What is the Difference between an Orthodontist vs. Dentist?

Dentistry is a field in healthcare that deals with keeping your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy. Dentists are like the general doctors for your mouth. They give advice and treatments to help keep your mouth in good shape. In addition to your cleanings, they also diagnose, and treat cavities and oral diseases.

Here are some common things dentists do:

  • Clean your teeth
  • Do fillings on teeth that have cavities
  • Remove teeth that can’t be fixed
  • Treat infections inside a tooth (root canals)
  • Put on veneers and crowns to improve the look and health of your teeth

These treatments are important for keeping your teeth strong and healthy, and sometimes they’re needed to fix serious problems that could affect your overall health.

Orthodontics is a specialty in Dentistry that fixes problems with the alignment of teeth and jaws. They help with issues like crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, teeth that donโ€™t line up properly, teeth that stick out, and jaws that donโ€™t match up. Orthodontists not only treat these issues once theyโ€™ve developed, but they can also spot problems early on and take action to prevent them from getting worse. They work with patients of all ages, from kids to adults.

Some of the conditions they treat include:

  • Jaw misalignment
  • Teeth that are too far apart
  • Crowded teeth
  • Overbites
  • Underbites

If youโ€™re looking to straighten your smile, at Happier Smiles Orthodontics in Escondido, we proudly offer a variety of orthodontic treatment options for kids, teens, and adults to help you do exactly that and achieve your dream smile!

Orthodontist vs. Dentist Education & Training

Both orthodontists and dentists start with the same four years of general dental education. After that, Orthodontists go on to receive additional training that extensively covers how to move teeth and align jaws safely for both children and adults. This includes a two-to-three-year residency and over 5,000 hours of hands-on training.

Even after they become board certified, Orthodontists often join professional groups that help them keep their skills sharp and up-to-date, especially with ongoing advancements in technology. At Happier Smiles Orthodontics, staying at the cutting edge of our speciality is a priority for our team.ย 

Find the care you need at Happier Smiles Orthodontics

Here at Happier Smiles Orthodontics, we have a highly skilled, awesome team dedicated to providing high-quality, customized orthodontic treatment you can trust. Whether youโ€™re looking for braces or clear aligners such as Invisalignยฎ or Sparkโ„ข, or you arenโ€™t sure which treatment is best for you, weโ€™re here to help! Schedule a complimentary consultation to get started at our Orthodontic practice in Escondido, CA.ย