What does an orthodontist do that is different from a dental specialist?

Orthodontists and dentists both help patients improve their oral health, but in different ways. Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gum, nerves, and jaw, while orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that focuses on correcting bites, occlusion, and the straightness of teeth.

What does a dental specialist do?

This dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education.

What is the difference between a dentist and oral surgeon?

One of the biggest differences between a dentist and an oral surgeon is the amount of training required. After completing years of additional training, oral surgeons further develop their expertise by performing complicated procedures for dental implants, jaw joint issues, facial pain, and wisdom teeth extraction.

Is every dentist an orthodontist?

To understand a core difference between dental care and orthodontics, you should know not all dentists are orthodontists, but all orthodontists are dentists. General dentists are highly qualified professionals who care for the overall health, wellness and beauty of your smile.

Why would a dentist refer you to a specialist?

Your dentist might have referred you to an oral surgeon for dental implant placement, wisdom teeth extractions, oral pathology, or jaw surgery. While dentists are trained to perform many types of procedures, sometimes specialists are needed to deliver highly focused and complex care.

What is a mouth specialist called?

Oral surgeons, also called maxillofacial surgeons, are trained to detect, diagnose, and prevent defects and diseases that affect the mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums.

What is difference between Dentistry and dentist?

They both mean the same thing—your dentist graduated from an accredited dental school. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education.

What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?

Orthodontists and dentists undertake the same training initially, but orthodontists complete further training after they graduate dental school. To become a dentist, a person must complete four years of undergraduate education and four years of dental school, according to the American Dental Association.

What is the difference between a general dentist and a specialist?

By completing extensive training in their chosen area, they focus primarily on performing these specific procedures. Types of specialists include: Endodontists, pediatric specialists, prosthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists and orthodontists. Your general dentist can, in most cases, perform most of the same procedures a specialist performs.

What is the difference between a dentist and a dental hygienist?

About 80 percent of dentists practice what’s known as general dentistry. Certified dentists can diagnose and treat oral health conditions of your teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth. They’re also able to clean your teeth, but dental hygienists usually take care of that.

What is a dental surgeon?

Oral Surgeons: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dentists who have completed at least four years of post-graduate surgical hospital residency. These dental surgeons are trained to treat and diagnose defects, injuries and diseases of the mouth, jaw, teeth, neck, gums, and other soft tissues of the head.