Generally speaking, dentists are the experts in keeping teeth healthy, while orthodontists are the experts in jaw problems and tooth alignment. In fact, dentists often refer their patients to an orthodontist if there are problems with alignment or an abnormality in the bite. Dentists often refer patients who they think should receive orthodontic treatment. However, orthodontists generally do not require a referral from a dentist to diagnose and treat a malocclusion.
If you think that you or a member of your family will need a realignment or correction, you can call an orthodontist and schedule an initial consultation. In many cases, the orthodontist will do it for free. Both orthodontists and dentists help patients improve their oral health, but in different ways. Dentistry is a broad medical specialty that deals with the teeth, gums, nerves and the jaw, while orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on correcting teeth bites, occlusion and straightness.
An important difference is that all orthodontists, such as Drs. Burk and Flinn are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists. General dentists are able to address most patients' oral health needs. However, there will be cases where the services of a dental specialist are required.
When this happens, your dentist will refer you to a specialist who will take care of the problem before you return to routine care with your primary dentist. The second email was sent to all the dentists who did not respond to the first email and included another copy of the questionnaire, a new cover letter and another return envelope stamped with their address. To learn more about the difference between dentists and orthodontists, or to schedule an initial consultation with Drs. Regardless of whether you need braces or not, orthodontists will always advocate for good dental hygiene, as well as regular checkups with a dentist.
General dentists work closely with dental specialists when patients are referred for treatment, so they can be sure that they are in good hands. This finding suggests that there should be more communication between orthodontists and general dentists about the criteria for evaluating the clinical outcome of orthodontic treatments. Your orthodontist will recommend that you continue seeing your dentist to ensure that you are keeping up to date with your overall dental health. Regarding the desired post-orthodontic occlusal and functional characteristics, most dentists considered canine orientation to be the most important.
Of the 1000 surveys sent by mail, 12 were returned by incorrect addresses and one was returned due to the death of the dentist. Another objective of this study was to understand how general dentists evaluate the “quality” of orthodontic treatment outcomes and what criteria are used for their evaluation. This greater understanding of the basis of the referral decision will allow orthodontists and general dentists to better communicate about the details of the patient's treatment and the final occlusal and functional outcomes. The research also sought to determine which specific aspects of an orthodontically treated occlusion constitute an outstanding result in the opinion of the general dentist.
The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the quality of treatment results and overall patient satisfaction are equally important in influencing a general dentist to refer a patient to an orthodontist for treatment. The American Dental Association defines this region as the area within the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin, and contains a total of 21,427 general dentists. Opinions of general dentists on the importance of patient satisfaction compared to the occlusal and functional characteristics of occlusion treated with orthodontics. However, it is recommended to see your dentist before your appointment, especially if it has been more than a year since your last visit.
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