Why an orthodontist? You trust your heart to a cardiologist, your skin to a dermatologist, and your bones to an orthopedist. Like these specialists who study their specialty areas after their general education training, orthodontists devote two to three full-time years of study beyond dental school to learn how to identify and treat bite abnormalities. Like their medical counterparts, orthodontists focus their practices to their specialty area, focusing on moving teeth and aligning jaws that, if left untreated, can lead to premature bone and tooth loss, pain in the face and neck, and headaches. Orthodontists are dedicated to helping your teeth and jaws work together so that you can bite, chew, and speak comfortably and effectively. They don’t just improve your appearance. Orthodontists improve the function of your mouth. So why should you choose to have your treatment performed by an orthodontist? While both a general dentist and an orthodontist work together for your best oral health, an orthodontist has the training, experience, and full range of tools to create a customized treatment plan to address your orthodontic needs.