What is the Difference Between Dentist and Orthodontist?

The main difference between a dentist and an orthodontist lies in their specializations and the services they provide. Here are the key differences:

1. Education and specialization: Both dentists and orthodontists attend dental school, but orthodontists undergo an additional 2-3 years of specialized training in orthodontics. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists.
2. Scope of practice: Dentists focus on general oral care, including tooth decay, gum disease, tooth extraction, crowns, root canals, and teeth whitening. Orthodontists, on the other hand, specialize in correcting bites, occlusion (how teeth come in contact with one another), and the straightness of teeth. They provide services such as teeth straightening surgery, installing dental appliances like braces and palatal expanders, and supervising facial growth in children.

Despite these differences, both dentists and orthodontists share a common goal of helping patients maintain good oral health. In some cases, a dentist may offer limited orthodontic services, such as putting on aligners or braces. However, an orthodontist is a specialist in their field and is best suited to treat and care for orthodontic needs.

Comparative Table: Dentist vs Orthodontist

Here is a table highlighting the differences between dentists and orthodontists:

Both dentists and orthodontists share a common goal of improving patients' oral health, but they focus on different aspects of dentistry and require different levels of training.