Difference between Orthodontist and Dentist

You just want a great smile and healthy teeth and gums … but you need to know the difference between orthodontist and dentist so you know who can give you the care you need to get and maintain that smile and those teeth.

Dentists and orthodontists are doctors who specialize in oral health. General dentistry covers the diagnosis, treatment, and care of your teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth. Orthodontics, on the other hand, is a dental specialty devoted to diagnosing and treating misalignments of your teeth and jaws.

Therefore, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists … similar to how all obstetricians are doctors, but not all doctors are obstetricians.

When Do You Need an Orthodontist?

Generally, you could benefit from seeing an orthodontist if:

• Your teeth are crooked
• Your teeth are crowded
• Your teeth have excess space between them
• Your teeth don’t line up properly
• You have an overbite or an underbite
• Your teeth affect your speech

Orthodontists are trained to diagnose what’s causing the problem, and then create a treatment plan to help fix it. The treatment plan can include braces, retainers, surgery, and/or other corrective dental appliances.

You’ll generally be under an orthodontist’s care just until the problem is solved.

When Do You Need a Dentist?

Your relationship with a dentist is different. It’s recommended to regularly see your dentist at least twice a year … every year … to maintain healthy teeth and gums and to keep your smile looking great.

Some of the things that fall under general dentistry include:

• Cleaning teeth
• Taking and interpreting dental X-rays
• Filling cavities
• Repairing cracked or damaged teeth
• Treating gum disease
• Whitening teeth
• Installing crowns or veneers

The Best of Both IS Both

Some dentists complete both general dentistry and orthodontic specialty training. The benefit of seeing this kind of dentist is that they’ll be able to treat you for whatever kind of oral health care you need.

Dr. Lovik Mirzaeian is one of these complete care dentists who has achieved extensive training in multidisciplinary dental treatments.

His credentials include Dental Implants, Cosmetic Dentistry, Full Mouth Reconstruction, Endodontics, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, and Sleep Sedation.

Need to Schedule an Appointment?

Call us at (559) 299-2168 or send us a message to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lovik Mirzaeian today!

We're here to help you create and maintain a beautiful smile.