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Difference Between A Dentist and an Orthodontist? A Complete Guide! 

Maintaining your dental health is important for overall health and well-being. However, choosing between a Bristol, Connecticut dentist and an orthodontist is an important decision. Both of them are experienced professionals responsible for maintaining better oral health. Despite the fact that they both deal with dental disorders, their services differ. Eager to know the differences between the two? We’ve got you covered. Keep on reading to know more! 

Introduction to a dentist

A dentist is known to be a medical professional trained in dentistry. They are responsible for maintaining your overall teeth health. Therefore, dentists are referred to as dental surgeons. These medical experts also examine mouth cancer and suggest a tailored treatment solution. 

Introduction to an orthodontist

An orthodontist is a professional expert specializing in teeth alignment. They closely diagnose and treat all facial misalignments. Additionally, an orthodontist treats biting issues. You can also visit an orthodontist in case you are experiencing crooked teeth problems. 

Services offered by a dentist and orthodontist 

Major services offered by dentists include: 

  1. Root canals
  2. Teeth whitening
  3. Dentures
  4. Oral surgery
  5. Veneers
  6. Filling and bonding teeth
  7. Repairing cracked teeth
  8. Extracting teeth
  9. Installing veneers or crowns
  10. Dental X-rays
  11. Encouraging oral health 
  12. Prescribing medicines and treatments

Major services offered by orthodontists include: 

  1. treat teeth alignment issues
  2. Correct jaw alignment
  3. Perform oral surgery
  4. Space maintainers
  5. Aligners
  6. Jaw repositioning appliances
  7. Lip and cheek bumpers
  8. Removable retainers
  9. Headgear

Difference between an orthodontist and a dentist

Feature Dentist Orthodontist
Education A dentist graduated from a dental school. Graduates from dental school. Further, a residency in orthodontics is also completed. 
Practice scope  General oral health care, including fillings and cleanings. It also includes extractions and more. Specializes in preventing and diagnosing teeth misalignment. Further, a correcting treatment plan is made. 
Treatments Provides a variety of dental treatments to maintain overall oral health.  Majorly focuses on dental treatments like aligners. They also focus on braces and other orthodontic appliances
Specialization General Dentistry Orthodontics
Referral May refer patients to specialists, such as orthodontists Dentists refer for orthodontic treatment.

Wrapping Up 

Both of them are an integral part of the dental world. However, both offer similar services; thus, confusion between the two is quite evident. We hope this article highlights the differences. 

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