Learn About Orthodontists

Posted on: 24 October 2018

If you have dental issues, then you want to go in for treatment as soon as you can so you can start treatment and put those issues behind you as soon as possible. The first thing you want to do is to make sure you choose the right type of dental professional to see for your specific problems. There are general dentists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, orthodontists, and more. This article will educate you on orthodontists and the types of dental services they can offer you.

Types of dental issues orthodontists deal with

Orthodontic services focus on dental issues that have to do with correct bites and straight teeth that are properly aligned and proportioned. This means an orthodontist will help to correct issues such as crooked teeth, gapped teeth, excessive tooth wear, and improper bites. An orthodontist will also be the type of dentist that you will go to if you have issues where your teeth are affecting the way you speak.

Some of the types of treatments orthodontists do

One of the most commonly known types of treatments orthodontists perform is putting braces on patients with issues that need to be corrected in this manner. If you have braces put on, you will also go to them routinely in order to have your braces tightened so they continue to cause your teeth to shift in the intended manner. The orthodontist will determine when the braces are ready to come off and remove them for you. They will also fit you and get you set up with a retainer that will need to be worn after your braces have been removed so your teeth don't slowly move back to their original positioning.

An orthodontist may decide your issue isn't that severe and you are a good candidate for clear aligners. While there are a lot of good things about aligners, they can take longer for you to be done with treatment. This is why the orthodontists don't generally choose them as the treatment of choice for patients with moderate to serious issues.

An orthodontist can also choose different treatments if they feel they would work and you are fine with them. Bonding or caps may be able to offer you a better smile if you are dealing with issues in just a couple of teeth or if you are willing to have all your teeth done, which requires things to be done to your natural teeth in some cases, such as filing them down.

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