The difference between different dental experts has always been confusion and you often don’t know who you need to go to. Let us tell you which type of doctor specializes in teeth and jaw alignment so that you can have the perfect smile you always wanted.
Your dentist might be able to clean your deal deep and prescribe you something for a toothache but he will not be able to align your jaw or work with your teeth alignment.
Another kind of specialist, called an orthodontist, does these things.
What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental expert who deals with facial irregularities. Their job is not only to correct these irregularities but to diagnose and prevent them too.
These specialists can do a lot from proper jaw alignment to straightening crooked teeth. While your regular dentist has a five-year degree, an orthodontist studies after doing their degree in dentistry for three more years.
During this time, they get training in orthodontics. Usually, they straighten your teeth, but they can do much more than that such as assisting with tooth movements and misaligned bites.
What does an orthodontist do?
An orthodontist is a registered dental specialist who has extra training in orthodontics after their dentistry degree. In this additional study, they learn about biomechanics and facial growth.
Not all dentists get to be orthodontists, and most universities or countries only allow the best dentists to enroll in this program.
The specialty of orthodontists lies in facial growth and development. If there is something wrong with the alignment of your teeth or jaws, an orthodontist will fix that for you.
They provide care to people of all age groups, from children to adults.
Difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist
While an orthodontist works with complex things such as the structure of your mouth, a dentist is much like a General practitioner. A dentist is skilled in diagnosing and treating oral diseases.
Along with that, a dentist does some dental procedures like crowns, deep cleaning, and tooth whitening.
In terms of education, dentists only have a general five-year degree in dentistry and no extra training. So, they do not receive training for orthodontic procedures.
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How to find an Orthodontist?
Your general dentist will be able to refer you to an orthodontist as they do know someone in the field who is an expert in treating the condition you might have.
If you are looking for an orthodontist on your own, you should ask people around you. If someone in your family has gotten treatment done, you should ask them about their experience.
Moreover, you can get in touch with most clinics through their online chat portals and learn about their services.
Most clinics provide an online consultation session to let you know the cost and a brief overview of your procedure.
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Conclusion
To correct any facial irregularity, you need to know which type of doctor specializes in teeth and jaw alignment. Hopefully, you have learned that from this article.