If you’ve visited our orthodontists in Richmond, TX, or been to another practice, you probably have a better understanding of the differences between orthodontists versus dentists and know which one you should visit for particular services. However, it’s not uncommon to still be unclear between the two, especially if you have yet to visit an orthodontist. Allow us to shed a bit of light on the distinctions between these two professions.
What Is a Dentist?
Every dentist starts with the same basic education of four years in undergrad for their bachelor’s degree and four years of doctoral study. Depending on the dental programs and undergraduate studies a dentist selects, this period of education can last between five and eight years. This is only the case for general dentistry, however, as dentists can then specialize in fields such as:
- Endodontist – Dentists who perform root canals and treat the inside of a tooth.
- Periodontist – Dentists who treat gum disease and perform gum surgery.
- Prosthodontist – Dentists who specialize in creating dentures.
- Pediatric dentist – Dentists specializing in treating child patients.
- Orthodontist – Dentists who focus on moving teeth into healthy alignment.
General dentists are typically the people you see when you go for your regular checkups or have dental issues diagnosed. Dentists who specialize in specific areas, like orthodontists, may run a general dentistry practice, but that does not make them one and the same.
What Is an Orthodontist?
As we’ve established, an orthodontist is an individual in a specialized branch of dentistry that corrects the alignment of our teeth. This is most commonly done through procedures like braces—a rite of passage most teenagers go through—which is often a long-term process. During this process, the orthodontist will monitor your progress, repair any damages to the braces or other equipment used, and help you move onto other steps like retainers or spacers to correct your teeth and retain that correction. Fixing the alignment of teeth is so important because misaligned teeth can lead to a bevy of problems, such as discomfort when eating food, obstructed breathing, hindered speech development, and vulnerability to damage and decay. Additionally, misaligned teeth can be a source of self-esteem issues for many teenagers.
Details and Differences
Now that you better understand orthodontists versus dentists and which you should visit for various procedures, we’d like to touch on some notable details in the differences between these professions. For one thing, dentists provide their services to people of all age groups, while orthodontists typically serve younger patients and work to ensure their teeth stay aligned into adulthood. Furthermore, an orthodontist experiences 7 to 10 years of education in comparison to a dentist’s 5 to 8 years.