Are All "Orthodontists" The Same?

Braces and other orthodontic treatments used to be done by dentists who had special training and limited their practice to straightening teeth.  The general dentist cleaned teeth, did fillings and crowns, etc. and referred their patients to an orthodontic specialist when the teeth needed to be straightened.  Unfortunately for the public, that is no longer the case.

Today a general dentist can legally do orthodontic treatment without having any of the additional training a specialist must have, and they are not required to disclose this to their patients.  They are also allowed to make statements like "general dentistry and orthodontics" or "special interest in orthodontics" on signs and other advertisements.  A reasonable person would assume that a professional could not perform a procedure unless they had received the proper training, so these statements can be potentially very misleading.     

The word a general dentist can not legally use without the proper training is "specialist".  An orthodontic specialist must have at least one year of comprehensive full time training.  Those with a masters degree have two years.  If your general dentist wants to do the orthodontic treatment, find out what additional training they've had.  If they are not a qualified specialist, and you still want them to straighten your teeth, you should see an orthodontist for a second opinion.  Most orthodontists do complementary consultations.  The information they provide will help you make an informed decision, hopefully ensuring that the treatment is done correctly the first time.