The first thing that a person should understand is the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist. A dentist is a person who has gone through and graduated from dental school, followed by a residency. An orthodontist is one who has gone through everything the dentist has gone through but has actually taken an additional two years of studies and training as an orthodontist.
To take things a step further, a pediatric orthodontist is one who has gone through all of the studies and training of an orthodontist, but they have actually completed additional studies and training in pediatric care. Just by looking at the amount of time required in studies and practice it is easy to see that the preferred option (if available) should be to choose the pediatric orthodontist. The good news is that there are options for a pediatric orthodontist in Massapequa, NY.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
The next question that is naturally asked is what does a pediatric Orthodontist In Massapequa NY do? The pediatric orthodontist focuses on keeping a child’s teeth straight as they grow. This includes keeping the baby teeth straight as well as the adult teeth when they come in. The pediatric orthodontist also makes sure that the teeth are evenly spaced between each other, ensures that there is no overbite or underbite, and in general insures that the jawline is kept straight and uniform.
Why Go to a Pediatric Orthodontist?
A child’s mouth is very flexible. In other words, the teeth and jawline can easily shift teeth fall out, and new teeth come in. Often times the teeth will not grow straight, and if the problem is not addressed immediately it can have a long term negative effect on the child’s mouth. Seeing a pediatric orthodontist on a regular basis will insure that the teeth and jaw will always be straight.
Not everyone has access to a pediatric orthodontist. If a child does need to see an orthodontist, always check to see if there is a pediatric orthodontist available beforehand. This should always be the preferred choice because they do have the additional training to work specifically with a child’s mouth. The good news is that there is an available pediatric orthodontist in the Massapequa area.
