Dentist Orthodontist Columbia

Patients in Columbia can make better choices about their dental health if they know the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. We talk about how our specialized training is different from regular dentistry at Level Orthodontics. Dentists take care of teeth and gums, orthodontists fix bites and line up teeth. We go to school for more years
after dentistry school to learn how to do these hard treatments.

A lot of the time people find out about their orthodontic concerns during regular dental exams. Their dentist sees problems with crowding, spacing or their bite that need specific care. This is when it’s time to send them to orthodontists. We appreciate these connections with local dentists who know when their patients need our help. We work together to create full treatment plans that cover all aspects of oral health.

Patients get confused when they don’t know who to see for specific issues. Dentists fix cavities, clean teeth and do other general repairs on teeth. Orthodontists deal with problems of tooth mobility and jaw alignment. Some problems need both professionals to work on them. For example, before we start alignment treatment the patient’s dentist might need to pull some teeth. This partnership ensures patients get the right care from the right professional.

Patients in all of Columbia benefit from the connection between dentists and orthodontists. We talk to each other often about the patients we both see and how they are doing. During orthodontic treatment dentists still do cleanings. We let them know about any problems we see during appointments. This ongoing conversation keeps everyone in the loop and involved. Patients like having a whole dental team to help with their care.

As orthodontists we spend a lot of time studying how the face grows and changes. We learn how jaws develop and change as we get older. This information helps us predict what problems might come up in the future and plan for them. We know how the position of your teeth affects your speaking, chewing and breathing. These are more than what most general dentists deal with. We can handle difficult alignment problems because we are experts in our field.

Patients ask if they can skip their dentist visit when they come to the orthodontist. During treatment we always tell people to keep going to the dentist on a regular basis. It’s harder to keep your teeth clean and healthy when you have braces. Dentists find problems early on before they get worse. We move teeth around but dentists make sure those teeth stay strong and cavity free. Both are important for good results.

Level Orthodontics sees people with different dental histories. Some people have had a lot of dental work done over the years. Some people have ongoing dental issues in addition to their teeth being out of alignment. When we design treatment we take all of these things into account. We can handle complicated issues that need detailed planning because we have done them before. We also have Braces options that work with dental restorations that are already in place.

To become an orthodontist you have to be dedicated and go to school for a long time. After dentistry school we spend several years in orthodontic residency. This specific training is all about how teeth move and how the face grows. We learn advanced techniques and work on hundreds of cases with supervision. This preparation gets us ready to handle a wide range of orthodontic issues.

A lot of parents ask when their child should see the orthodontist instead of their regular dentist. By the time they are seven we recommend they see an orthodontist. This doesn’t mean treatment will start right away. Early evaluation helps find problems that are getting worse. Some problems are easier to fix when kids are still young. Other issues can wait till the permanent teeth come in. We help families make these timing decisions.

Many patients are confused by the price differences between dental and orthodontic services. Most dental insurance plans include basic procedures and preventive care. There are often different limits and standards for orthodontic coverage. We help patients understand how both types of care can help them. Our financial coordinators work with many different insurance plans all the time. We look for ways to keep the quality of care high while making treatment affordable. Dr. Mark Guevarra is a board-certified orthodontist at Level Orthodontics in Ellicott City, MD. He provides personalized care and uses advanced orthodontic methods to help patients achieve healthy, confident smiles.