If you or your child needs dental work, you may have heard the terms dentist, orthodontist, and oral surgeon used almost interchangeably. They’re not the same, though, and knowing what each one does can help you get the right care faster.
Here’s a simple breakdown of each provider, where their work overlaps, and when they team up.
What Does a Dentist Do?
A dentist is your general oral health provider. Dentists complete four years of dental school after college, earning a degree as either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Both degrees mean the same level of training; dental schools simply choose which name to use.
Dentists handle the day-to-day care that keeps your mouth healthy, including:
- Routine cleanings and checkups
- Cavity fillings
- X-rays and oral cancer screenings
- Crowns, bridges, and root canals
- Basic tooth extractions
Think of a dentist as your first stop for oral health. When something falls outside their scope, a dentist will typically refer you to a specialist, such as an orthodontist or an oral surgeon.
What Does an Orthodontist Do?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed additional, specialized training beyond dental school. After earning their dental degree, orthodontists spend two to three more years in an accredited orthodontic residency program, studying full-time and focusing only on how teeth and jaws align.
That extra training is what allows an orthodontist to:
- Straighten crooked or crowded teeth
- Correct bite problems, like an overbite, underbite, or crossbite
- Guide jaw growth in growing children
- Treat gaps, spacing issues, and other alignment concerns
- Provide braces, clear aligners and other appliances
Because orthodontics is a recognized dental specialty, not every dentist is qualified to practice it. Only dentists who have completed an accredited orthodontic residency program can call themselves orthodontists.
What Does an Oral Surgeon Do?
An oral surgeon, more formally known as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is also a dentist who pursues additional training after dental school, usually four to six years in a hospital-based surgical residency. This training focuses on surgery involving the mouth, jaw, face, and neck.
Oral surgeons commonly handle:
- Removing wisdom teeth and other complex extractions
- Jaw surgery to correct significant bite or growth discrepancies
- Dental implant placement
- Treatment of facial trauma, such as broken jaws
- Diagnosis and treatment of oral or facial pathology, including cysts and tumors
- Cleft lip and palate repair
If a procedure requires surgery, anesthesia beyond a simple numbing shot, or work on the bone and soft tissue of the face and jaw, an oral surgeon usually performs it.
Dentist vs. Orthodontist vs. Oral Surgeon: Where They Overlap
All three are dentists at their core. A dentist, an orthodontist, and an oral surgeon all start with the same dental school education, and every orthodontist and oral surgeon is also a fully licensed dentist. That shared foundation is why patients sometimes assume the roles overlap more than they do.
The overlap mostly shows up in a few places:
- Extractions: A general dentist can pull a straightforward tooth, but a complicated extraction, like an impacted wisdom tooth, is usually referred to an oral surgeon.
- Jaw Concerns: Both orthodontists and oral surgeons work on jaw issues, but from different angles. An orthodontist moves teeth and guides jaw growth using braces or aligners. An oral surgeon corrects skeletal jaw discrepancies through surgery.
- Treatment Planning: All three may be part of the conversation when a patient’s care plan touches more than one area, such as needing a tooth pulled to make room for orthodontic treatment.
Their differences lie in what they’re trained and equipped to do. A general dentist isn’t trained to move teeth into alignment with braces, an orthodontist doesn’t perform jaw surgery, and an oral surgeon doesn’t design a long-term plan for straightening teeth.
When Do They Work Together?
Many orthodontic cases only require care from an orthodontist, particularly when the main goal is to straighten teeth or correct a mild to moderate bite issue. However, some patients have more complex dental or jaw concerns that benefit from a team approach. In these situations, an orthodontist may coordinate treatment with a general dentist, oral surgeon, or both to address different parts of the patient’s oral health and ensure treatment progresses safely and effectively. A few examples:
Surgical Orthodontics
Some patients have a jaw misalignment that braces or clear aligners alone cannot fully correct. This may happen when the upper and lower jaws are different sizes, have developed unevenly, or do not line up properly when the patient bites down. In more significant cases, moving the teeth without addressing the underlying jaw position may not be enough to achieve the desired functional or aesthetic result.
For these patients, an orthodontist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon may develop a combined treatment plan known as surgical orthodontics, or orthognathic treatment. The orthodontist typically moves the teeth into the appropriate positions before surgery, and the oral surgeon then repositions one or both jaws. After the patient has healed, the orthodontist may make additional adjustments to fine-tune the bite and tooth alignment.
Making Room for Orthodontic Treatment
In some cases, a patient may have an impacted, extra, or crowded tooth that prevents orthodontic treatment from working effectively. In this scenario, an orthodontist may refer the patient to an oral surgeon to address the issue before placing braces or aligners. The timing is usually coordinated carefully so orthodontic treatment can continue as planned. Not every crowded smile requires an extraction, so the decision typically depends on factors such as the patient’s bite, jaw size, tooth position, facial structure, and overall treatment goals.
Exposing Impacted Teeth
An impacted tooth is one that remains trapped beneath the gum tissue or bone instead of erupting normally into the mouth. Upper canine teeth are among the teeth that can become impacted, although other teeth may be affected as well. If there is enough room in the dental arch and the tooth can be brought into a healthy position, an orthodontist may recommend a procedure to help guide it into place rather than removing it.
In this type of coordinated treatment, an oral surgeon exposes part of the impacted tooth and may attach a small orthodontic bracket or chain to it. The orthodontist then applies gentle, controlled pressure over time to encourage the tooth to move into its intended position. Because the process can take time, the orthodontist and oral surgeon may communicate throughout treatment to monitor healing and make sure the tooth is progressing appropriately.
General Dental Care During Orthodontic Treatment
Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment still need regular care from their general dentist. Braces, attachments, and other orthodontic appliances can create additional areas where plaque and food particles collect, making consistent brushing, flossing, professional cleanings, and dental exams especially important. Clear aligner patients also need to maintain good oral hygiene, since placing aligners over teeth that have not been cleaned can trap bacteria against the tooth surface.
The dentist and orthodontist serve different but complementary roles during treatment. While the orthodontist monitors tooth movement and bite correction, the general dentist checks for concerns such as cavities, gum inflammation, and other oral health issues. Staying current with both types of appointments helps keep your teeth and gums healthy during orthodontic treatment and supports a healthier smile once treatment is complete.
How to Know Which Type of Provider You Need
The right provider depends on the problem you are experiencing and the treatment it may require. Dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons all care for the mouth, teeth, and jaws, but their areas of focus are different. In many cases, your symptoms or the goal of your visit can point you to the right place to start.
A helpful way to think about it:
- Cavity, cleaning, or general oral health concern? Start with your dentist. General dentists handle preventive care, routine exams, fillings, gum health, and many common dental problems.
- Crooked teeth, bite problems, or you want to explore braces or aligners? See an orthodontist. Orthodontists specialize in moving teeth and correcting the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.
- Wisdom teeth, jaw surgery, facial trauma, or a suspicious growth? An oral and maxillofacial surgeon may be the appropriate specialist. Oral surgeons are trained to perform surgical procedures involving the teeth, jaws, and surrounding facial structures.
If you’re not sure where your concern fits, your general dentist is a good starting point. Dentists routinely refer patients to the right specialist based on what they find during an exam.
Talk to an AAO Orthodontist
Crowded teeth, a bite that doesn’t feel quite right, or simply wanting to weigh your options: An orthodontist can evaluate your specific situation and explain what treatment, if any, makes sense for you. In some cases, that plan may involve working alongside your dentist or an oral surgeon to get you the best result.
Find a qualified orthodontist near you and schedule a consultation with an AAO orthodontist.
