What Is An Orthodontist?

As an orthodontist you can trust, Dr. Mark Nalbandian’s goal at Wired Orthodontics is to provide the highest quality orthodontic care and treatment available for patients throughout Toronto, Scarborough, North York, and the surrounding Ontario areas.

Many people believe a dentist and an orthodontist are the same thing, but that’s not quite the case. The two professional titles certainly have some similarities, and they do work together, but orthodontics is a specific type of dental care. An orthodontist is a specialist that treats certain types of dental problems.

Orthodontist in Toronto ON

What Does An Orthodontist Do?

An orthodontist such as Dr. Nalbandian is a fully qualified dentist who takes on an additional 2-3 years of orthodontic schooling and gains extensive clinical experience in an orthodontic residency program. The American Association of Orthodontists is the overseeing body for this branch of elite dentistry.

The most important job for an orthodontist is identifying, treating, and preventing issues with your teeth and mouth. Orthodontists are experts at treating misaligned or overcrowded teeth, as well as bite problems (malocclusions). Malocclusions can also result when the upper and lower jaws don’t fit together properly, whether from premature loss of baby teeth, developmental abnormalities, trauma, or other causes.

Dentist vs Orthodontist

Understanding the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist can help you make the right choice for your dental care needs. Here are the key factors that differentiate them:

Education and Training:

• Both dentists and orthodontists begin their careers by earning a dental degree.
• Orthodontists complete an additional 2-3 years of specialized training focused on diagnosing and treating misalignments of the teeth and jaws.

Scope of Work:

• Dentists provide a broad range of services, including routine check-ups, cleanings, fillings, and treatment for gum disease. They are essential for maintaining overall oral health and addressing common dental issues.
• Orthodontists specialize in addressing complex dental issues such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, and overcrowded teeth. They use specialized tools and techniques, including braces and clear aligners, to correct these problems and improve both the function and appearance of your smile.

Specialized Treatment:

• Dentists manage general dental care and preventative services to ensure overall oral health.
• Orthodontists offer the expertise needed for specialized treatments that ensure proper alignment and long-term dental health.

Orthodontic Treatments

If you suffer from any of the following issues, you may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment:

Overbite	where the upper front teeth stick out over the lower teeth
Underbite	where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth too far back
Cross bite	when the upper teeth do not come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together normally
Open bite	space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth bite together
Misplaced midline	when the center of your upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower front teeth
Spacing	gaps between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not “fill up” the mouth
Crowding	when there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to accommodate

Types of Treatments

• Traditional Braces – made from a high-grade stainless steel with metal brackets and archwires, which put pressure on teeth to move slowly into the correct position.
• Clear braces – work in the same way as traditional braces, but the brackets are made from a clear, transparent ceramic material.
• Invisalign – custom-made removable clear aligners that are virtually invisible and work in increments.
• Invisalign Teen – clear aligners that are removable and virtually invisible to ensure you still enjoy your favorite foods and social events.

Reasons to Visit An Orthodontist in Toronto ON

1. Achieving a healthy smile – a healthy smile not only looks good, but can also offer benefits such as increasing chewing functionality and improving speech
2. Boosting confidence – with the help of an orthodontist, a beautiful smile can provide a dramatic boost in self esteem.
3. Starting on the right path – children can avoid and prevent arising problems when seen at the right age.
4. Preventing future problems – without intervetion from orthodontics, alignment issues can become worse over time.

If you or someone you know is in need of orthodontic care or looking to visit with an orthodontist and located in Toronto, Scarborough, North York, or surrounding areas of Ontario please contact us today to take a step in the right direction and schedule a visit. Call now! (647) 344-9473.