What is an Orthodontist?
Orthodontists Are Dental Specialists that are Experts in Moving Teeth.
- Orthodontists diagnose, prevent, intercept, and treat dental and facial irregularities. These problems may include teeth that are crowded or too far apart, teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all, teeth that stick out, and mismatched jaws or skeletal problems.
- Orthodontists can treat existing problems, and can also identify problems that are developing. Resolving these problems before they fully develop is highly beneficial to patients.
- Orthodontists treat patients of all ages, they regularly treat children, adolescents, and adults.
Can a General Dentist Provide Orthodontic Treatment?
- Without any formal training, General Dentists can provide any dental service and procedure that they feel comfortable performing. However, General Dentists often focus on more general dental issues and have little to no experience or training to perform tasks that are specific to orthodontics. Typically a General Dentist might treat a few patients in dental school, but often, dental graduates do not feel comfortable doing orthodontics.
- Invisalign is often employed by General Dentists as a means to offer orthodontic treatment to their patients. The advantage of this treatment for dentists is they can rely on the Lab Technicians to establish the treatment plan to move the teeth. The Dentist needs only to follow the Lab's plan and monitor the patient periodically. Unfortunately, due to their lack of training and experience, General Dentists oftentimes assume the role of a rubber stamp, approving the tooth movement plans of the lab technicians. This can lead to less than ideal treatment results. Companies like Smile Direct Club and other DIY aligner companies have taken advantage of this disturbing trend.
- Some Dentists will take a weekend course to learn how to treat limited cases with braces. These type of course help dentists know how to place braces and treat very simple orthodontic cases.
- Practice makes perfect. A dentist that offers orthodontics may see 0-10 orthodontic cases a month. By contrast, an orthodontist sees anywhere from 60-90 cases in a single day! This kind of experience, and the knowledge that comes from it, gives an orthodontist an unmatched ability to focus on the details that make a truly beautiful smile.
How Does a Dentist Become an Orthodontic Specialist?
- To become a General Dentist: a student must complete 4 years of undergraduate education at a College or University, complete the DAT, Dental Admissions Test, a 4 hour and 15 minute test with questions about biology, chemistry, math, reading, and perceptual ability, complete 4 years of Dental School (this typically includes hundreds of hours studying the biological sciences, working in the dental lab, and practicing on dental patients), pass Part I and Part II of the National Dental Board Exam, and pass a regional hand-on Board Exam completing dental work on live patients.
- After completion of all of the above, Orthodontists spend an additional 2-3 years as residents at Dental Schools and Hospital Programs studying, training, practicing moving teeth, and learning the advanced principles involving creating beautiful smiles and excellent occlusion. Upon completion, they receive a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics.
Orthodontists are tooth moving experts! They have specialized training in moving teeth. They are experts at utilizing braces, clear aligners, and functional appliances to correct dental and skeletal abnormalities.
Still have more questions?
- Visit out Frequently Asked Questions
You might Also Like
Orthodontic Treatment for Children: Setting the Stage for a Healthy Smile
As a parent, you want the best for your child—including a confident, healthy smile. Orthodontic treatment for kids isn’t just about straightening teeth; it’s about catching issues early and guiding their growth for a lifetime of benefits. But when’s the right time to start, what problems should you watch for, and what treatments are out there? Let’s walk through it together so you can feel ready to give your little one’s smile the head start it deserves.
Read More
Orthodontic Treatment for Teens: Your Guide to a Stellar Smile
Orthodontic treatment for teens offers options like traditional braces, Damon Braces, clear aligners, and Herbst appliances, with durations typically ranging from 6 months to 2 years depending on the issue. Teens benefit from their growing jaws, achieving straighter teeth, better bites, and boosted confidence, all tailored to fit their busy, style-conscious lives. With the right care, the results—healthier mouths and awesome smiles—last a lifetime.
Read More
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults: It’s Never Too Late for a Perfect Smile
Orthodontic treatment for adults offers various options like traditional braces, Damon Braces, clear aligners, and lingual braces. Adults can achieve straighter teeth, improved bites, and better oral health, though factors like bone density and lifestyle preferences influence the choice of treatment. Modern orthodontics provides discreet, comfortable solutions tailored to adult needs, making it a worthwhile investment at any age.
Read More
Understanding the Herbst Appliance in Orthodontics: A Patient’s Guide
The Herbst appliance, developed over 100 years ago by Emil Herbst, is a fixed orthodontic device that corrects overbites by encouraging lower jaw growth and aligning the jaws and teeth, typically worn for 6-12 months. It’s most effective in growing patients and offers a reliable, non-surgical solution for bite issues, though it requires an adjustment period and diligent oral care.
Read More
Gentle Cavity Treatment for Kids: Exploring SMART & ART Techniques
Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) is a minimally invasive technique that gently removes decay using hand instruments with no drilling or numbing needed. The tooth is then restored with a tooth-colored filling or stainless steel crown for protection. Silver Modified Atraumatic Restorative Technique (SMART) takes ART a step further by applying Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to halt cavity progression before sealing the tooth with a filling or crown.
Read More
What are the benefits of expanders in young patients?
Rapid palatal expansion (RPE) is an effective orthodontic treatment for children aged 7-11, leveraging the unfused midpalatal suture to widen the maxilla, correct crossbites, create dental space, and prevent long-term occlusal and growth issues. Beyond dental benefits, RPE enhances nasal breathing, reduces obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, and may improve hearing, nocturnal enuresis, and vertical growth patterns, offering a high success rate with minimal invasiveness in this age group.
Read More
Mail-in and DIY Teeth Straightening
As a consumer, you will pay less for less. This may be appealing and not a bad treatment for someone that is only worried about "that one tooth" in the front that is rotated or "sticks out a bit." Ten to fifteen aligners may be all that it takes to straighten that guy out!
Read More
