What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist? 

What is an orthodontist? 

Many people interchange the terms dentist and orthodontist. These two professions certainly have similarities, but orthodontics is a specific branch of dentistry and the queen of our dental profession. These experts treat specific types of dental problems. You may never visit an orthodontist, but if you do, you need to understand exactly what an orthodontist does and why they exist. Orthodontic treatment is not just about treating a smile by straightening teeth. It's about correcting the entire lower third of the face and the statics of the entire body. 

Definition of an orthodontist 

A dentist is a doctor who treats problems within the oral cavity. Areas of focus include the mouth, jaw, teeth, gums, and nerves. Orthodontists are specialists. Their priority is to straighten teeth. Simply put, all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists are specialist doctors who treat orthodontic anomalies in patients referred to them by general dentists. Orthodontics is a specialization that after graduation requires many completed cases, which must be followed for at least 10 years backwards to know how well you are doing your job. Orthodontics is an explicitly specialist profession and is exclusively practiced by specialists who, after completing dental school, must complete a specialization and pass a specialist exam. 

In recent years, general dentists, without passing a specialist exam and necessary orthodontic knowledge have begun to practice orthodontics, believing that "weekend courses" or online seminars are sufficient for practicing orthodontics, which results in a loss of quality orthodontic service. 

An orthodontist diagnoses malocclusion, or bite disorder, misaligned teeth and jaws. After diagnosis, the orthodontist corrects the orthodontic anomaly. If left untreated, such anomalies will get worse over time. The goal of orthodontic therapy is also prevention.

What does an orthodontist do?

An orthodontist specializes in the alignment of teeth and the harmonization of jaws and bite. They undergo a specific three-year specialization to learn how to straighten teeth and align jaws. If your dentist refers you to an orthodontist, it means that they have identified an anomaly. The primary job of an orthodontist is to recognize issues with teeth and jaws. Gaps between teeth, known as diastema, will widen over time. Teeth will shift and seek anchorage points. The orthodontist will try to bring your teeth together to address the problem. Conversely, having too many teeth crowded in the jaw is equally problematic, especially for children. The orthodontist may likely remove extra teeth to create space for aligning the remaining teeth or expand the entire jaw to accommodate all teeth. Orthodontists have several tools to address these issues. Brackets are the most well-known option. These types of braces consist of brackets and wires that surround the teeth.

If brackets are not the preferred option, the orthodontist may use aligners instead. The most well-known example is Invisalign. By design, it is not visible from a distance, making your smile more attractive. This is because the system does not use metal wires or brackets. Patients appreciate them because they can remove and replace them by themselves.

In extreme cases, orthodontists may treat patients with a palatal expander. It widens the upper jaw arch, providing more space for the palate. Another option is an extraoral device called a headgear, which is a more dramatic solution for misaligned teeth. This device connects the back of the head to a wire in the front of the mouth, with the purpose of pulling the front teeth backward. Additionally, mini screws can be inserted into the bone through the gums to serve as an anchor for moving teeth in a specific direction. In the most extreme cases, orthodontists prepare patients for maxillofacial surgery.

How much training does an orthodontist need?

An orthodontist must first complete dental school. Dental school typically requires four years of study. Most dentists stop at this point and begin practicing immediately. However, orthodontists cannot do so yet. To obtain a license to practice orthodontics, an individual must pursue additional years of study. Most dental schools require an additional three years of education before a dentist qualifies as an orthodontist. This means that an orthodontist is a dentist with almost twice the knowledge, primarily specializing in the field of teeth and jaw alignment. Additionally, every orthodontic specialist holds a certification of passing the specialist exam, which they can show you upon request.

A list of all orthodontic specialists in the Republic of Croatia is available on the Croatian Orthodontic Society's website, and we kindly ask you to verify whether your doctor is licensed to practice orthodontics and recognized as an orthodontic specialist in the Republic of Croatia before deciding on orthodontic treatment.

What does a visit to an orthodontist look like?

A consultation with an orthodontist is almost identical to that with a dentist. You will visit a medical office. Some of them have agreements with insurance, while others do not. So, for some, you will need a referral, while for completely private ones, you will pay for everything yourself. Specialist consultations last about half an hour and cost between 40 and 67 EUR. If it is determined that you require immediate treatment, you will first be referred for diagnostics, and you will be given a new appointment that lasts one hour and costs between 133 and 200 EUR. For certain types of therapy, you should expect multiple visits. After the consultation, a complete diagnosis follows, which includes panoramic X-rays, tele-radiographs, CBCT, as well as photographs and scans or impressions of all teeth in the bite. Then you will be given an appointment for the braces placement and approximately 10 scheduled check-up appointments lasting half an hour at intervals of 8 to 10 weeks. You will sign several documents before starting the therapy and commit to cooperation. After that, you will visit the orthodontist regularly, who will check if the brackets are in proper condition and change the wires from the thinnest to the thickest. Finally, the time will come for braces removal. The entire treatment process usually takes one to three years. Once the orthodontist removes the brackets, the teeth have been successfully aligned. From then on, you will wear retainers to maintain your smile and keep your teeth straight.

When visiting an orthodontist, you should make sure that you have visited a qualified specialist. Although you may need to wear brackets, elastics, mini screws, a hyrax expander, or a headgear for some time, your orthodontist has your best interests at heart and will strive to provide you with the best possible smile.