Is it Better to Get Invisalign from a Dentist or Orthodontist?

Invisalign is an excellent treatment for straightening teeth. It does not rely on any “old school” methods, such as brackets, wires, or metal bands. All of the aligners are removable and nearly invisible to those in your daily life. They will also be easily removed by you when you want to eat something that might otherwise damage them. As opposed to many other teeth alignment methods, these aligners stay in place without a lot of maintenance. 

Before anything else, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting high-quality dental care. You can check out The Dentistry Collective if you’re looking to get Invisalign. In order to determine if it’s better to get Invisalign from a dentist or an orthodontist, it’s important to distinguish between the two practices. 

Dentist vs. Orthodontist: What’s the Difference? 

For some people, the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist may seem obvious, but that is not always the case. If you’re looking for a solution to a serious tooth problem or an off-kilter bite, it’s likely that you have visited one of these professionals. Since plenty of people have trouble telling them apart, it’s important to understand the differences between the two professionals. 

Depending on your oral health needs, you may need to find a dentist or an orthodontist. A general dentist has been trained in both functions, so they have knowledge on how teeth function and how to care for them appropriately. An orthodontist, on the other hand, has been trained for their specialty. They are focused on teeth and braces and might not have the same knowledge of all dental problems. 

A dentist and an orthodontist are both trained in studying the human smile, but they choose to specialize in different aspects of it. A dentist studies how to achieve a better smile by using a healthier diet and practices good oral hygiene. An orthodontist specializes in teeth alignment and correction. While dentists and orthodontists are both vital to healthy dental hygiene, they both have different specialties. 

An orthodontist specializes in aligning teeth and jaws. They can do various treatments like taking impressions of teeth to create braces that improve your smile. Orthodontists also judge the growth of your teeth and facial structures for optimum alignment. 

Who Has The Best Tools For Invisalign Treatment? 

Choosing a dentist to perform your invisible teeth alignment treatment can be a difficult decision. There are so many options: orthodontists, endodontists, oral surgeons, etc. So which one is the best for you? 

First of all, remember that the point of Invisalign is to straighten your teeth. Your priority should be to find an orthodontist with experience and expertise in tooth movement. Typically, an orthodontist will be more experienced than a dentist in terms of invisible aligners treatment. 

Because Invisalign is used to straighten teeth, you want to find an expert who knows how to move teeth in the best possible way. Typically, there is a huge difference in the cost of Invisalign treatment when done by an orthodontist versus a dentist. 

Orthodontists have dedicated their careers to moving teeth precisely with technology-based treatment. They are often more experienced than dentists with invisible teeth alignment and specifically create their practice around this type of treatment. 

Who Has More Training With Invisalign? 

Many dentists offer Invisalign, but are not all dentists qualified to do so? This question sparks other concerns like how much training one needs to become a certified Invisalign provider. While you typically need to be certified as an orthodontist before training on Invisalign, there are dentists that will jump right into the technology without this prerequisite. 

It is important to note that while a certified orthodontist should be trained on all aspects of the Invisalign system, not all dentists who offer Invisalign have been trained in every aspect of the technology. By comparison, an orthodontist who is certified in all aspects of the Invisalign system will have a great idea of what to expect from the treatment and give their patients the type of smile they desire. 

Oftentimes, less experienced dentists tend to rush through treatment. This can lead to poor results in terms of how straight teeth are aligned. Patients may be forced to return to their dentist or orthodontist multiple times for adjustments if poor alignment continues. Ultimately, this can lead to more time and money spent on treatment. 

Conveniently, Invisalign has a tiered system with which they rank their providers. Essentially, the more patients they treat, the higher their rank. Invisalign’s website has a search tool that allows you to filter your preferences by tier and by whether the provider is a dentist or an orthodontist. This puts the power back to the consumer. If you only want to receive treatment from the most practiced hands, set your search to ‘orthodontist’ and to a high ranked tier like ‘VIP’ or ‘Diamond Plus.’

For patients who are after a perfect smile, it is best to work with an orthodontist who has a good track record of providing high-quality treatment. Patients can rest assured that they are getting an optimal result.