Orthodontics

Or • tho • don • tist

1. A dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention & treatment of dental & facial irregularities is called an Orthodontist.

2. It takes 2-3 extra years of education after dental school to be called an Orthodontist.

Orthodontists are trained to straighten crooked teeth in order to improve your appearance and oral health.


They offer metal braces, cosmetic aligners, and other options to realign your smile over a period of several months to years.


When do you need to see an orthodontist?

  • Malocclusions
  • Overbite
  • Underbite
  • Crossbite
  • Crooked Teeth
  • Gapped Teeth
  • Overcrowding
  • Rotated Teeth
  • Teeth Grinding

Why should you go to an orthodontist instead of a dentist?

Orthodontists Are Trained TO REALIGN YOUR BITE

ADVANCED TRAINING

Orthodontists study for an additional two to three years after four years of dentistry school.

SPECIALIZATION

While there are many general dentists who provide orthodontic services, orthodontists focus exclusively on these treatments in order to provide the most in-depth care possible.

OPTIMAL BITE ALIGNMENT

While many patients are primarily worried about how a crooked smile looks, it is also more vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease, and teeth grinding. By straightening your teeth, your orthodontist is also preventing potential health problems . 

Thankfully, orthodontists provide a number of options to prevent these problems… ​

Treatments to REALIGN YOUR TEETH

  • Trays or Aligners
  • Headgear
  • Metal Braces
  • Clear Braces
  • Ceramic Brackets
  • Invisalign®
  • Alexander Discipline
  • Retainers

Orthodontists use specialized tools to improve your treatment…

Diagnostic Technology Lays the GROUNDWORK FOR MORE ACCURATE TREATMENT

Orthodontists use a number of diagnostic tools to assess your condition and plan your treatment. In addition to digital x-rays , some orthodontists have CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) scannersthat take a series of images to create a 360-degree replica of your oral cavity. With these images, your doctor can evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment. 


If your orthodontist offers Invisalign , they will use the associated planning software to create the impressions for your customized aligners. These are sent to an Invisalign laboratory for fabrication.

All orthodontists are dentists, but only 6 percent of dentists are orthodontists.

- American Association of Orthodontists®

Enjoy a Straighter Smile

Orthodontists are uniquely qualified to realign crooked teeth and misaligned bites . If you are considering orthodontic treatment for you or your child, schedule a consultation to discuss your options with a professional as soon as possible.

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