Every orthodontist is a dentist, but not every dentist in Wetaskiwin is an orthodontist. When you’re looking to consult with someone about orthodontics in Wetaskiwin, who should you see — a dentist or an orthodontist?
Dentists and orthodontists — along with every other specialization in dentistry — have the same general goal: To preserve and restore your oral health. “Dentists” prioritize individuals’ oral health in the most general way
possible. “Dentists” focus on issues affecting your teeth, gums, nerves and jaw generally. Orthodontics care about issues affecting your teeth, gums, nerves, and jaw, generally, but are specially trained and concerned with the development of teeth in your jaw and mouth, and most particularly in identifying and correcting bites, occlusion, and the straightness of teeth.
What kind of education and training do dentists and orthodontists receive?
Every dentist in Canada receives a lot of education to ensure they develop the skills and expertise to provide you with the treatment you need. To even get into one of the 10 dental schools in Canada, for example, future dentists typically require an undergraduate degree — a four-year Bachelor of Science degree is very common. Every dentist then completes four years of dental school, and many general and family dentists stop right there.
Dentists who want to specialize in orthodontic treatment, though, complete an additional Master of Science degree program and specialized training in orthodontics that may include a requirement to work as a general dentist before even beginning the orthodontics program. Only seven of Canada’s dental schools have a graduate orthodontics program. Each of those ten schools accepts three to five residents every year. Add that up to just approximately 30 positions available for future orthodontists in Canada every year. The specialist performing orthodontics near you has, all told, at least 12 years of university education and training before being certified as an orthodontist.
Orthodontics isn’t the only dental specialization, of course. Others include pediatric dentistry (dental treatment for children), oral surgery, periodontics (dentists who specialize in gum conditions and treatments), and endodontics (root canals and procedures affecting the interior of teeth).
What types of services do they provide?
Understanding the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist near you may be easier after you consider the types of services each offers.:
|
Dentists |
Orthodontists |
|
Preventative care like cleanings and fluoride Treatment for tooth decay and cavities Treatment for gum disease Cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening Crowns and bridges Veneers Extractions Treating the temporomandibular joint disorder Providing mouthguards to protect teeth |
Correcting misaligned teeth Correcting overcrowded teeth Correcting overbites Correcting underbites Fixing gapped and inconsistently spaced teeth Treating temporomandibular joint disorders Providing braces and other orthodontic devices |
Both dentists and orthodontists use imaging technology — including traditional x-rays but, on an increasingly common basis, digital x-rays. Both dentists and orthodontists will provide products and services to help you to overcome dental fear and anxiety, such as sedation dentistry options.
Do you need an orthodontist? Maybe; maybe not. Everyone — including every child as of their first birthday or first tooth, whichever comes first — should see a general or family dentist at least twice annually. Dentists and orthodontists recommend that every child be assessed by an orthodontist at approximately the age of seven years old. Whether or not you or your child sees an orthodontist at any age, your general dentist can identify issues affecting the development, alignment and spacing of teeth in your jaw or your child’s jaw. If your dentist becomes concerned about issues that should be investigated by an orthodontist near you, the staff at your dentist’s office will refer you to an appropriate orthodontist near you.