Orthodontists and dentist are both professionals that help patients improve their oral health. However, both their professions are different in their own way. Dentistry is a medical specialty that deals with teeth, gums, nerves and the jaw, whereas orthodontics is a field within dentistry that deals with correcting jaw structure, occlusion and the straightens the teeth. One major difference between the both is that, all orthodontists are dentists however, not all dentists are orthodontists.

What is the similarity between a dentist and an orthodontist?

The main similarity between the both is that they both focus on oral care. An orthodontist can work in an office and yet provide the same services as a dentist. This makes the both similar. They are doctors and are known to deal with the teeth and gums.

Why are they termed differently?

Orthodontists and dentists are more different rather than the same. An orthodontist needs to take up extra schooling and training as a dental specialty. It is exactly like how a doctor has to take up extra schooling to become a surgeon. Another difference is that orthodontists specially focus on helping patients who have a misalignment of their teeth, have trouble in their bite or fitting corrective braces. On the contrary, dentists are particularly experts in oral hygiene, tooth decay, root canals, gum diseases, teeth whitening, bridges, etc.

What does an orthodontist help with?

An orthodontist helps with crooked teeth however they also help with other issues as well. These issues include overbites and underbites, crossbites, spaces between the teeth, overcrowding of the teeth and treatments of temporomandibular disorders. Other problems with the jaw are also treated by an orthodontist. A dentist may be trained to provide orthodontic care along with extractions, TMJ treatments and fillings. But it is best to trust your smile to an orthodontist as he can better balance the formation of your teeth and address the different procedures that you may require.