Should a dentist or an orthodontist perform my orthodontic work?

Orthodontist: Only a trained orthodontist, who completes a 2-3 year speciality residency at an ada acredited program is recongized as someone who fully understands orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. There are dentists who perform orthodontics, however, they have not completed the required coursework required. Should someone with a heart condition see their gp or a cardiologist?

Orthodontist: While may general dentists take lots of continuing education in many areas, orthodontics is a complicated specialty. You will receive the best treatment from a properly trained orthodontic specialist.

An orthodontist: An orthodontist is a general dentist who has spent 2-3 years following dental school studying only tooth movement, jaw orthopedics, and facial growth, among other subjects. My analogy is this: would you go to your primary care physician for brain surgery? Or would you seek out a neurosurgeon?

No: Straightening teeth is not what dentists are trained for. Its like asking an interist to do heart surgery. If you want your teeth straightened, go to an orthodontist.

Orthodontist: Orthodontists have far more experience in treating malocclusion than does a general dentist. They have received two or three more years of schooling, and are better trained for most procedures.

Orthodontist: Orthodontics is a complex practice. No one can be knowledgeable about everything. General practitioners are good at dental diseases. To be competent in ortho one must complete an additional 2-4 years of training. The general practitioner does not know what he doesn't know and the results are often devastating, regardless of his bravado. Would you let your family doctor do open heart surgery?

Check credentials: I have seen outstanding orthodontic results that have been performed by general dentists, and disastrous outcomes at the hand of specialists. Proper philosophy and diagnosis lies at the heart of any outcome. There is no substitute for adequate, on-going training and a mind open to and respectful of new ideas and differing philosophies. Find someone well trained whose approach makes sense to you.

No brainer: Orthodontists have at least 2 full years of specialty residency training after completing dental school, hundreds of hours of continuing education primary in Orthodontics, and do nothing but malocclusion correction all day long. GP's do primarily esthetic cosmetic restorative treatment, have no residency training, have divided their continuing education hours up among all the dental disciplines.