![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/text-with-image-x-370.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you manage a dental clinic, chances are you\u2019ve had confused patients going to your dental clinic and mistaking it for an orthodontic clinic. Admittedly, it\u2019s an easy mistake to make since all dental and ortho specialists deal with a person\u2019s oral health. But where they differ, however, is in their specialty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the difference between dentist and orthodontist services and the focus of each. We\u2019ll also discuss the benefits of adding orthodontia services to your practice\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dentist is a general term that refers to a doctor focused on a person\u2019s oral health \u2013 mostly the teeth and gums. However, their expertise also extends to the tongue and mouth. A dentist, unless specified otherwise, is considered a generalist role. Their main practice involves diagnosing and treating oral health conditions like tooth decay and gingivitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Probably the most well-known service of a dentist is tooth extraction and cleaning. However, you\u2019ll be surprised that the latter is performed more by dental hygienists than regular dentists. In bigger clinics, it might be more efficient to have this separation of duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apart from these, dentists can also perform a wide variety of services, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dentists can also use X-rays and have the authority to prescribe medicine to treat oral conditions. In many ways, a dentist is like a doctor. It\u2019s no surprise, then, that the path to becoming either is roughly the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dentists are required to complete a pre-medical degree before attending a formal course in a recognized dentistry school. In the U.S., the school must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). All dentistry schools require a residency to complete a dentistry degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lastly, all dentists must pass a licensure exam set by the state board of dentistry. Although every test differs from state to state, they involve three areas: educational, written, and clinical exams. Dentists may legally practice their craft only after passing their exam and earning their license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the real question here is: is an orthodontist a dentist? In short, yes \u2014 an orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating tooth and jaw misalignment. Their main job is to ensure that your teeth and jaw are lined-up correctly. If not, they have a variety of treatments and tools that can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what are orthodontics services and how do they differ from those of a dentist? The most basic service of an orthodontist is installing braces and retainers. If you\u2019ve ever had braces, you probably remember visits to your local orthodontist\u2019s office. Additionally, orthodontists can also perform teeth alignment surgery and diagnose bite problems.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/text-with-image-x-370_4.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In theory, an orthodontist can perform all the services a dentist could, such as cleaning or extracting teeth. But in practice, their skills are better reserved for treating teeth alignment issues, which also costs more. The reverse, though, isn\u2019t true \u2013 a dentist can\u2019t perform the duties of an orthodontist unless they undergo further training and certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because an orthodontist is considered a specialist, such services may not be covered by a patient\u2019s dental coverage on their insurance plan. This is something to consider when advising patients on whether to undergo further orthodontic treatment. Also, a typical patient won\u2019t go straight to an orthodontist. Often, a dentist would be the one to refer them to an orthodontic clinic if they believe the patient needs more specialized treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To become an orthodontist, a person must study to become a dentist first. That means earning a pre-medical degree, attending dental school, and passing a licensure exam. But it doesn\u2019t end there. Orthodontists must go through an orthodontic residency program for a further two or three years. Once completed, they are then required to pass an orthodontic certification exam before they can legally practice orthodontics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that we\u2019ve compared an orthodontist vs dentist, you might be considering expanding your practice offerings to include orthodontia. If you are, great! There are lots of good reasons to offer both dentist \/ orthodontist services:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/text-with-image-x-370_2.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest advantage of focusing on becoming a dentist \/ orthodontist hybrid is that it considerably expands your offering. This allows you to offer much more effective treatment to patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, your dentists can better understand the connection between jaw alignment and overall dental care. When a person\u2019s teeth are well-aligned, it can help them brush more effectively, leading to healthier teeth and gums. A lack of bacteria in the mouth can also lead to better respiratory and cardiac health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, teeth alignment can also prevent bite and speech problems, which could cause psychological distress and loss of self-confidence. This robust knowledge can improve all dental and orthodontics services significantly since you now know they interact with each other.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/text-with-image-x-370_5.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another benefit of offering orthodontics services is that you can advise and empathize with patients more. A dentist focusing only on dental care will be ill-equipped to answer a patient\u2019s questions about other orthodontics treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also can\u2019t allay that person\u2019s fear regarding the procedure, the pain level (if any), and the financial burden involved. By having a wider range of dental knowledge, a dentist with orthodontic skills can gain the patient\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a patient needs more advanced dental procedures, a dentist would often refer them to an orthodontist office. Aside from giving away business to another clinic, there\u2019s also the risk that they would become the patient\u2019s clinic, especially if they offered orthodontics and dental services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what if your clinic can also offer orthodontic services? Then you can serve them right then and there without ever having to refer them to someone else. Of course, the obvious benefit is that you can increase your revenue. After all, it\u2019s much easier (and cheaper) to serve your current customers than to acquire new patients through marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond that, there\u2019s also a big advantage to patients. They\u2019re your existing customers, so you already know their oral health and history intimately. Hence, you can deliver better orthodontic care much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a marketing perspective, better service can also lead to more referrals. And more referrals mean you\u2019ll get more customers for free.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.planetdds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/text-with-image-x-370_3.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s often more difficult for a patient to find an orthodontist vs dentist office. That\u2019s because there\u2019s a shortage of dentists with the necessary orthodontic skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To become an orthodontist, you need additional study beyond that of a dentist. Plus, you also need to complete a specialized residency. This takes significant time, money, and effort \u2014 no wonder many dentists don\u2019t pursue it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if you take the time to add orthodontics to your services, it can help you stand out among other clinics. Chances are, you\u2019ll always have a market for your offering because it\u2019s so in demand yet scarce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned above, learning orthodontics takes more time, money, and effort. That\u2019s the reason orthodontists get to charge more. But if you offer both dental and orthodontic services, you can lower the costs of your offerings significantly. That means you can deliver a more affordable treatment to your patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a practical standpoint, it helps you serve more patients and attract potential ones. We already discussed how rare an orthodontist is, but an affordable one is arguably rarer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a humanitarian standpoint, it helps change your patients\u2019 lives. Many people who badly need orthodontic treatment have concerns about how they\u2019ll afford it. You can serve these people by offering affordable orthodontic services in your dental clinic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n