Dentists and Orthodontists: What’s the Difference?
You see a dentist twice a year. They clean your teeth and help keep your mouth as healthy as possible. But what about orthodontists? What can they do for you? While both dentists and orthodontists help keep your mouth healthy, they do so in different ways.
What are Dentists and Orthodontists?
A dentist is a doctor trained to specialize in teeth, gums, nerves, and your jaw. Orthodontists are dentists as well, but their specialty within dentistry focuses on correcting bites, occlusion, which is how your teeth come in contact with one another, and the straightness of your teeth.
What are the Similarities?
Dentists and orthodontists are similar in that they are dedicated to oral care and keeping your mouth happy and healthy. It’s important to remember that all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. In fact, orthodontists can work in a dental office and perform all of the same duties a dentist can, they just have additional schooling to allow them to specialize in orthodontics.
What are the Differences?
If you’re trying to remember the differences between dentists and orthodontists, just remember that dentists will help you with your overall oral care, tooth decay, and gum disease, along with procedures such as tooth extraction, crowns, or root canals. Orthodontists will help you with correcting your overbite, underbite, tooth crowding, and teeth alignment.
If you’re looking for more information on how an orthodontist can help you with your bite and tooth alignment, and transform your smile, contact Tri-Cities Orthodontics today to schedule a consultation. We have three convenient locations, one in Bristol, one in Johnson City, and one in Kingsport. Our goal is to help each and every patient help achieve their dream of straight teeth and a beautiful smile. We hope to hear from you soon!
References
https://www.smilesmadebeautiful.com/blog/2014/03/whats-the-difference-between-an-orthodontist-and-a-dentist