Why Choose an Orthodontist?

Choosing an orthodontic specialist instead of a general dentist for your orthodontic treatment is a decision that will truly make a difference in your smile. Orthodontics is a big investment in your health and confidence, and the function and appearance of your smile. Why would you trust anyone less than a specialist?

There are three steps in an orthodontist’s education: college, dental school, and orthodontic school.

While there’s some instruction regarding orthodontics in dental school, it is minimal. It’s in the orthodontic residency program that orthodontists receives intensive instruction to learn proper, safe tooth movement (orthodontics) and the guidance of dental, jaw and facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). These extra years of schooling make the orthodontist the dental specialist in moving teeth and aligning jaws. This is the only focus of their practice.

• An orthodontist
• An orthodontic specialist
• An orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedist

These problems may include teeth that are crowded or too far apart, teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all, teeth that stick out, and mismatched jaws. Orthodontists treat existing problems, and can identify problems that are developing, and take timely action to resolve problems before they fully develops. Orthodontists treat patients of all ages, they regularly treat children, adolescents and adults.

Orthodontists create a custom treatment plan for each patient.

Orthodontists use the full range of “appliances” to correct orthodontic problems. The “appliance” is the term used for the device that moves teeth. It can be traditional braces, clear aligners or braces on the inside of the teeth. The orthodontist is uniquely qualified to recommend the most appropriate type of “appliance” to correct an individual’s problem.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is open exclusively to orthodontists - only orthodontists are admitted for membership. The only doctors who can call themselves orthodontists have graduated from dental school and then successfully completed the additional two-tothree years of education in an accredited orthodontic residency program.