If you are thinking about braces or clear aligners for yourself or your child, one important question to ask is: Is my dentist an orthodontist? This is a very smart question to ask.

Many people assume that any dentist offering braces or aligners must be an orthodontist. That is NOT always the case. Some general dentists also provide orthodontic treatment, but general dentists are NOT orthodontists.

Orthodontists are dental specialists who have completed formal residency training in orthodontics after becoming a dentist. Only dentists who complete an accredited orthodontic residency may call themselves orthodontists. Residency training is typically two to three years, and its focus is on specialty education in tooth movement, facial and jaw growth, bite correction and jaw relationships. Some orthodontists even take the extra step to become board certified by the American Board of Orthodontists.

Why it matters

Orthodontic treatment is about much more than straightening teeth. It involves the way teeth fit and function together, jaw relationships, growth and development, dental health, and long-term stability.

Specialties are recognized because they involve knowledge, skills, and training beyond what is taught in dental school, with the goal of protecting patients and providing the best quality of care.

General dentists are licensed dentists, and in some states they may provide services even without formal specialty training. But the important distinction is this: providing orthodontic treatment is not the same thing as being an orthodontist.

It is important for patients to understand that a dentist may provide braces or aligners without actually being an orthodontist.

What makes someone an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dentist who first completed dental school, but was then selected to complete an additional two to three year accredited orthodontic residency program, devoted specifically to orthodontics.

Orthodontists receive additional specialty education focused on moving teeth, correcting bites, and understanding jaw and facial development.

Orthodontists are trained experts in:

Tooth movement
Bite problems
Dental crowding
Dental spacing
Jaw misalignments
Facial growth
Jaw growth
Jaw expansion
Braces, aligners, retainers, and other orthodontic appliances
Preventing side effects of tooth movement

What does board certified mean?

Not every orthodontist is board certified, but every board certified orthodontist is an orthodontist.

Board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is an additional credential that some orthodontists choose to pursue. Orthodontists become board certified by passing both a written exam and a clinical exam, and that certification must be renewed regularly.

That makes board certification a meaningful extra step for patients who want another layer of verification.

How to find out if your dentist is an orthodontist

Here are the four best ways to check if your dentist is an orthodontist:

1. Review credentials

Check whether the dentist specifically says or lists that they are an orthodontist, and whether they have an orthodontic residency listed in their resume or on their website. Words like “dentist,” “family dentist,” or “cosmetic dentist” or “Invisalign provider” are NOT the same as “orthodontist.”

2. Use the AAO directory

The AAO has an official Find an Orthodontist directory for locating orthodontist members. The AAO limits membership to orthodontists. Selecting an AAO member means the doctor or dentist is an orthodontist.

AAO Find an Orthodontist: https://aaoinfo.org/locator/

3. Check whether the orthodontist is board certified

The ABO has a public Orthodontist Locator that lets patients find board certified orthodontists.

ABO Board Certified Orthodontist Locator: https://www.americanboardortho.com/patients/orthodontist-locator/

4. Ask directly

It is completely appropriate to ask:

“Are you an orthodontist, or are you a general dentist who provides orthodontic treatment?”

You can also ask:

“Did you complete an orthodontic residency?”
“Are you board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics?”

A qualified provider should be happy to and able to answer clearly and transparently.

Questions to ask before starting treatment

Before beginning braces or aligners, consider asking:

Are you an orthodontist?
Where did you complete your orthodontic residency?
Are you board certified by the ABO?
Who will be planning and monitoring my treatment?
How often will I be seen by the doctor?
What happens if my bite does not finish correctly?

These questions are perfectly acceptable, and are part of being informed and educated.

Why patients can get confused

Part of the confusion is that many offices advertise Invisalign, clear aligners, or braces. To a patient, all of those services can look or seem similar. But the training behind them can be very different.

A general dentist may offer orthodontic treatment, but that does NOT make the dentist an orthodontist. Ethically, general dentists must avoid communications that imply specialization when they are general dentists.

That is why patients should verify credentials rather than assume based on marketing alone.

The bottom line

If you want to know whether your provider is an orthodontist, do not guess. Check the dentist’s training, use the AAO locator, and verify board certification through the ABO if that is important to you.

Orthodontists are dentists who are masters in orthodontics, as they completed additional specialty education dedicated to tooth movement, bite correction, and jaw development. General dentists may sometimes offer braces or aligners, but they are not orthodontists unless they completed orthodontic residency specialty training (not simply a CE course).

When it comes to your smile, your bite, and your long-term oral health, knowing who is treating you matters. Orthodontists are experts in moving teeth, aligning jaws and bites, and preventing side effects of doing so.

At Godley Family Orthodontics, you can rest assured that our provider, Dr. Godley, is both a residency trained orthodontist, and proudly board certified by the ABO.

Helpful resources

Find an AAO Orthodontist: https://aaoinfo.org/locator/

Find an ABO Board Certified Orthodontist: https://www.americanboardortho.com/patients/orthodontist-locator/

References

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB)
American Association of Orthodontists
American Dental Association
American Board of Orthodontics