When it comes to your dental care, getting treatment from the appropriate dental professional is crucial. Therefore you should know the difference between a dentist and an dentist and orthodontic.
Dentist and orthodontic dentist have one similar, similar goal- help improve your oral health. However, they work in different ways and offer separate specialised services.
Orthodontic dental treatment is a branch of dentistry specialising in jaw and teeth alignment. While a dentist covers a wide range of dental health issues, an orthodontic dentist helps straighten your teeth and correct improper bite patterns.
Both of them are important to ensure your teeth function properly when eating and chewing.
Confused if you should visit a dentist or an orthodontist? We’re here to help. In this write-up, we’ve summed up the difference between an orthodontist and a general dentist to help you make an informed decision.
Visit the best Northern Beaches dental clinic to get optimum dental care.
If you’ve crooked teeth or your jaws are misaligned, this can cause digestive problems (if you’re unable to chew your food correctly) and oral hygiene issues, such as gingivitis (gum disease). It can also make it difficult to clean your teeth properly.
Difference Between the Dentist and Orthodontist
Qualifications And Associations
General Dentist
- A general dentist is similar to a general practitioner or a family doctor. They’re skilled general practitioners who can detect and treat various gum and teeth concerns.
- Dentists practise after completing a general General Dental Degree.
Orthodontic Dentist
- Orthodontic dentists are trained dentists who have earned postgraduate degrees specialising in orthodontic dental treatment ( Master of Orthodontics, MOrth- 3 years).
- Only 3-4 Orthodontic dentists get trained every year at 5 accredited Australian universities, and only the best dentists are offered these training programs.
- Additionally, every orthodontic dentist is a member of professional orthodontic institutes, including the prestigious Australian Society of Orthodontists.
Treatments and Services Offered
Dentists are experts at providing general overall dental checkup and treatment
- Tooth extraction, cavity treatment and filling
- Cosmetic treatments including tooth whitening and crown placement
- General dental cleaning and polishing
- Advices on overall teeth and gum health
Orthodontic dentists are facial growth and oral development experts.
- Diagnose and treat bad bites, crooked teeth, and poorly aligned jaws.
- Fitting of orthodontic appliances, including Invisalign aligners and braces.
- Overall facial profile assessment
How Does An Orthodontist Offer Orthodontic Dental Treatment?
- First, your orthodontic dentist will conduct a detailed examination of the jaw and teeth.
- Before making any treatment recommendations, the orthodontist will take panoramic x-rays and bite impressions as study models to determine your dental alignment.
- Then you’ll get a recommendation for the best treatment plan for your particular condition.
Read More: Why Should You Need 24 Hour Emergency Dentist?
When Should Children Start Visiting The Orthodontist?
It is best to start any orthodontic dental treatment as early as possible for optimum results. Parents should bring their child for the first orthodontist visit at the age of 7-8 years to examine the progression and development of their adult teeth.
During the first visit to a credible Northern Beaches dental clinic, the orthodontist may either recommend treatment for a small number of specific concerns or schedule a follow-up appointment in 6 to 12 months to review the development.
Children may benefit from early orthodontic therapy. It is easier to correct jaw alignment when they’re growing and developing. Making adequate space and accommodating aligned teeth becomes problematic when the child approaches adulthood.
When it comes to specialised orthodontic care, visiting an orthodontist is the best option.
However, that doesn’t imply that you ignore your general dental appointment. Both general dental appointments and orthodontic therapies are essential for the healthy functioning of your teeth, gum and jaws.
Apart from that if you want to know about Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeon then please visit our Health category.
