Orthodontics: Smiles Are Our Specialty In an age when we are seeing so many advances in the Health Sciences it is not surprising that Dental Medicine has also participated in this technological leap forward. In fact, our patients have always associated Feinberg Orthodontics with cutting edge orthodontic technology. Given the overwhelming amount of knowledge that is necessary to become a progressive general dentist how can a dentist also become an expert in orthodontics. Well, the short answer is that this is not possible. The reason that I am devoting this blog post to appreciating the difference between an orthodontic specialist and general dentist is because this is one of the more common questions that our patients ask us. In fact, the question is sometimes posed this way, “Dentists and orthodontists are all the same, right?”
How are they the same: Both orthodontists and dentists are focused on improving their patients oral health, An orthodontist can work in a dental office and provide the same care as a dentist. So in this respect, they are quite similar. They are both considered doctors, and deal with the teeth and gums.
How Are They Different: Let me explain the difference between the two. A general dentist is your primary dental care provider. Dentists diagnose, treat, and manage your overall oral healthcare needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges. An important difference is that all orthodontists like Dr. Mark Feinberg are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.
What Does An Orthodontist Do? Orthodontists, such as Dr. Mark Feinberg, are specialists within dentistry. The orthodontist is more concerned with diagnosis, prevention, interception, and treatment of malocclusions, or what we call “bad bites,” of the teeth. Dr. Feinberg’s focus is on tooth and jaw alignment and bite problems such as overbites and underbites, and is responsible for straightening teeth via fixed appliances like bands, wires, and braces. Or using removable corrective devices, for instance clear aligners, like Invisalign. Orthodontists are experts in the treatment of both children as well as adults who wish to improve function of their bite and appearance of their smile.
How to Become An Orthodontist: Before becoming an orthodontist, doctors such as Dr. Mark Feinberg study at a four year dental medicine program and if successful earn a dental degree, just like your general dentist. Many graduating dentists decide that they would like to continue to learn and become skilled in a particular area of dentistry, called a specialty. There are nine specialties in dentistry. Dr. Mark Feinberg, decided to pursue the specialty of orthodontics. So after dental school, the orthodontist goes well beyond the basic dental degree, completing a multi-year, postdoctoral university residency program dedicated to facial growth and development, facial esthetics and tooth movement procedures. Orthodontists possess advanced skill sets that are critical to safely and effectively perform tooth movement and jaw alignment
As an orthodontic expert, Dr. Mark is here to help you through any type of treatment your teeth and jaw might need?
To schedule your initial appointment at our Shelton, CT office, please give us a call today!
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