Orthodontists and dentists share similarities, and they work together to help you improve your overall oral health, but they actually work in very different ways.

Orthodontists and dentists share similarities, and they work together to help you improve your overall oral health, but they actually work in very different ways.  Your Dentist covers a broad range of oral health issues. An orthodontist, on the other hand, is a dental specialist who focuses only on straightening  teeth, correcting improper bites and maximising facial aesthetics.

Most dentists will refer their patients to a qualified orthodontist, but some will offer to complete orthodontic treatments themselves. This sometimes leads patients to assume that their dentist is an orthodontist and to proceed with treatment without getting a second opinion. The truth is that putting aligners or braces on teeth does not make a dentist an orthodontist.
 

Orthodontists

• Orthodontists are dental specialists. They have completed an additional three years of  full-time university training, on top of their general dental degree. 
• They specialise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities to help correctly align teeth, bites and jaws, including straightening teeth.
• Orthodontists are experts in the full range of orthodontic treatment options and technologies for children, teens and adults.

Dentists

• Dentists have completed only a General Dental Degree.
• They are experts in general dental care and maintenance for all ages. 
• They diagnose and treat diseases of teeth gums and mouth such as decay and gum disease. They perform some cosmetic dental procedures such as tooth whitening, veneers and crowns.
• Unlike Orthodontists, Dentists are not trained to fit braces or to oversee other orthodontic treatments.
• Most General Dentists will refer their patients to an Orthodontic Specialist. 

Your smile is one of your most important features and the first asset you present to the world, so you want to make sure it is in the best hands, with a fully trained specialist orthodontist.