An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in how our teeth and jaws are aligned. They are most known for correcting crooked teeth. They are the dentists we go to when we think we need braces. Often, we don’t go to them because of pain. We may just want our teeth to be straighter. We may want to correct an overbite.

Usually, patients are referred to an orthodontist by their family dentist. Either the dentist points out that a patient has an alignment problem or the patients ask for a referral.  Orthodontists deal with hardware like braces, retainers and other headgear. Orthodontists are dentists. However, they don’t do procedures that regular dentists do. They don’t perform things like extractions, fillings, and crowns. They focus more on braces, retainers, and other corrective fittings.

How Can an Orthodontist Help Me?

Part of what an orthodontist does is evaluate your teeth for misalignment or issues. They can see a lot just by looking at your teeth. However, just like your regular dentist, they will do x-rays to see what’s going on in your mouth. They may take molds to see your teeth imprints.  This helps them determine exactly what procedures or treatments will work best to fix your problem.  Orthodontists do more than just braces and retainers. They may help you with a host of other problems. Some of these are gum disease, jaw pain, and sleep apnea. They can treat these issues as well or he can refer you to a specialist who can.

Dentist versus Orthodontist

What is the main difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?  It is quite simple. Your dentist takes care of the overall health of your teeth and mouth. He diagnoses and manages your oral care. He will remove and repair teeth issues. Some of the things a dentist does are:

• Fillings and treating cavities
• Root canals
• Bridges
• Crowns
• Dentures
• Tooth whitening

An orthodontist, on the other hand, only deals with misalignment of your teeth and bad bites. A general dentist is not experienced in these things. As explained below, special training is required of orthodontists and that is what makes them specialists. Some of the things orthodontists do include:

• Wires
• Braces
• Invisaligns
• Retainers
• Other corrective devices

Schooling Required for Orthodontists

Dentists and orthodontists require a ton of schooling. Both dentists and orthodontists have to go to school well beyond college.  Both have graduated from medical school. They both also had to attend post-graduate schooling for their license. The one difference is that an orthodontist also has to complete a 2-year residency. Basically, all orthodontists are dentists. However, not all dentists are orthodontists. Make sense?  Great!

Does Insurance Cover Orthodontist Visits?

Dental insurance will cover most procedures done at your family dentist’s office. Of course, they may not cover elective things like teeth whitening. However, things like cleanings, x-rays and fillings are typically covered. Dental insurance usually covers most if not all of the procedures like crowns and root canals. Even if they’re not covered 100%, they are usually covered almost completely.

Dental insurance is not as likely to cover work done by an orthodontist. A lot of what an orthodontist does is considered elective. This means that you don’t need to have it done – you want to have it done. This is a good rule of thumb when asking yourself what an orthodontist does.

A Greenville, SC Orthodontist

Orthodontists make your mouth and smile look good. He doesn’t fix what is hurting you. He fixes what is driving you crazy. This is what we mean when we say that an orthodontist does a lot of elective procedures.

There are times when an orthodontist does perform necessary procedures. Misalignment can cause problems like speech impediments and sleep apnea. Both of these can cause serious health issues. At some point, you or someone in your family is going to need help. If you are looking for an orthodontist in Greenville, South Carolina, contact Dr. H. Carl Burton Jr, DMD, DMD, PA. He can answer all of your questions.