Orthodontists are specialists trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. They offer numerous solutions to straighten crookedness in teeth or fix bad bites to align jaws correctly and fix bad bites.
An orthodontist must complete a five-year degree in dentistry before going on to undertake additional specialist training of at least 5,000 hours, which typically translates to three years full time study, in orthodontics. When being treated with braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign(r), Spark(r) or 3M Clarity(r), ensure you’re being looked after by an orthodontist to achieve maximum results.
Orthodontists are well known for straightening teeth; however, they also can help with painful bites, tooth movements due to bad habits like thumb sucking and even certain forms of sleep apnoea.
What’s the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?
Though orthodontists and dentists work together to promote optimal oral health, they approach this in very different ways. While dentists at Lake Ridge dental generally cover an array of oral health concerns, orthodontists specialize in straightening teeth and aligning jaws.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists are registered dental specialists who have completed an additional three years of full-time university training in orthodontics, facial growth and development, biomechanics and biology; holding both General Dental Degree and Specialist Orthodontic Degree degrees respectively. There are only 3-4 orthodontists trained each year at each accredited Australian university – only the top dentists are accepted into these training programs.
Orthodontists are experts at facial growth and dental development, offering solutions to treat crookedness in teeth, bad bites and misalignment in jaws and providing treatments and technologies for children, teens and adults alike.
General Dentists
Dentists act similarly to general practitioners; they provide high-level services to diagnose and treat problems and diseases related to teeth, mouth and gums.
Dentist in Woodbridge hold a General Dental Degree and specialize in general care for people of all ages as well as cosmetic dental procedures like tooth whitening, porcelain veneers and crowns.
Dentists differ from orthodontists in that they do not receive full-time university training to fit braces and provide other orthodontic treatments, so most general dentists refer patients or family members in need of orthodontic care directly to specialist orthodontists.
What are the differences between an orthodontist and endodontist?
Orthodontists use braces or clear aligners to straighten crookedness of teeth and correct any bad bites, while endodontists specialize in diagnosing and managing problems within teeth, such as dental nerve or pulp issues; endodontists may specialize in root canal treatments targeting infections in this delicate pulp area of bone surrounding it.
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What orthodontic treatment options are available?
With their knowledge and expertise of facial irregularities and tooth movements, an orthodontist can assist in selecting which of the available treatment options will best meet the needs of you or your child.