Is an Orthodontist Different From a Dentist?

For many people, any health practitioner who deals with teeth is a dentist. With the numerous dentists purporting to provide the best dental health services within your location, it becomes difficult to access much needed dental treatments.

What some people may not know is that there are other dental health practitioners such as orthodontists. You will probably need the services of an orthodontist rather than those of a dentist.

Overall, both dentists and orthodontists have the same objective which is to safeguard and enhance oral health. All that differs is how each carried out their roles. Dentistry is a very wide field and has numerous branches chief among them orthodontics. A dentist can be an orthodontist but not all dentists are licensed to practice as an orthodontist.

Dentists and orthodontics have a similar object which is protecting dental health. Take note that an orthodontist can work in a dental office and even provide the services associated with dentists. Simply put, both the dentist and the orthodontist are both dental health practitioners who take care of teeth and gums.

The difference lies in the fact that the orthodontist will spend a little more time in school compared to the dentist. Orthodontist and dental surgeons will spend a few more years of training in school. An orthodontist specializes in treating patients who have tooth alignment problems and bite problems. Orthodontists will diagnose and treat bite and alignment problems using braces.

On the other hand, dentists provide services that preserve oral health and promote good oral hygiene. These services include treating tooth decay, treating gum disease, tooth whitening, performing root canals, crowns, bridges, and veneers.

It is important to know the differences between these dental health practitioners so as to identify the best placed to address your dental health issues. Basically, the dentists are more popular since they treat just about all dental issues. Orthodontists provide specialized care. Invisible Braces in Ottawa provides teeth alignment services, Invisalign and clear braces, and correction of bite problems.