Have you been having a difficult time understanding the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist? Here are some simple facts to help you identify the existing differences with respect to their definitions and practices. However, you need to know that all these categories refer to dental care professionals with their focus being on different dental care problems.
Some of the dental care issues they address include:
•
Root canal therapy.
• Dental pulp issues.
• Tooth capping and crowning.
• Installation of braces
• Gum surgery.
• Wisdom tooth extraction.
• Implants.
Consequently, each of these dental professionals is focused on performing different dental care services with respect to their qualifications and licensing details.
Dentist: Who And What?
Firstly, Dentists are trained to provide an array of general dental care services to all kinds of patients. This means that their services are non-specialized and are mostly linked to preventative dental care. In most cases, patients who visit a dentist’s office are looking to have their teeth cleaned or examined.
Some of the services you can expect from a dentist are:
•
Cavity filling.
• Cleaning of teeth.
• Denture procedures.
• Root canal follow-up procedures.
• Fitting of crowns and bridges.
• Teeth and gum assessment procedures.
A dentist conducts general dental care procedures to help determine whether a patient should seek help from a specialist. The specialists that a dentist can recommend to you is the orthodontists. Dentists, therefore, rely on the expertise of such dental care experts since they have more knowledge with respect to specific parts of your dental work.
And More...
Dentists are tasked with the responsibility of creating awareness and educating the patients on the proper dental care practices. Through this, the dentists are able to help you maintain a healthy dental work throughout your lifetime. This is because they are responsible for maintaining your general oral health and identifying existing problems alongside their corrective measures. A dentist may provide some preventative treatment as he or she sees fit.
To qualify to be a general dentist in most states, you are required to acquire an academic degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD), or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM).
When you visit your dentist next time, you know what to expect and what not to expect based on their experience.
Orthodontist: Who and What?
Firstly, after obtaining a dental degree, an orthodontist will need to undergo about 2 or 3 more years of post-graduate training to acquire experience in teeth straightening and jaw management. If you find yourself or your child with crooked or crowded teeth, this is the right dental care specialist to consult for corrective procedures.
These dental care specialists are trained to help address dental issues such as tooth decay, periodontal diseases, and tooth loss problems. They also conduct teeth alignment procedures to help prevent premature wear, teeth damage, as well as chronic pain associated with your joints and facial areas.
Braces are also used to perform dental alignment procedures with the aim of improving your dental functionality, cleanliness, and aesthetics. Invisalign, clear plastics, and accelerated orthodontics techniques are also used for the same purpose as braces.
And More...
For a dentist to refer you to orthodontists, you ought to portray either of the following dental issues:
• The need for night guards or retainers.
•
Improper teeth alignment and straightening that affects your ability to bite and dental aesthetics.
• Asymmetrical, irregular, or inappropriate jaws
• Pain related to facial muscles.
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ).
The main procedure conducted by these dental care specialists is teeth straightening. You are advised to have it done earlier in life, especially as a teenager because it is most effective then. However, the various dental care innovations mentioned earlier have made it possible for the teeth straightening procedure to be conducted on adults with increased efficiency unlike in the past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsMnmpk288
Here’s the Deal:
As you can see from the above discussion, general dentists are non-specialized but as important for dental care services as the specialized experts. Thus, you can go through the services conducted by each highlighted dental care expert to determine where and from whom to seek services for your dental problem. Everybody wants the best dental care for himself or herself as well as his or her family. Furthermore, knowing what to expect from these experts is a good start if you are to receive the most efficient, effective, and reliable dental care.
Finally, contact Dr. King for an
appointment about your orthodontic needs, he can design you a straight smile and recommend another specialist if you so need.
King Orthodontics
6460 Far Hills Ave
Centerville, OH 45459
Phone: (937) 433-0830
Difference Between an [Orthodontist - Dentist]