Blog Post

SHARE:
The Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist
Posted on 08/15/2017
This is the image for the news article titled The Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist

The Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist

When you’re looking for an orthodontist in or around Lawrence Park, Corry, or Erie, PA, we at Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics are glad to do all we can to give you a healthier smile. As your trusted orthodontists, we’re happy to answer any and all your questions related to orthodontics and oral health, in general. One of the questions that we often get asked the most is how we as orthodontists differ from dentists. We’ll be glad to answer that question for you!

What Are the Differences Between Orthodontists & Dentists?

Both dentists and orthodontists may help a patient with their oral health, but the ways in which they help their patients are vastly different. Dentists will place emphasis on promoting clean and healthy smiles while orthodontists focus on improving the alignment of the teeth and fixing dental irregularities. While dentists aren’t orthodontists, all orthodontists are actually qualified dentists. Orthodontists require dental training along with an additional two years of orthodontic coursework.

What a Dentist Can Help You With

A dentist will strive to get you a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful smile with a comprehensive selection of dentistry treatments. These can include the following fields:

  • General Dentistry – This typically includes basic procedures to keep a mouth clean and healthy, including regular checkups and teeth cleanings.

  • Restorative Dentistry – This field of dentistry will help treat oral health problems and restore teeth that are damaged. This can include fillings, crowns, and root canals.

  • Cosmetic Dentistry – When you want to attain a better-looking smile, cosmetic dentistry provides a selection of helpful options. Cosmetic dentistry treatments include teeth whitening, veneers, and dental implants.

What an Orthodontist Can Help You With

Orthodontists can help you with any teeth and jaw alignment problems and dental irregularities you may have. These problems can include crowded teeth, underbites, overbites, and crooked teeth. An orthodontist can use treatments like braces and Invisalign to help straighten a patient’s smile and correct orthodontic problems. It’s recommended to treat these problems at a young age, which is why a child should visit an orthodontist at about the age of seven – usually the earliest age when orthodontic problems can be identified.

Contact Your Lawrence Park, Corry, and Erie, PA Orthodontist!

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know. If you’re interested in braces or Invisalign and you’d like to schedule an appointment, feel free to fill out our online appointment request form. We can’t wait to hear from you and help you attain a more beautiful smile!