When evaluating options to straighten your teeth or fix your bite, starting your search with a local Camrose dental clinic is natural. Family dentists play an essential role in keeping your teeth clean and your gums healthy. However, orthodontists receive advanced specialty training focused specifically on tooth movement, jaw development, and bite alignment. Choosing a specialist orthodontist ensures your treatment is planned and managed by someone whose focus is orthodontic care.
A dentist provides comprehensive oral health care, while an orthodontist is a dentist who has completed additional specialty training focused on diagnosing and treating tooth and bite alignment. You don’t have to choose one instead of the other – your dentist and orthodontist work together to support different aspects of your oral health.
What is the Difference Between a Camrose Dentist and an Orthodontist?
Both general dentists and orthodontists complete dental school and qualify as dentists. Orthodontists then complete additional accredited specialty training focused specifically on orthodontics and dentofacial development.
- General Camrose Dentist: Focuses on overall oral health, providing routine cleanings, checkups, fillings, crowns, and preventative care across local dental clinics.
- Specialist Orthodontist: Completes additional specialty training dedicated to tooth movement, jaw growth, bite mechanics, and facial development.
The Power of Specialization: Why Choose an Orthodontist for Braces and Invisalign?
Moving teeth is a complex biological process involving the teeth, roots, supporting bone, and surrounding tissues, while treatment planning also considers how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Choosing a specialist offers clear advantages:
- Custom Movement Plans: Every jaw presents unique structural needs. An orthodontist develops an individualized treatment plan designed to move teeth while considering root health, supporting bone, and overall bite alignment.
- Modern Digital Diagnostics: Specialty practices may use advanced technology such as iTero 3D digital scanners, to build precise treatment maps for Invisalign® clear aligners or traditional braces without messy impression trays.
- Targeted Focus: Because orthodontics is their primary area of practice, specialists diagnose and manage tooth movement and bite concerns every day, from straightforward alignment to more complex cases.
Do I Have to Leave My Current Camrose Dental Clinic to See an Orthodontist?
No, you keep your current dental team. Orthodontic care works right alongside the routine services provided by dentists in Camrose.
- Continue visiting your family Camrose dentist for semi-annual cleanings, cavity checks, and ongoing preventative care.
- Edge Orthodontics manages your alignment plan while collaborating with your primary clinic to ensure total oral health coverage.
Your family dentist and orthodontist have different but complementary roles: your dentist continues managing your routine oral health, while your orthodontist focuses on tooth movement, bite alignment, and your orthodontic treatment plan.
How to Book an Orthodontist Consultation in Camrose Without a Dentist Referral
You do not need a referral from a general dentist to schedule an appointment. Patients can book an orthodontic consultation directly without first obtaining a referral from their Camrose dentist.
Located at 6708 48 Ave Unit 1030 in Camrose, our clinic offers comprehensive consultations for children, teens, and adults. Learn more about the Camrose location, visit our Getting Started page or call 780.673.1143 to schedule a visit.
