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Are Dentists Orthodontists?

Love Yourself, Love Your Smile

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  • Dr. Monica Madan
  • January 31, 2023

For those who are unfamiliar with the world of oral health, dentists and orthodontists may not appear to be very different. After all, dentists and orthodontists are similar in many ways: we both attend dental school and we both work with teeth.

Given these commonalities, we here at Beverly Hills Orthodontics understand why new patients don’t always have a clear understanding of what orthodontists actually are. In fact, we spend many of our consultations explaining what sets us apart from dentists. Some of the most common questions we hear from patients include:

  • Is my dentist an orthodontist? 
  • Are dentists orthodontists?
  • What sets an orthodontist apart from a general dentist?
  • Do I need an orthodontist for Invisalign?
  • Can my family dentist provide braces?

If you’ve been asking yourself the same questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll attempt to clear up any “dentist vs. orthodontist” confusion by answering these questions and more. By the end of the blog, you’ll be able to tell the difference between dentists and orthodontists so you know which of these physicians is best suited to treat your specific issues. 

Are Dentists Orthodontists?
No!—But All Orthodontists Are Dentists

If the headline above seems confusing, give us a minute to explain. Dentistry is a medical field focused on maintaining the health of:

  • Teeth
  • Gums
  • The mouth
  • The jaw
  • Facial tissue
  • Oral Function

Hopefully, you have been visiting a dentist regularly since you were around 12 months old. From this point on, all people should visit the dentist twice a year for essential services, including:

  • Gum and tooth cleanings
  • Gum, teeth, throat, and neck examination
  • Basic restoration work (e.g,. fillings, root canals, etc.)

A dentist who provides these services is called a general dentist. Anyone who graduates from dental school can become a general dentist once they pass their three National Board Dental Examinations. 

Some dental school graduates, however, pursue further specializations. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes 12 dental subspecialties, including:

  • Orthodontics, which focuses on diagnosing, preventing, intercepting, and correcting bite problems and misaligned teeth
  • Periodontics, which focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing issues related to the gums and surrounding tissue
  • Endodontics, which focuses on studying and treating problems in the dental pulp and gum tissue.
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which focuses on treating injuries, defects, and diseases affecting the mouth, jaw, and face

Dentists, Orthodontists, and Why Specialties Matter 

Now that we’ve established that dentists are not orthodontists, we can focus on why we differentiate between dentists and orthodontists at all. 

Structurally speaking, the human mouth is complex. Although we don’t often realize it, basic tasks like eating, speaking, and laughing require bones, gums, teeth, and muscles to work in harmony. A general dentist can provide basic oral care, but complex issues—like bite problems—require a specialist.

Distinctive Dental Training

After graduating from dental school, orthodontists attend a 3-year residency training program focused only on orthodontics. Their study concentrates on understanding how teeth move and learning to correct complicated alignment problems such as:

  • Open bite
  • Deep bite
  • Crossbite
  • Overbite/overjet
  • Underbite
  • Dental crowding
  • Spacing issues (i.e., tooth gaps)

General dentists do not receive this training. Correcting bite problems requires a deeper understanding of oral function, tooth movement, facial growth, and facial orthopedics—far more than what standard dental school covers.

Alignment Experts

Residency programs provide orthodontists with the expertise and experience required to:

  • Diagnose bite issues in patients as young as 5
  • Prescribe interceptive orthodontic treatments to improve bite problems at an early age 
  • Craft treatment plans that align with patient lifestyles and personal preferences 
  • Use accelerated orthodontic treatments to correct bite problems more quickly
  • Identify possible complications during treatment and pivot accordingly

While dentists are typically not trained to perform these specialized tasks, some do offer Invisalign services. They are able to do so because the manufacturer-supplied software creates treatment plans for them. Invisalign software is advanced enough to design aligners, although each face is unique and can present complications midway through treatment. 

The difference between dentists and orthodontists is similar to knowing you should visit a general doctor for a cold vs. understanding you need an ophthalmologist for eye surgery. If you want a perfect smile without the risks and limitations of dentist-provided Invisalign, schedule an appointment with a licensed orthodontist. 

Schedule a Consultation at Beverly Hills Orthodontics Today

Dentists provide many important services, like cleaning teeth and gums, identifying problems, and performing procedures to keep your mouth healthy. Many also specialize in cosmetics, like veneers. Orthodontists and general dentists often work closely to provide patients the best care possible.

If you are serious about improving your smile, you want to partner with a professional orthodontist like BHO’s own Dr. Monica Madan. Dr. Madan and the BHO team understand what it takes to create custom treatment plans that meet the lifestyle preferences of each patient. Whether you have mild crowding issues or severe bite problems, BHO can give you a perfect smile using methods that work around your schedule. Call us today to learn more. 

NOTE: All blog content is intended to supplement—NOT REPLACE—the expertise of a healthcare professional and should not be construed in any way as medical advice. Consult a professional orthodontist directly, like the ones at BHO, to assess your individual needs and advise the best course of treatment.

Your Smile Is More than just two rows of teeth - it's how you show your personality to the world.

Let Dr. Madan and her team help you help keep your smile looking (and feeling) better than ever.
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We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our communities with the highest quality care. Check out what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with us!

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Solmaz K.
Top notch ortho!! My kids now have the most beautiful teeth. Thank you, Beverly Hills Orthodontics!!
Phebe E.
Absolutely love the team here! They always make sure to make you feel comfortable and welcome! Lili usually works with me and I always love chatting with her!
Chelsea C.
Went in for a free consultation. I saw Dr. Serena and Angela who helped answer all my questions. The staff that took my scans were also very nice and friendly!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Chelsea! We're thrilled to hear that Dr. Serena and Angela addressed all your questions and that our staff made your visit enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you again!
valeria
Overall the best experience, definitely helped me get my self confidence back with my smile!!🥰
Response from the owner:We truly appreciate your feedback, Val! It’s fantastic to know that we positively impacted your self-confidence and smile. Thank you for choosing us and sharing your experience! We’re here for you anytime you need us.
Bardia A.
Monica and her team are so nice and professional. The experience has always been welcoming and the office was always clean and I felt totally comfortable coming in during the pandemic. They took every precaution and were so great to work with.
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience. We work very hard every day to exceed our patients’ expectations!
Justin H.
We have loved working with the team at Beverly Hills Orthodontics. We had 2 kids go through the Invisalign plan and they were always so nice and helpful in explaining everything. What a difference the program made!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We are honored to serve each and every one of our patients!
Jade L.
Lose this dentist, the doctors are really nice and always answer my questions regarding my teeth.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff!
Luis L.
They have very good costumer service as well as good dental care, i’ve came here for years and never had a problem once.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We do everything in our power to make scheduling, completing, and following up on patient appointments as seamless as possible.
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