Dentist vs Orthodontist: Which One Do You Need?
Just like with any other medical field, dentistry also has different specializations. One type of dentist is an orthodontist. While a general dentist and an orthodontist can both address dental and oral care, the latter specializes in anything related to teeth straightening. A dentist is whom you go to for your regular dental check-ups, while an orthodontist is whom you go to if you want to have braces.
To give you a clearer perspective, here is a brief rundown on the differences between a dentist and orthodontists:
Dentist
A dentist is a dental practitioner that you go to on a regular basis. These professionals are the ones who monitor your oral health and hygiene and determine what dental service you should have based on your issue. They deal with broad dental issues related to teeth, gums, jaw, and nerves.
People who have completed dental school and obtained their license can begin their practice as a general dentist immediately after.
You should consult a dentist if you have:
- Tooth decay
- Tooth cavities
- Fractured teeth
- Gum disease
- Jaw issues
Dentists answer to the clients’ most basic or common dental needs. They are the practitioners who do general dental services that you see in most dental clinics, such as:
- Dental fillings: Restoring a small decay-infected tooth using resin composite filling
- Dental crown: Restoring fractured or cavity-infected teeth by placing a crown over it
- Dental bridges: Restoring an area missing teeth with a porcelain bridge
- Implant restoration: Placing a crown on an implant
- Teeth whitening: Brightening teeth, especially after a restoration
- Dentures: Measuring and producing dentures especially made specifically for a client
Orthodontist
An orthodontist is a dentist that specializes in teeth alignment and malocclusion. They attend to clients who need services related to teeth straightening and treating jaw issues.
Unlike general dentists, orthodontists need to attend additional schooling and training after finishing dental school. They undergo training specific to their specialization.
You should consult with an orthodontist if you have:
- Misaligned teeth: incorrect position of teeth
- Crowded teeth: there are too many teeth at the dental ridge
- Spaces between teeth: gaps between teeth may be caused by a missing tooth or tooth that doesn’t “fill up”
- Overbite or buck teeth: upper front teeth stick forward
- Underbite: lower teeth stick too forward or upper teeth too far back
- Open Bite: space between the biting surface
- Temporomandibular problems (TMJ): concerns the joint that connects your jaw to your skull
People who wear braces and retainers consult orthodontists. Braces and retainers help your teeth have a pleasing appearance and encourage a healthier mouth by aligning your teeth, thus making it easier to clean and maintain. Orthodontists also provide other services, such as jaw repositioning appliances, special fixed appliances, lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expanders, and more.
Conclusion
Dentists and orthodontists are not entirely different from each other. In most cases, they work together to give the patient the best and most appropriate dental care. A dentist can examine your dental issues, and if they think that you need more specialized care and treatment for your case, they will refer you to an Orthodontist. Basically, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists.
If you are looking for top dentists in Charlotte, NC, take a look at our directory. You can find a dentist on our list based either on their location or on their specialty!
