What is an Orthodontist?
Orthodontists are specialists in moving teeth and aligning jaws. In addition to dental school they receive 2-3 years of training exclusively in orthodontics. Orthodontists are uniquely qualified in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of orthodontic problems. They dedicate their professional lives to creating healthy, beautiful smiles in children, teens and adults.
Orthodontists use a variety of “appliances,” including braces, clear aligner trays and retainers, to move teeth or hold them in their new positions. Because of orthodontists’ advanced education and clinical experience, they have the knowledge and skills necessary to recommend the best kind of appliance to meet every individual patient’s treatment goals.
Why Choose an Orthodontist?
To have the best and healthiest smile you can have.
Get it by relying on orthodontists’ expertise, which comes from their extensive education. After graduating from dental school, orthodontists go on for another two or more years of education just in orthodontics at an accredited orthodontic residency program. Only after this formal education can one be called an orthodontist. Orthodontists are dedicated to helping your teeth and jaws work in union so that you can speak, bite and chew comfortably and effectively. There’s a bonus. Teeth and jaws that work well tend to look good, too.
To both feel good and look good.
With care from an orthodontist, you have an expert who has been educated to understand how your teeth, your jaws and your facial muscles all work together. A healthy mouth contributes to your overall good health. Your appearance gets a boost, too.
To get the specialized treatment you deserve.
You trust your heart to a cardiologist, your skin to a dermatologist, your knees to an orthopedist. Like these specialists who study their specialty areas after their general medical education, orthodontists devote additional years of study to orthodontics after they graduate from dental school. And like their medical counterparts, orthodontists limit their practices to their specialty area. Orthodontists have in-depth experience in orthodontic care. They use their knowledge and skills to help you get the best results possible.
To get your bite right.
Your bite is a complex biologic system. Its components include up to 32 teeth, upper and lower jaws, gums and facial muscles. Your healthy bite is the orthodontist’s goal. The goal is met by making sure the separate elements are positioned for optimal performance. You enjoy the ability to bite, chew and speak well.
To solve the problem.
You may see six crooked front teeth. The orthodontist sees the cause of crooked teeth in three dimensions. Orthodontists use their education, experience and expertise to delve deep to discover the root of your orthodontic problem. Armed with a diagnosis that takes all factors into account, orthodontists can plan your solution—one that delivers a healthy, attractive smile and a lasting result.
To recommend the right treatment for you.
There are a lot of treatment options these days, from clear aligners to modern braces. They each have their uses, but only an orthodontist has the specialized knowledge to identify and plan for all the variables in your mouth. Orthodontists take your unique needs and wishes into consideration, too, when recommending the right treatment option for you. Orthodontists have knowledge of the full range of orthodontic appliance “tools.” They know what to use and when to use it because they work with these tools every day.
To address the big picture.
Sure, you want a dazzling smile. Your orthodontist wants that for you, too—and treatment results that last. You deserve the best—a good bite and a healthy, beautiful smile. Consult an orthodontist for your life, your health, your happiness, your smile.
