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When it comes to oral health, there are several dental specialists who play a role in maintaining and improving your smile. These specialists include periodontists and orthodontists. But what’s the difference between a periodontist vs. an orthodontist? Though both of these professionals play an important role in your oral health, there are key differences between their training, services and when you should visit each one.
What Is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist focused on diagnosing, preventing and treating issues with the alignment of the teeth and jaws. They use devices like braces, clear aligners, retainers and other tools to help correct dental malocclusions, such as crooked teeth, overbites, underbites and crowded teeth. Orthodontists are responsible for helping patients achieve a straight smile and improve the functionality of their bite.
Orthodontist Training
Orthodontists are first required to complete dental school, which usually takes about four years. After earning their dental degree, they must complete an additional two to three years of specialized training in orthodontics. During this training, they learn how to diagnose and treat various bite and alignment issues, as well as understand the growth and development of the teeth and jaw.
What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist, on the other hand, is a dental specialist who focuses on the health of your gums and the supporting structures of the teeth, including the bone. Their primary role is to prevent, diagnose and treat gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. They also perform procedures like gum grafts, scaling, root planing and dental implant placements.
Periodontist Training
Similar to orthodontists, periodontists first complete dental school before specializing. After earning their dental degree, periodontists go on to complete three additional years of training that focus on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. They also receive training in performing surgeries and placing dental implants.
Periodontist vs. Orthodontist: Which Services Do You Need?
Both periodontists and orthodontists provide needed services. Understanding where to go for different issues can help you take better care of your teeth and improve your oral health.
Services Provided by an Orthodontist
Orthodontists provide services aimed at correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Some of the most common treatments offered by orthodontists include:
- Braces: Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, or lingual braces help to straighten teeth over time.
- Clear Aligners: Clear aligners like Invisalign are a popular alternative to braces for patients seeking a more discreet way to straighten their teeth.
- Retainers: Retainers are used to help maintain teeth alignment after braces or clear aligners have been removed.
- Palatal Expanders: For young patients, orthodontists may use expanders to widen the upper jaw to prevent crowding and improve bite alignment.
Orthodontic treatment is about more than just aesthetics. Properly aligned teeth can help prevent oral health issues like cavities and gum disease by making teeth easier to clean and reducing abnormal wear on the teeth and jaw.
Services Provided by a Periodontist
Periodontists, in contrast, focus on the health of the gums and surrounding structures. Some of the services they provide include:
- Scaling and Root Planing: This deep cleaning procedure is used to treat periodontal disease by removing plaque and tartar from below the gum line.
- Gum Grafting: For patients with receding gums, periodontists can perform gum grafting procedures to cover exposed tooth roots and prevent further gum recession.
- Bone Grafting: Periodontists can perform bone grafts to strengthen the jawbone, particularly for patients who are considering dental implants.
- Dental Implants: Periodontists are specialists in placing dental implants to replace missing teeth and restore function and aesthetics.
- Pocket Reduction Surgery: This procedure reduces the size of pockets formed by gum disease, making it easier to clean the teeth and gums and preventing further progression of the disease.
Can an Orthodontist Treat Periodontal Disease?
Orthodontists are not specialists in treating gum disease. Orthodontists may help prevent gum disease indirectly by aligning teeth–which can make it easier for patients to maintain proper oral hygiene–but patients with periodontal disease will need to see a periodontist.
That said, orthodontists and periodontists often work together. If a patient with gum disease needs braces or other orthodontic treatment, the periodontist will often treat the gum disease before the orthodontist begins aligning the teeth. This collaboration ensures that the gums are healthy enough to support the necessary orthodontic work.
Can I See a Periodontist for Braces?
Braces and other orthodontic treatments are outside the scope of a periodontist’s expertise. If you need your teeth straightened or corrected, your periodontist will likely suggest that you visit an orthodontist. Periodontists do not offer the types of services necessary to align your teeth or correct jaw issues.
Orthodontist vs. Periodontist: Key Differences in Focus
The biggest difference between an orthodontist and a periodontist is their area of focus. Orthodontists focus on the alignment of your teeth and bite, while periodontists focus on the health of your gums and the supporting structures of your teeth.
These two specialists work in tandem with patients who may need both gum disease treatment and orthodontic care. It’s not uncommon for patients to see both a periodontist and an orthodontist throughout the course of their dental care journey.
Do You Need Both a Periodontist and an Orthodontist?
Deciding whether to visit a periodontist or orthodontist depends on your specific oral health needs. If your teeth are crooked or misaligned, or if you have a bite issue such as an overbite or underbite, then visiting an orthodontist is the right choice.
On the other hand, if you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, such as swollen or bleeding gums, or if you need dental implants to replace missing teeth, then a periodontist is the specialist you should see.
Periodontist vs. Orthodontist: We’re Here To Help
Understanding the difference between a periodontist vs. orthodontist can help you make informed decisions for your oral health. Our skilled and professional team at Peterson Family Orthodontics is committed to ensuring successful treatments for patients–and this often involves working closely with our patients’ periodontists. If you have any questions or are interested in orthodontic treatment, contact us today.