Trust Your Smile to a Board-Certified Orthodontist
Long Beach, CA – With an increase in the use of treatments such as Invisalign, more dental offices are entering the world of orthodontics. However, it is important to know the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. To ensure you have the healthiest and most properly functioning bite, it is best to turn to a traditional orthodontic office for your care.
Every orthodontist is a dentist, but not every dentist is an orthodontist. The two start out on the same path – dental school. But once completing their dental degrees, a general dentist is ready to begin treating patients. But if a dental school graduate wants to be an orthodontist, as recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists, he or she must continue in an accredited specialty program for two or more years. After completing their specialty program, orthodontists have the option to take the board certification exam. Surprisingly, less than 30% of orthodontists are board certified, so this is also a very important distinction when selecting an orthodontist to treat your smile. Board certification requires the orthodontist to exhibit excellence in treatment standards in a variety of diagnostic areas, so receiving this certification signifies that an orthodontist is committed to providing the highest level of care possible.
There are other dental specialties in addition to orthodontics. Endodontists specialize in procedures such as root canals, periodontists specialize in treating gum disease, and pediatric dentists specialize in treating adolescent patients. While some general dentists may provide treatment that may fall under the category of a specialist, it doesn’t mean that he or she is a specialist. So, just because your dentist may offer some basic orthodontic treatment, it doesn’t mean he or she is an orthodontist.
But why does that matter? It is an important distinction because an orthodontist has spent the additional time learning the intricacies of how to properly align teeth and improve bites to ensure a healthy, functioning smile that will last a lifetime. An orthodontist does this work day in and day out, while a dentist may only offer the treatment occasionally. An orthodontic office is completely tailored around that specialty only, so the entire focus of the clinic will be on improving your smile and bite. Similarly, if you were pregnant, you would want to visit a specialist in childbirth versus going to see your general practitioner.
A dentist is the ideal person to help you manage your overall oral health. From check-ups and routine cleanings to fillings and beyond, the dentist will have the knowledge and skill to ensure your mouth remains healthy. But when it comes to bite correction, an orthodontist is the correct person to see. An orthodontist specializes in the alignment of teeth and jaws and will have a host of treatments at his or her disposal to ensure you get the smile of your dreams.
An orthodontist has the knowledge to diagnose your malocclusion and will have the experience to know which treatment may be the best option for you. An orthodontic office will have a range of treatment options from standard metal braces, to Invisalign, to self-ligating braces, to lingual braces, and beyond. This will ensure that no matter what bite problem you may be experiencing, your orthodontist will have the treatment option that will not only work best for that issue, but that will also fit ideally into your lifestyle.
Your smile is one of your most important features. Your dentist will work with you to ensure your smile stays healthy, while your orthodontist will help you ensure it functions properly while also looking good at the same time.
At HD Orthodontics, we know that a smile has the power to change the world. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional care using cutting edge treatments to patients of all ages. To learn more about how we can help you, call us today at 562-283-6590.