Many people wonder what the difference is between a dentist and an orthodontist, and who they should see. An Orthodontist is a dentist who has had several additional years of training in all areas of orthodontics specialties. Whenever the reason for seeking advice or treatment has to do with the alignment of the teeth, an orthodontist is certainly the doctor to see.
Dental alignment involves many different things. When people think of braces, they usually think only of crooked teeth. While this does make up for a major portion of aligner treatments, this is only a fraction of what this specialized field of dentistry involves.
Alignment issues can be a gaping problem. Some people have naturally wide arches to the upper and lower jaw, so their teeth are not properly aligned next to one another. Minor gaping problems can be limited to only the two front teeth on the top, or perhaps on the bottom two as well; major gap problems can lead to a noticeable space between all of the teeth creating many problems for the patient with these spaces.
Under-bites and overbites are both significant alignment problems that can lead to distress later in life. Children with these types of malocclusion problems often suffer from poor nutrition because they cannot chew their food easily. As a child grows, a severe under-bite or overbite can cause speech impediments. This can also lead to uneven wear of the teeth leaving an awkward bite pattern that will require more extensive correction if left untreated. Some adults with under-bites require surgery to help solve breathing problems and end difficulties while eating.
Crowding can sometimes be so severe that some of teeth are forced to grow in front of or behind other teeth rather than in the natural row. This presents a very complex problem to correct through braces, and only a true expert in the area of alignment should treat these extreme cases.
Sometimes patients have extremely small mouths that will never be able to fit every tooth unless at least some are extracted. If a practitioner recommends extractions before using braces or any other form of aligner the patient should seek a second opinion, just in case. Occasionally one orthodontist may recommend what he or she knows best, but there may be another orthodontist who specializes in a different treatment that can address properly aligning severe crowding without pulling teeth. If multiple specialists agree, then the extractions are probably necessary.
Once the problem has been determined, the orthodontist has many options to choose from to treat the patient's specific misalignment. A cross-bite may require a dental apparatus be inserted into the upper bridge of the jaw in order to slowly shift the teeth over until the bite meets properly. Crooked, gaped, and crowded teeth can be corrected with a wide variety of dental appliances ranging from removable plastic alignment trays to conventional metal braces.
Whatever the age and specific alignment needs are of the patient, the best dentist to treat the issue is one with advanced training in orthodontics. With so many treatment options available, the doctor must spend many years learning the skills required for each form of treatment to correct dental alignment.
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