What is the difference between an orthodontist and a family (general) dentist?
The main difference is the advanced specialty training. To become an orthodontist, a general dentist must undergo at least two additional years of rigorous full-time training. It’s similar to an internship a family physician undergoes to become a heart or plastic surgeon. Do you do lingual braces (braces behind the teeth)? At one time we worked with these braces that are placed on the tongue side of the teeth, but we stopped for good reasons. The first is their comfort – tongue side braces are difficult to tolerate for most people. Also, the treatment lasted 6 to 18 months longer, so the fee is much higher. The third reason is that excellent, non-staining tooth-colored braces are now available, and so is Invisalign. Treatment is shorter with these, and esthetics are very nice, so results are quicker, more predictable, and carry a much lower fee.
