What’s the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?

Orthodontists and dentists both help patients improve their oral health, but in different ways. Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gum, nerves, and jaw, while orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that focuses on correcting bites, occlusion, and the straightness of teeth.

One important difference is that all orthodontists like Dr. Newman are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.

The main similarity between a dentist and orthodontist is that they both focus on oral care. An orthodontist can work in a dental office and provide the same care as a dentist. So in this respect, they are quite similar. They are both considered doctors, and deal with the teeth and gums.

There are more differences than similarities. An orthodontist requires additional schooling as a dental specialty; the situation is similar to a doctor who obtains additional schooling to become a surgeon. Another difference is that orthodontists specialize in helping patients with the alignment of their teeth, improving their bite, or fitting them for corrective braces and devices. If a patient has an overbite, a dentist will refer him or her to an orthodontist. Dr. Newman has had an additional 3 years of training to become an orthodontist, beyond 4 years of dental school.

Dentists typically encourage good oral hygiene and provide services related to:

Tooth decay

Root canals

Gum disease

Crowns

Bridges

Veneers

Teeth whitening

Orthodontists are dentists that specialize in the alignment of teeth, and provide services related to:

Misaligned teeth

Crowded teeth

Overbite

Underbite

Orthodontists help with crooked teeth, but they assist patients with other issues as well. These include overbites and underbites, crossbites, spaces between teeth, overcrowding of teeth, and the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Additional problems with the jaw also need to be treated by an orthodontist.

While a dentist may be trained to provide orthodontic care in addition to extractions, TMJ treatments, and fillings, trusting your smile to an orthodontist can better balance the different procedures you require.

To learn more about the difference between dentists and orthodontists, or to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Newman, please give our team at Bordentown Braces or Cream Ridge Orthodontics a call to schedule your complimentary examination.