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Home » What Is the Difference Between a Dentist and Orthodontist?

What Is the Difference Between a Dentist and Orthodontist?


Orthodontists and dentists are specialists in oral health care. General dentistry is the study of general dentistry. They can diagnose and treat problems in your mouth, gums, tongue, tongue, and teeth.

This training is also available to Orthodontists, who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of misalignments in your jaws and teeth.

This article will help you decide which doctor to choose.

Dentists are dentists. Most dentists attend college to obtain a pre-dentistry degree or pre-medical degree, before moving on to graduate school of dentistry.

Before becoming certified, dentists must be trained extensively in the practice of dentistry. Around 80 percent of dentists practice general dentistry.

Dental hygienists are trained to diagnose and treat any oral health issues, including gum disease, tooth decay, tongue problems, and other conditions. Dental hygienists are usually able to clean your teeth.

The following are the services provided by dentists:

Conduct and interpret dental radiographs
Fill cavities
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Extract teeth
Repair cracked teeth
Promote oral hygiene and good oral health
Fill and bond your teeth
Gingivitis is a gum disease that can be treated.
Prescribe treatment for any oral health condition, including prescription drugs
Whiten your teeth
Install crowns and veneers
Oversee the development of children’s dental teeth
perform oral surgery

Orthodontists can also be doctors of oral hygiene. They are technically a type of dentist who specializes in jaw and tooth alignment.

Orthodontists have the ability to diagnose and treat any oral health issues, including gum disease, tooth decay, and other conditions. Orthodontists are primarily concerned with ensuring that your jaw and teeth are properly set.

The following are the tasks of Orthodontists:

Monitor facial growth (jawline, bite) in children
Malocclusion is a condition where misaligned jaws and teeth are diagnosed and treated.
Create a treatment plan including braces and retainers
perform teeth straightening surgery
Install dental appliances such as braces and palatal expanders. Or, install Herbst appliances.

Orthodontists and dentists receive a lot of education. Before entering the practice of orthodontics, orthodontists must have an additional education certification.

Most dentists attend college to obtain a pre-dentistry degree or pre-medical degree, before going on to graduate school for dentistry.

As with all doctors, dentists must be well-trained in their field and have completed a residency to become certified. Passing a comprehensive exam is required to become certified.

Dentists, like all doctors, must be well-trained in their field. The classroom and the lab are where you will spend your first two years of dental school. The last two years are spent working with patients under the supervision and guidance of licensed dental schools.

To become licensed dentists, dentists must pass the National Dental Examination after they have completed dental school.

Pre-dentists and pre-medical majors are often pursued by Orthodontists before they enter dentistry school.

After passing the certification exam and dental school, orthodontic residents are required to complete an additional 2 to 3-year orthodontic residency program to earn a specialty certificate in orthodontics.

The American Board of Orthodontics states that orthodontists may practice once they have passed additional certification exams.

Your dentist is a general practitioner, and your orthodontist is a specialist. A visit to the dentist can resolve most common dental problems.

Your dentist can diagnose and treat tooth pain, tooth decay and tooth repair. Your dentist can also treat gum disease and other oral conditions like inflammation and infections.

Sometimes, a dentist may refer you to an orthodontist. An orthodontist may be needed to help with jaw malocclusion, tooth crowding and palate expansion.

To determine if braces are necessary, it is recommended that children under 7 years old be evaluated by an orthodontist. If you are an adult and have concerns about a crooked or misaligned jawline, it might be worth going straight to an orthodontist.

Even if you have insurance, not all orthodontic care is covered. Technically, an orthodontist can be considered a specialist. Sometimes, insurance companies will need to refer a dentist before paying for an appointment at the orthodontist’s.

Orthodontists and dentists are two types if doctors that have extensive experience diagnosing and treating dental conditions. Orthodontists can do things dentists cannot.

Additional training is given to orthodontists, which allows them to fit braces and correct misaligned jaws. Ask your dentist for a referral if you are unsure if an orthodontist is necessary.