When your children have dental problems, such as tooth decay, you know that they should see a dentist. However, when they have problems that affect the way their teeth are lined up, you should be making an appointment for them to see an orthodontist instead.
Similarities Between Dentists and Orthodontists
Dentists and orthodontists both provide services that help patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile, but they do so in different ways. Orthodontists are all dentists and sometimes offer dentistry services, such as teeth cleanings or treatment for tooth decay, in addition to orthodontic care. However – not all dentists are orthodontists.
Differences Between Dentists and Orthodontists
Orthodontists and dentists have a similar education when it comes to dental care. Orthodontists also take classes in orthodontic care, which involves learning about problems with tooth alignment and how to provide treatment to correct these issues. Orthodontic care involves helping patients with problems such as teeth that are misaligned, teeth that are crowded, underbites and overbites. They can fit patients with braces, aligners or other orthodontic devices in order to correct problems with their bite or tooth alignment.
Reasons to Seek Orthodontic Care
When your children have teeth that don’t line up properly or other problems with their jaw, orthodontic care is designed to correct these issues. Bringing your children to a dentist for care won’t ensure that they receive the services they need to straighten teeth, correct misalignments or correct jaw problems.
An orthodontist has the training, education and equipment needed to provide your children with the right care. Keep in mind that having tooth misalignment or a bite problem can affect your children’s lives in different ways. They might have difficulty speaking clearly, or they might feel self-conscious about their appearance. Orthodontists can evaluate their teeth and jaw to check for signs of problems and provide the necessary treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment
There are different kinds of orthodontic treatments available to correct alignment or jaw problems. Some of these include braces, palatal expanders, separators, retainers and Invisalign. In some cases, orthodontic surgery is recommended to correct severe problems that orthodontic devices cannot help with. Orthodontists also provide treatment for problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), such as mouth-guards that are worn at night to prevent tooth grinding.
Keep in mind that adults sometimes need orthodontic care. If you are experiencing problems with your jaw or with tooth alignment, it’s important to see an orthodontist for proper care.
If your children need orthodontic care, please contact Dr. Doug Crosby Orthodontics to make an appointment. Dr. Crosby can provide your children with orthodontic care to improve their smile
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