Is There A Difference Between An Orthodontist and A Dentist?

There is a difference between the orthodontist and the dentist, the largest difference is that the dentist cleans teeth, fills teeth, pulls them and takes general care of the teeth. The dentists job is t to keep the teeth healthy and the orthodontist is trained to correct bite problems and the alignment of the teeth.

Both the dentist and the orthodontist are equally important in the care of the teeth and each has a different job to keep the teeth healthy. In many cases for the dentist to be able to keep the teeth decay free it means having to see the orthodontist office to be fitted for braces. When the alignment of the teeth and the bite is not correct it can cause major dental problems that include decay, the wearing of teeth, and problems with the jaw that can include TMJ. When a dentist sees the beginning of the problem with an improper alignment they know the patient needs to be referred to the orthodontist to be fitted for braces because these kinds of problems can be detrimental to the health of the teeth.

While the dentist and the orthodontist have separate rolls when it involves tooth care they also work in conjunction with each other to provide the best care for the person that needs their bite or tooth alignment corrected. This is because while the orthodontist can correct problems it also takes expert care to keep the teeth healthy before and after the braces.