Difference Between Dentist and Orthodontist

Dentist and orthodontist are both doctors of teeth and oral care. We all know about dentists and what they do but are a little confused when we hear the term orthodontist. The confusion is greater as both a dentist as well as orthodontist address same dental problems (teeth and overall oral health). However, both differ in specialization and the care they provide to dental problems. This article will differentiate between the two types of doctors so as to enable a person to choose the services of the right dental doctor when facing a problem relating to teeth and gums.

Dentists are doctors who have completed their med school and have also completed their post graduate training at a dental college to be eligible to practice as a dentist. These are doctors that specialize in problems of teeth, gums, tooth decay, repair of damaged tooth and extraction of tooth etc. They in general help people facing dental problems and also help them in getting better oral health care. Orthodontists on the other hand are special dentists who have additionally completed a residency program (2 years) on orthodontic studies after their post graduation. They help people having tooth and jaw alignment problems and are specialists in cosmetic surgery procedures to correct such misalignments. They specialize in diagnosis and treatment of teeth alignment using the latest technology. For a layman, such a doctor addresses the problem of crooked teeth.

In order to be able to provide corrective treatment methods, orthodontics go intensive study of teeth movement. Thus the difference between a dentist and orthodontist is very simple. A dentist is called an orthodontist after specializes in a branch of dentistry called orthodontics by taking a 2-3 year residency program taking advanced orthodontic courses. Orthodontists are exposed to specialized skills relating to tooth movement and special methods of correcting facial irregularities.