When patients start researching braces or aligners, one of the first questions that comes up is whether to see an orthodontist or a general dentist. Both can be involved in oral care. Both may offer orthodontic-looking services. But they are not the same provider, and the distinction matters significantly when the treatment involves anything beyond the most basic tooth movement. My Orthodontist operates as a dedicated orthodontic specialty practice, which means every patient is treated by a registered specialist orthodontist, not a general dentist offering braces as a side service. Understanding why that difference exists, and when it matters, is what this guide covers.

Key Takeaways

• An orthodontist is a dental specialist who completes an additional three years of university training beyond a general dentistry degree to earn the specialty designation.
• General dentists can take continuing education courses to perform some basic orthodontic procedures, but more complex treatment needs require the advice of an orthodontist.
• My Orthodontist recommends patients seek the opinion of a registered specialist to ensure they have all the information needed to make an informed decision about their dental health.
• Orthodontists correct dental and facial irregularities every day and are experts at moving teeth, helping jaws develop properly, and ensuring teeth maintain their new positions.
• No referral is required to book a consultation directly with My Orthodontist.

Table of Contents

1. What is an orthodontist and how is the training different from a general dentist?
2. What can a general dentist treat orthodontically versus what requires a specialist?
3. Why does the Canadian Dental Association distinguish orthodontists as specialists?
4. What types of cases genuinely require a registered specialist orthodontist?
5. How does seeing a specialist affect treatment outcomes for complex cases?
6. When is a referral from a family dentist useful and when can patients go directly?
7. What does My Orthodontist offer that a general dental practice cannot?

What is an orthodontist and how is the training different from a general dentist?

An orthodontist is a dental specialist trained specifically to diagnose and treat a poor bite and improperly positioned teeth, with the goal of improving both the functioning of the teeth and their overall appearance. The title carries a specific clinical meaning: in addition to achieving the same degree as a general dentist, an additional three years of university training are required to earn the specialty designation of orthodontist.

Those three additional years are spent exclusively on orthodontics, covering the diagnosis of dental and facial irregularities, the mechanics of moving teeth, jaw development guidance, and the long-term retention of corrected positions. A general dentist's training is broad by design, covering cleanings, fillings, extractions, crowns, and a wide range of restorative and preventive care. An orthodontist's training is narrow by design, covering one discipline in depth.

The practical implication is that an orthodontist spends their entire career doing orthodontics every day. That concentration of focus and clinical experience is what the specialist designation is intended to reflect, and it is what patients are accessing when they choose a dedicated orthodontic practice over a general dental office offering braces as an additional service.

What can a general dentist treat orthodontically versus what requires a specialist?

General dentists can take continuing education courses to perform some basic orthodontic procedures. This means a general dentist may legally offer certain aligner products or limited tooth movement services, and many do. For mild, straightforward cases with minimal movement required and no significant bite involvement, this may be clinically adequate.

However, the line between what a general dentist can manage and what requires a specialist becomes relevant quickly. More complex treatment needs, including significant bite correction, jaw development issues, cases involving multiple teeth extraction planning, or any situation where the underlying cause of a problem needs proper diagnosis, require the advice of a registered specialist orthodontist.

The distinction matters because a general dentist's continuing education course in aligners is not the same as three additional years of specialist training focused entirely on orthodontic diagnosis and treatment mechanics. When the case is simple, the gap may not show. When the case is complex, it does.

Why does the Canadian Dental Association distinguish orthodontists as specialists?

Just as there are specialists in medicine, there are specialists in dentistry. The Canadian Dental Association recognizes orthodontists as dental specialists who have met the exacting standards of education and experience required to earn that designation. This is not a marketing distinction. It is a regulated professional category with defined training requirements.

My Orthodontist's patient resources page states this directly: orthodontists are dental specialists who have met the exacting standards of education and experience set out by the Canadian Dental Association. The site also recommends that patients seek the opinion of a registered specialist to ensure they have all the information required to make an informed decision about their dental health.

The reason this recommendation exists is practical. A registered specialist has been trained to diagnose problems that a general provider may not be equipped to identify, including underlying causes of orthodontic issues such as jaw bone malpositioning, airway-related structural concerns, and complex bite mechanics that affect more than just how teeth look.

What types of cases genuinely require a registered specialist orthodontist?

Not every case of slightly crooked teeth requires a specialist intervention to produce a good outcome. But the following situations represent clinical territory where a registered specialist orthodontist is the appropriate and safer choice:

• Significant bite problems including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite
• Crowding that involves jaw width issues or potential tooth extraction planning
• Cases where jaw bone malpositioning is contributing to the alignment problem
• Airway-related orthodontic concerns including mouth breathing or sleep apnea in children and teens
• Early Phase 1 treatment for children requiring jaw growth guidance
• Cases where Invisalign has been suggested but the clinical suitability has not been fully assessed by a specialist
• Any situation where the patient has not received a clear diagnosis of the underlying cause of their orthodontic issue

My Orthodontist treats all of these case types across children, teens, and adults, with specialist orthodontists whose entire clinical focus is on diagnosing and resolving exactly these kinds of problems.

How does seeing a specialist affect treatment outcomes for complex cases?

For straightforward cases, the difference between a specialist and a general dentist offering orthodontic treatment may be minimal in outcome terms. For complex cases, it can be significant.

Orthodontists correct dental and facial irregularities every day. That daily exposure to a full range of case complexity means a specialist is better positioned to identify what is actually driving a problem, not just address the surface presentation of it. A general dentist who performs orthodontics occasionally alongside their full range of dental services does not have the same case volume or specialization depth.

The outcome impact shows up most clearly in cases that involve bite mechanics, jaw development, or situations where an incomplete treatment plan leaves the underlying problem unaddressed. A specialist is trained to look beyond the visible alignment of teeth to the jaw, the bite, the airway, and the structural factors that determine whether a treatment outcome holds over time. My Orthodontist's approach specifically includes airway-focused orthodontics and a preventive philosophy that addresses underlying causes rather than surface symptoms.

When is a referral from a family dentist useful and when can patients go directly?

A family dentist referral to an orthodontist is common and useful because the family dentist often has existing X-rays, dental history, and a baseline understanding of the patient's oral health that can inform the orthodontic assessment. When a family dentist identifies an orthodontic concern during a routine checkup, a referral to a specialist is a natural and appropriate next step.

However, a referral is not required. My Orthodontist welcomes new patient inquiries directly, with no referral needed and no obligation at the initial consultation. This matters for patients who are self-referring after their own research, for families who want a second opinion on a treatment recommendation, and for adults who are pursuing orthodontic treatment for the first time without an existing dental relationship that would generate a referral.

The family dentist can often help with a recommendation and provide useful background information, but the absence of a referral is not a barrier to accessing specialist care at My Orthodontist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a general dentist legally provide braces or Invisalign in BC?

Yes. General dentists can take continuing education courses to perform some basic orthodontic procedures. However, My Orthodontist recommends patients seek a registered specialist for a full assessment, particularly for complex cases.

How do patients know if their provider is a registered specialist orthodontist?

A registered specialist orthodontist has completed the additional university training required for the specialty designation recognized by the Canadian Dental Association. Patients can ask their provider directly or check their credentials before beginning treatment.

Is the initial consultation at My Orthodontist free?

There are no fees due at the initial consultation, and patients are under no obligation to proceed with treatment after attending.

What happens if a general dentist has already recommended a treatment plan?

Patients are always entitled to seek a second opinion from a registered specialist before committing to any treatment. My Orthodontist welcomes these consultations with no referral and no obligation.

Conclusion

The difference between an orthodontist and a general dentist for braces is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of training, clinical focus, and scope of practice. For basic cases, a general dentist offering orthodontic services may be adequate. For anything involving bite correction, jaw development, airway concerns, or complex movement, a registered specialist orthodontist is the appropriate choice. My Orthodontist operates exclusively as a specialist orthodontic practice, treating children, teens, and adults with the clinical depth that only comes from a team whose entire professional focus is orthodontics.