Many individuals aren’t certain who to see when it comes to oral health — a dentist or an ortho. Both exist to give you a beautiful smile. The difference is that there are different aspects of dental care that they specialise in. Let’s look at some of the key differences, especially in terms of treatment.
What Does a Dentist Do?
As many probably know, a dentist provides you with general oral care. You can say they are similar to your family doctor — but for your teeth and gums. So if it's regular visits, fillings, gum diseases, root canals, and fillings, this is the specialist to go to. That is not all they do. Your dentist will offer preventative treatments such as fluoride applications, professional cleanings, etc.
There are many general practitioners around if you are looking for a dentist in York. These will provide walk-in services and emergency dental care. This is where you go when you need fillings, teeth pulled, crowns, etc.
What Does an Orthodontist Do?
This is a dentist; however, they are specially trained to diagnose, prevent, and treat any issues with the alignment of your teeth and jaw. They are more trained and are more knowledgeable on how to help your teeth and jaw.
If you’re trying to find an orthodontist in Surrey, you’ll come across a few providers who offer traditional braces and Invisalign among other solutions. They’ll be the ones you look up to when you need to have your teeth moved and lined up. An orthodontist’s services might be needed for months or years depending.
Key Differences in Treatments
What it comes down to is the work they perform. Dentists are out in the front taking care of the everyday teeth issues --- managing gum health, treating cavities, filling in teeth, and veneers.
Orthodontists, on the other hand, are the ones looking to create the happiness sandwich. They work with the structure of your mouth, aligning teeth and jaws. Braces, retainers, and other solutions are the meat of what they do. Such dentists have been known to provide basic orthodontic services, but any major cases were referred over to the specialists.
Choosing the Right Professional
To sum up, cavities should be treated by a dentist in York, but if your main concern is the alignment of your teeth, then an orthodontist is the way to go. When it comes to oral health, one isn’t better or more important than the other. It all depends on what we need fixed.
