide professional care to help their patients have good oral health. And both are dental school graduates. But dentists and orthodontists are very different when it comes to the alignment of your teeth.
Dentists and orthodontists undertake the same training initially, but orthodontists complete further training after they graduate dental school to become qualified in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of orthodontic problems. Orthodontists specialize in helping patients with the alignment of their teeth, improving their bite, and fitting them for braces and other corrective devices.
Not everyone needs to have orthodontic treatment, but it may be required if you have any of the following issues:
Crowding - Crowding of the teeth is probably the most common orthodontic problem. Although many factors contribute to dental crowding, this problem typically stems from a discrepancy between the space in each jaw and the size of the teeth.
Spacing - Spaces between teeth are another common problem associated with the need for orthodontic care. Like crowding, spacing may be related to a tooth-to-jaw size disharmony. Tooth size discrepancies, such as smaller teeth or abnormally shaped teeth can also create abnormal spacing.
Overbites - Also known as a deepbite, an overbite is excessive vertical overlapping of the front teeth and is often found in association with a discrepancy between the length of the upper and lower jaws. It usually results in excessive eruption of the upper or lower incisors or both.
Excessive Gingival Display - Also known as a gummy smile, this orthodontic problem gives the appearance of excessive exposed gums on the upper arch.
The benefits of having an orthodontist work on your smile goes beyond just having a beautiful smile. Well-aligned teeth make it possible to bite, chew, and speak effectively. If you are wondering if you should see an Orthodontist like Dr. Coleman to improve your smile…give our Syracuse, UT orthodontic office a call to schedule your initial examination today.
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