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Orthodontist and Dentist
Each plays an important role in caring for your teeth.
- Dentists provide ongoing dental care, including regular cleanings and decay repair.
- Orthodontists differ from dentists because they are specialists in tooth relationships
and facial development.
- Orthodontists complete a multi-year residency program after dental school.
- Orthodontists and dentists work together to achieve a good smile, proper jaw function
and overall oral health.
They Work Hand-in-Hand
Chances are, you've been seeing a dentist since you were a small child.
Your dentist is responsible for your ongoing dental care - supervising
professional cleanings, repairing cavities, promoting gum health and
providing for your overall dental health. Often it's the dentist who
refers a patient to an orthodontist for braces.
Orthodontists are specialists in the relationship of teeth to one another
and the management of facial development as well as how both impact dental
function. Becoming an orthodontist requires completion of a four-year dental
graduate program followed by a two- to three-year orthodontics residency.
This specialized academic program focuses on the skills needed to direct tooth
movement and guide facial development.
Your dentist and orthodontist work hand in hand with a third colleague: you.
They rely on you to do much of the work required to make dental and orthodontic
treatment successful. Regular, careful brushing and flossing are critical, especially
while you're wearing braces. It's equally important that you use the required tools for
your orthodontic care. Any bands or headgear should be worn exactly as your orthodontist
prescribes. Your proactive participation during and after orthodontic treatment is your
greatest assurance of results that last for the rest of your life.
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