Dentists and orthodontists both improve your smile. You go to a dentist to ensure your teeth are free from plaque build-up and your gums are healthy, but what if your dentist also performs orthodontics? Is there a difference between a dentist that offers orthodontic services and an orthodontist? Isn’t that the same thing? Read on to find out why an orthodontist is the better option for orthodontic treatment.

The Difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist

While each profession provides similar services and has a doctorate in general dentistry, only an orthodontist has completed extensive training beyond dental school. Basically, you could say that all orthodontists are also dentists, but you can’t consider all dentists orthodontists.

Orthodontists go through two to three years of additional training in diagnosing, preventing, and treating bad bites and jaw anomalies. Typical treatments an orthodontist provides include braces, clear aligners, retainers, and orthognathic surgery. Orthognathic surgery helps to fix extreme cases of jaw deformities.

Dentists, however, focus on treating oral health problems, such as plaque buildup, cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Most commonly, a dentist will perform services such as filling cavities, placing crowns and veneers, and whitening teeth.

Simply put, orthodontists specialize in straightening teeth, whereas dentists focus on the overall health of the gums, teeth, and nerves. Your general dentist may also provide orthodontic services, but general dentists do not have the extensive training that an orthodontist has completed. At Great Smiles Orthodontics, we can guarantee the skills and experience necessary to give you the best results possible.

Contact Great Smiles Orthodontics

If you want highly trained orthodontists to help you improve your smile, contact us today. We can perform a full oral evaluation and determine the right orthodontic treatment for your needs beyond what your general dentist can provide.