Who is an Orthodontist: All About the Orthodontist Profession.

In recent years, the profession of an orthodontist has gained popularity like never before. This professional earns quite well, and has fewer duties and problems than a dentist. Moreover, they have the opportunity to work with regular clients (the main specificity of the work). 

However, the question of who an orthodontist is may not be fully understood. Many future doctors should study more precisely who an orthodontist is before choosing this direction in their work. 

Who is a Dentist Orthodontist?

When understanding who a dental orthodontist or separately an orthodontist is, it is necessary to understand the difference in these specialties. Because the profession of a dental orthodontist involves more work than just an orthodontist. 

In addition to who an orthodontist is and what they do, it is important to know what they do and how to train for this profession. 

Orthodontist and dentist are two different specializations in the field of dentistry. What are their differences:

1. An orthodontist is a dental specialization that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities and malocclusion of teeth and jaws. Orthodontic problems can include tooth misalignment, improper bite, and other defects. An orthodontist uses various treatment methods, such as braces, removable appliances, to correct the position of teeth and jaws and restore the proper bite.

2. A dentist is a general specialization in dentistry that covers a wide range of dental services, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and restoration of teeth and gums. A dentist can perform general procedures such as teeth cleaning, filling, extractions, root canals, dental prosthetics, and implantation. They can also perform aesthetic tooth correction, such as whitening and restoration of tooth shape and color.

The main difference between an orthodontist and a dentist is that an orthodontist specializes in correcting bite abnormalities and tooth and jaw alignment, while a dentist covers a wide range of general dental services, including prevention, treatment, and restoration of teeth and gums.

What Does an Orthodontist Do?

When considering who a dental orthodontist is, it is important to understand not only who they are but also what they do. 

The work of an orthodontist involves diagnosing, preventing, and treating bite abnormalities and malocclusion of teeth and jaws. 

What an orthodontist mainly does:

1. Diagnosis. An orthodontist examines the patient, analyzes medical and dental history, and takes X-rays, impressions, and digital tooth impressions to diagnose the bite condition and assess the need for correction.

2. Treatment planning. Based on the diagnosis, the orthodontist develops an individual treatment plan, which may involve the use of braces, removable appliances, elastic bands, and other methods of dental alignment correction.

3. Correction of bite and tooth alignment. The main task of an orthodontist is to correct the incorrect position of teeth and jaws to restore the proper bite. This may include aligning teeth, eliminating crossbites, widening or narrowing the dental arch, and other corrective procedures.

4. Monitoring treatment progress. An orthodontist regularly monitors treatment progress, adjusting braces and additional appliances, as well as modifying the treatment plan depending on changes in bite and tooth alignment.

5. Treatment completion. After completing the treatment, the orthodontist provides the necessary care for the results, including removing braces or other appliances, polishing teeth, recommending the use of retainers, and scheduling regular follow-up visits to maintain the proper bite and stability of the results.

Overall, the work of an orthodontist aims to achieve a proper bite and a beautiful smile in patients, as well as to improve their health and overall well-being.

How Does an Orthodontist's Work Differ for Adults and Children?

When understanding who an orthodontist is, it is necessary to understand that such a specialist usually works separately with adults and children. 

Although the basic principles of an orthodontist's work for adults and children remain the same (diagnosis, treatment planning, and bite correction), there are several key differences in the approach and methods used for each group of patients:

1. Children are still growing and developing bones and teeth, so a children's orthodontist often works with these natural processes to correct the bite and tooth alignment. In adults, the bone tissue is already fully formed, so treatment may require more complex methods, even surgical correction or the use of implants.

2. Adults and children may react differently to orthodontic treatment. Adults are more aware of the importance of treatment and better follow the doctor's instructions, while children may feel more resistance or have difficulty following the regimen.

3. Adults may have problems related to tooth loss, tooth wear, and decreased bone tissue (all of these can affect treatment results and the choice of correction methods). In children, on the contrary, the treatment process can be successful due to higher bone plasticity and ease of correction.

4. In adults, there may be health-related problems, such as periodontal diseases or temporomandibular joint arthritis, which can also affect treatment results and the choice of correction methods.

5. In adults, aesthetic aspects of treatment (choice of braces or transparent alignment systems) may receive more attention due to higher demands for appearance. 

Overall, orthodontic treatment for adults and children may be similar in methodology, but different in implementation. Working with these patient groups requires a different approach.