Your Orthodontic Journey: Questions Uncovered

Flossing is crucial to successful orthodontic treatment, and to on-going oral health. Flossing removes plaque from parts of your teeth that brushing alone can’t reach. Plaque is the enemy – it’s the source of disease processes in teeth and gums.

A minimum of once a day.

Fluoride toothpaste is recommended, approved by the American Dental Association, preferably without any whitening.

Your orthodontist will give specific instructions, but in general, you should brush for two minutes after every meal or snack, and before bed. Carry a travel toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste with you so you can brush when you’re away from home. Bring along floss and an interproximal brush, too. If you’re in a pinch and absolutely are not in a position to brush after eating or drinking  at the very least rinse with plain water. It can help you get rid of some food particles or traces of beverages.

Making an appointment with an orthodontist is easy. And many AAO orthodontists offer free or low-cost initial consultations. Visit Find an Orthodontist to locate AAO orthodontists near you. When results of your search appear, they include:

• Orthodontist’s name
• Distance from the search parameter you entered to the orthodontists’ office
• Street address
• Office phone
• Orthodontist’s website

Results Page Options Multiple orthodontists are returned based on the search parameter you enter. From the results page, you can:

• Click on an orthodontist’s name in the result page to go to the doctor’s page (see Orthodontist’s Page Options below)
• See the distance to the orthodontist’s office
• See the office address and phone number
• See the practice website address, and click the link to go to the website
• Click the “Request an Appointment” button to send an email to the orthodontist and request an appointment

If you are accessing Find an Orthodontist from a smartphone, you can click the telephone icon and place a call to the orthodontist’s office to make your appointment. Orthodontist’s Page Options Click on an orthodontist’s name in the results pages to go to the orthodontist’s page and see:

• The degree(s) the doctor earned in dental school and the orthodontic residency program
• A link to the practice website
• The main office address and satellite office addresses, if any
• The main office phone number and satellite office phone numbers, if any
• The name of the orthodontic program from which the orthodontist graduated
• Whether the orthodontist is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics or a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.

Click the “Request an Appointment” button to send an email to the orthodontist and request an appointment. If you are accessing Find an Orthodontist from a smartphone, you can click the telephone icon and place a call to the orthodontist’s office to make your appointment

Find a real AAO orthodontist through the Find an Orthodontist service. You can send an e-mail or place a call through the service to make an appointment.

Check the Find an Orthodontist service. If you find your orthodontist there, it means he or she is an AAO orthodontist.

Consider seeking a second opinion with an AAO orthodontist, who is a specialist in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of orthodontic problems. While there is some instruction regarding orthodontics in dental school, it is minimal. It is in the post-dental school two-to-three year accredited orthodontic residency program that orthodontists receive intense instruction to learn proper, safe tooth movement (orthodontics) and the guidance of dental, jaw and facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). These extra years of school make the orthodontist the specialist in moving teeth and aligning jaws. This is the focus of their services to patients.

Your dentist may offer orthodontic treatment, but it does not mean that he or she is an orthodontist. Dentists do not have the same level of education and experience in orthodontic treatment as orthodontists have. If you have any doubt, ask if your dentist has graduated from an accredited orthodontic residency program. About 6 percent of those who graduate from dental school go on to become orthodontists by graduating from an accredited orthodontic residency program. Orthodontists are the dental profession’s specialists in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. 

If your dentist focuses his/her practice on providing only orthodontic treatment (prevention, diagnosis and treatment of facial and dental irregularities), and is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, then he/she is an orthodontist. If your dentist provides general dental services such as cleanings, fillings, and overall management to maintain or restore oral health, then he/she is probably not an orthodontist. Use Find an Orthodontist to locate AAO orthodontists. The AAO only admits educationally qualified orthodontists as members.

Yes, orthodontists’ extra and intensive education makes a big difference. As specialists through education and clinical experience, orthodontists are experts in the diagnosis of orthodontic problems, forms of treatment, the timing of treatment, treatment planning, supervision of treatment, as well as working with patients for long-term stability of their treatment results. The orthodontist’s expertise guides him/her in recommending the type of treatment best suited to correct any specific patients’ orthodontic problem. Orthodontists are not limited to a single kind of orthodontic “appliance.” Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists and have the skills and experience to give you a healthy and beautiful smile.