Orthodontist vs Dentist

It is not uncommon to hear people use the term orthodontist and dentist interchangeably. The question is, are these two professions the same thing? Before answering this question, it’s important to emphasize that regardless of if you have a minor problem with your mouth or you are dealing with something major, you should never take your oral health for granted. Your mouth is the key to your overall health. It is the portal that your body uses to deliver nutritious food. The only way that you’re going to be up to sufficiently chew your food is if you have healthy teeth.

Dentists and orthodontists are going to have very similar educational backgrounds. Before they apply for a dental school, they have to get a bachelor degree. Once they get into dental school, they have to study for four years in a doctorate program. Once they graduate their doctorate program, they can start to work as a dentist. They can be a DDS, also known as a doctor of dental surgery, or they might get a job as a DMD, and this is a doctor of dental medicine.

Both a dentist and orthodontist receive a lot of training. You can think about it this way; every single orthodontist is a dentist. However, not all dentists are orthodontists. More times than not, visiting a qualified and experienced dentist will suffice. They have the training needed to manage overall oral health care. They’re going to do routine things like checkups, give you X-rays and clean your teeth. They will also remove teeth, repair cavities and work with you if you need dentures.

Most dentists do not work by themselves, but instead have dental hygienists who are going to do things like help with X-rays, cleanings and other tasks, depending on the situation. However, if you need treatments that are outside of what we can do, then we are going to refer you to an orthodontist.

Regardless of your situation, any oral health issue should be quickly addressed. The healthier your mouth is, the healthier you will be. It is usually best to start with a dentist. Look no further than the providers at Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry, with locations in Champions Gate and Winter Haven. Contact us today to schedule your dental appointment!