Dentistry and orthodontics are both professions that deal with the teeth. However, a dentist and an orthodontist are not the same. Both dentistry and orthodontics require similar training, but an orthodontist must go through years more of schooling because they do different work. If you have a dental emergency or problems related to tooth decay, you want to see a dentist. If you have a bite or alignment issue and are in need of braces or surgery to correct that issue, you want to see an orthodontist. While both dentistry and orthodontics focus on the teeth, you have to go to one or the other depending on the oral health issue you have. Find out the difference between dentistry and orthodontics and what service you need to use to keep your smile beautiful and healthy.

Dentistry and Orthodontics

You may have visited both a dental and orthodontic office before in your life, but you may not know the main differences between dentistry and orthodontics. Both dentistry and orthodontics deal with the health of your mouth, also known as oral health. Both also have similar training—at least for the first few years. Dentists have to attend 4 years of college to receive a Bachelor’s degree. They then have to do 4 more years of dental school. Did you know that orthodontists also have to finish the same schooling? The difference is, that once dental school is over, an orthodontist aslo has to also do an additional 2-3 years of training in a post-doctoral program. This is where they learn orthodontics.

A dentist and an orthodontist will both be trained to notice signs of tooth decay and gum disease. A dentist will perform the procedures to fix problems associated with both of these conditions. An orthodontist mainly focuses on your bite, jaw alignment, and the straightness of your teeth. What each profession focuses on is where dentistry and orthodontics differ.

What Do Dentists Do?

Dentists provide quite a lot of services to their patients to prevent and treat gum disease as well as tooth decay. Tooth decay is also known as “cavities” as well as “dental caries”. Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among children and adults, so there are many services to combat it. At our dental office we perform services such as:

• Diagnostic and preventive care
• Regular dental cleanings and x-ray imaging
• Oral cancer screenings
• Teeth whitening
• Tooth-colored fillings
• Porcelain veneers (cosmetic dentistry)
• Invisalign orthodontic treatment
• Crowns and bridges for missing teeth
• Root canals and dental extractions (for severe tooth decay)
• Dentures and partial dentures
• Implant placement and restorations of your smile
• Custom night guards and mouthguards for sports
• Root planing and scaling (periodontal treatment)

Not all dentists provide cosmetic dentistry services, but Dr. Bockrath has done training to offer this to his patients. He is able to take a smile severely damaged by tooth decay and restore it back to a beautiful smile. Some dental offices (like ours) do offer straightening services through Invisalign. We are one of the providers of Invisalign. This is a series of transparent aligners that you replace every 1-2 weeks. In about the same time as traditional metal brackets take, you can have a straight, beautiful smile. Invisalign is a service that the majority of orthodontists also offer to their patients.

What Do Orthodontists Do?

As we mentioned, dentistry and orthodontics do different services to help keep your mouth healthy. An orthodontist focuses on your bite and jaw alignment both when you are young and when you are a teenager and an adult. Many people picture metal braces when they think about orthodontics, as metal braces are one of the most popular straightening services orthodontists provide their patients. For teenagers, they have this option as well as others: lingual braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign transparent aligners. Lingual braces are similar to traditional metal brackets, except they are placed on the inside of the teeth. Ceramic braces are brackets made from white, ceramic material that blends into the white of your natural teeth.

Orthodontists don’t only have teenagers as their patients. Studies show that about 1/4th of all braces wearers are actually adults. A large majority is comprised of children as well. Child orthodontics is very popular, and actually recommended for everyone. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child see an orthodontist between the ages of 7 and 8. This is a time where bite and alignment issues are commonly present. If needed, a child will receive braces to align their jaws correctly and to align the growth of their teeth so that they rest neatly on top of one another. In adolescence, an orthodontist will provide braces to straighten the permanent teeth once they have grown in. If they notice problems with tooth decay or gum disease, the orthodontist will refer you to a dentist for treatment.

Important Services

There are some dental services that are so important, you need them several times a year. If you see the dentist often, then you know we are talking about comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. The American Dental Association recommends that every person visit their dentist at least twice a year for these services. If you are prone to cavities or have gum disease or other oral health issues, you should see the dentist every 3 months or more as needed.

We will provide you every service possible to help combat your tooth decay and to give you a beautiful smile you can be proud of. If orthodontic services are needed, we can refer you to a trusted professional. Dentistry and orthodontics are very important to patients who want to keep their smiles healthy and beautiful. To learn more about what we can do for you, call Mountain Aire Dentistry today at (303) 222-0403!