Orthodontists are Highly Trained Specialists

Orthodontists are highly trained specialists that have received 2 to 3 years of additional education after dental school in an accredited orthodontic residency program (as opposed to a few weekend courses for many general dentists).

The additional education an orthodontist receives concentrates on growth and development and in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of malocclusions.  This extra specialized training would be similar to the extra years of training a cardiologist would have in their medical residency after their general medical education.  Obviously, they would be much better prepared than your family physician to safely perform surgery on your heart and to properly react to any unexpected complications.

Another thing that differentiates an orthodontist from a general dentist is experience.  Because an orthodontist specializes in straightening teeth and creating beautiful smiles, they treat hundreds of new cases each year.  A general dentist on the other hand may see only a handful of cases per year in between all of the other things they are doing.  Due to an orthodontist’s combination of specialized training and greater amount of experience, the orthodontist is more able to recognize the difference between a simple case and a complex one.  Just as important, when a case becomes more challenging, orthodontists are more prepared to properly handle unexpected problems as they arise.

Lastly, there is the issue of value.  Based on the advanced training that orthodontists have and their experience treating patients with braces and Invisalign aligners, their fees usually are higher than those of general dentists.  However, as the old adage states, “you get what you pay for”.  As stated above, most general practitioners don’t have the expertise or the experience to treat cases efficiently.  Although it may be more affordable to have a general dentist straighten your teeth, the result likely will not be what you truly expected and the treatment time likely will be longer than if you had been treated by an orthodontist.

In closing, there are many well trained and highly capable general practitioners that can treat less complicated cases with great results.  However, there are many advantages to seeing an orthodontist when it comes to creating the beautiful smile that you’ve always wanted!

By Gary Reichhold, DDS

The post Why choose an Orthodontist instead of your Dentist to straighten your teeth? appeared first on Mount Diablo Orthodontics- Dr. Reichhold & Dr. Vargas.

Orthodontists on the other hand are one of nine different specialties within the field of dentistry. They specialize in the alignment of the teeth and jaws, taking into consideration the profile of the lips and the face. Orthodontists look at more than just how straight your teeth are. They slowly move the teeth and jaws to the proper position, allowing them to function properly so that you can eat, talk and breathe better. Since altering the position of the teeth and jaws can change your appearance, orthodontists look at the entire face instead of just the mouth like dentists.

All dental professionals go to four years of dental school and become dentists. They all have the knowledge and skillset to treat a wide range of dental issues. However, some dental students decide to continue their education after dental school. Only the very top students are selected to continue their education. These dental specialists complete an additional two to three years of rigorous schooling and clinical training beyond dental school. During those years, they focus solely on an area of specialty and become experts in their field. Therefore, it is important to note that although all orthodontists are dentists, not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.

Many people don’t know if their malocclusion should be treated by an orthodontist, or why it even matters. Some people would prefer to have their general dentist do their orthodontic work because they know their dentist well and it’s convenient. Although some dentists have taken an evening or weekend course to learn the basics of orthodontics, they don’t have the level of training and experience that orthodontists have. That’s why it’s important to have an orthodontist take care or your orthodontic needs rather than a general dentist. After all, you wouldn’t have your primary care physician do your back surgery would you?

By Dr. Gary Reichhold

The post What is the Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist? appeared first on Mount Diablo Orthodontics- Dr. Reichhold & Dr. Vargas.