When you look for a dentist or orthodontist in Windsor, CA, who offers braces, you’ll find a few options. However, there’s a reason you should choose an orthodontic specialist in Sonoma County. So if you’re questioning why you should see an orthodontist, this guide will break down the difference between an orthodontist vs. a dentist for braces and orthodontic treatments in general.
What’s a Dentist?
A dentist is a healthcare provider who diagnoses oral health problems, offers preventative care, and provides dental treatments. A dentist completes a four-year undergraduate degree and four years in dental school. No residency is required. To be able to offer braces, a dentist must complete a short course or certificate program.
What’s an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has a specialty. While they complete their undergraduate degree and then complete four years in dental school, they don’t stop there. Afterward, they complete two to three years in an orthodontic residency. Ultimately, that means they complete at least 10 years of schooling.
Training Orthodontists Receive
As you’re comparing whether you should see a dentist or orthodontist to complete your braces treatment, understand that a specialist will receive a mix of book learning and hands-on experience related to tooth movement, jaw alignment, and bite correction.
Rather than a short training course that may only last a few days or weeks, orthodontists go through two to three years of additional training after dental school. They know how to treat mild to severe cases, while a dentist may only be able to tackle mild ones.
A standard dentist who completed orthodontic training can predominantly handle cosmetic cases where the patient has minor alignment issues, such as mild crowding or small gaps.
However, a specialist with braces in Windsor, CA, is much more suitable if you have orthodontic problems, such as the following:
- Moderate to severe spacing
- Bite issues, including overbites, underbites, or crossbites
- Jaw alignment concerns
- Moderate or severe crowding
While any of these can be cosmetic concerns for you only, they may also increase your risk of oral health conditions in the future, such as gum disease. For that reason, you may want to put your trust in an orthodontic specialist in Sonoma County who understands the ins and outs of correcting orthodontic issues.
Why See an Orthodontist Over a Dentist
To truly understand how an orthodontist and. a dentist compares, you should be aware of what’s required in the planning phase. A dental provider doesn’t go into the process using guesswork and tweaking the treatment as time goes on.
Instead, the practitioner carefully curates a treatment plan by considering how the teeth will shift and their final destinations. It requires thought and imaging. An orthodontist has extra training on how to plan orthodontic treatment and utilize imaging effectively to create treatment plans.
You must consider the possibility of needing another treatment down the road if this one doesn’t go as planned or help you achieve the desired results. Whenever you choose an orthodontist with limited experience or a dentist who doesn’t have specific training with your type of case, you’re more likely to have to undergo a follow-up orthodontic treatment in the future, which can be costly or inconvenient.
Whether you’re an adult or have a teen looking into braces treatment, how noticeable braces are might not be ideal. Going through the process a second time would only worsen matters.
Not counting aftercare like retainers, the average braces treatment takes 18 to 24 months. Some factors that affect the time it takes include your age and the severity of your case. One factor that many people don’t consider is whether you use a dentist or orthodontist, or the skill of the dental practitioner, which can impact the length of treatment. Someone with experience and training may be able to speed up your treatment without sacrificing results.
How to Choose an Orthodontist
As you compare an orthodontist vs. a dentist for braces, you may find that an orthodontic specialist is an obvious choice. However, you have options, and deciding on one isn’t always the easiest task. These tips can help you pick the right one for you and feel confident in your decision.
Consider Location
First and foremost, choose someone locally — or at least an orthodontist relatively nearby. This doesn’t seem like it should be a top concern, considering you want someone who will provide results. However, once you receive braces, you need to come into the office every four to eight weeks. You don’t want the commute to affect your ability to attend appointments regularly and arrive on time.
Look for a Specialist
Although you can just search “braces in Windsor, CA,” you’ll receive a mix of providers who offer this service — some orthodontists and some general dentists. You specifically want to narrow your search down to only orthodontists in the area. Just to be on the safe side, you’ll want to view the practitioner’s “About” page and double-check to see if he or she is a dentist offering certain orthodontic treatments or a true orthodontist.
Check Out Their Experience
While everyone starts somewhere, you may want to look into how much experience the orthodontist has before you select one. You want the practitioner to have handled several cases before taking on yours, with a high success rate. Ideally, you want your practitioner to have a lengthy, established career.
Read Reviews
During your search, check out the reviews of the practice. See what people thought of the experience they had. Look for someone who is known for answering patients’ questions and making people feel comfortable throughout the treatment process.
Part of comparing should also include checking out the results people received. Make sure you’re looking at treatment with braces as opposed to Invisalign. While both treatments offer similar results, coordinating treatment plans for each one is different.
Schedule a Consultation
Pick the top two or three options to schedule consultations with, and get to know each one. Come prepared with questions you have and assess how well the orthodontist creates a plan that seems feasible. You’ll also want to see if the price seems reasonable. By having multiple consultations, you can pick and choose which orthodontist seems to have a plan that meets your needs.
Comparing an orthodontist vs. a dentist for braces in Windsor, CA? In many cases, an orthodontist like Dr. Bernstein or Dr. Heron of Bernstein Orthodontics is your best bet for a successful treatment plan. By scheduling a consultation, you can discover firsthand if one of them is the orthodontist for you.
Contact us today at 707-575-0600 to book your consultation and be one step closer to straighter teeth.
FAQs
If you have any questions, please check out the frequently asked questions patients ask us. And if you have any further ones, please don’t hesitate to call.
1. Is it better to go to a dentist or orthodontist?
There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this. Each dental practitioner plays a vital role in oral health. Both may help people obtain healthier smiles. That said, the one you choose depends on what you need and want.
Orthodontists specifically focus on the position of patients’ teeth and jaws, while dentists center care around keeping teeth healthy and correcting certain oral health issues.
2. What’s the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?
Both of these dental practitioners complete an undergraduate degree and four years in dental school. An orthodontist, however, extends their education to include training about tooth movement, jaw alignment, and more.
3. What can an orthodontist do that a dentist can’t?
An orthodontist can provide braces or clear aligners for moderate to severe cases, whereas a dentist may only be able to treat mild cases or none at all. In fact, an orthodontist may be able to address a number of issues, while a dentist’s scope of practice regarding orthodontic problems is more limited. Some examples include underbites, crossbites, overbites, spacing, and overcrowding.
4. Can orthodontists help with sleep apnea?
This isn’t standard across the board. Only some orthodontists can help sleep apnea patients better manage their condition using an orthodontic appliance.
Using a device, for instance, that’s similar to a mouthguard, you can keep your jaw forward, prevent your tongue from blocking your airway, and keep airway collapse from happening to help open the airways. Keep in mind that this treatment is primarily for patients who can’t tolerate a CPAP and don’t receive the sleep apnea treatment they want.
5. Are orthodontists more expensive than dentists?
Typically, you’ll pay more to see an orthodontist than a dentist. This is because you’re paying for the expertise and time the practitioner spent to specialize. Not to mention, you’re also paying for specialized equipment. You also tend to see an orthodontist more frequently than you do a dentist.