Book the best Orthodontists for your needs

What is an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. They provide orthodontic care that helps improve the way your teeth function and look, using treatments like braces, aligners, and other appliances. Whether you're dealing with bite issues, crowding, or spacing, orthodontists guide the alignment process to create a healthier and more confident smile.

Orthodontist vs dentist

All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists complete additional years of specialized training to focus specifically on correcting tooth alignment and bite issues.

What do orthodontists do?

Orthodontists provide a wide range of orthodontic treatments that address alignment problems in children, teens, and adults. Their goal is to enhance oral function and appearance through personalized care.

Here are some common services orthodontists offer:

• Fitting metal or ceramic braces to straighten teeth
• Providing clear aligners (like Invisalign) for discreet alignment
• Designing retainers to maintain results after treatment
• Correcting bite problems such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite
• Guiding jaw development in children and teens
• Fixing spacing issues like gaps or crowding
• Recommending appliances that support speech or chewing

When should I see an orthodontist?

Orthodontic care is appropriate for both children and adults. Children may benefit from early intervention to guide jaw growth, while adults often seek treatment for cosmetic or functional concerns that weren’t addressed earlier.

Consider seeing an orthodontist if you have:

• Crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth
• An overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite
• Gaps or uneven spacing between teeth
• Trouble biting, chewing, or speaking clearly
• Jaw pain, clicking, or shifting when opening or closing your mouth
• A child showing early signs of misalignment (the AAO recommends a first visit by age 7)

Ready to take the next step? With Zocdoc, you can easily find trusted orthodontists near you and book an appointment online.

What conditions do orthodontists treat?

Orthodontists address dental and jaw problems such as misaligned teeth, bite issues, and jaw positioning concerns that impact both function and appearance.

Tooth alignment issues

• Crooked or crowded teeth: teeth overlap or twist due to a lack of space
• Gapped teeth: noticeable spaces that may affect chewing or appearance
• Protruding teeth: teeth that stick out and are more injury-prone

Jaw positioning problems

• Misaligned jaws: upper and lower jaws don’t line up properly
• Jaw shifting: the jaw moves when speaking or chewing
• Facial asymmetry: uneven jaw growth affects facial balance

Bite-related concerns

• Overbite: upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth too much
• Underbite: lower teeth extend past the upper teeth
• Crossbite: upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth instead of outside
• Open bite: upper and lower teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed

What types of orthodontic treatments are available?

Orthodontists offer customized treatment plans based on the patient’s age, condition, and lifestyle. Options may be cosmetic, functional, or both.

Common treatments

• Metal braces: traditional, durable brackets and wires that gradually move teeth into place
• Ceramic braces: tooth-colored or clear brackets that are less noticeable than metal braces
• Clear aligners: removable, nearly invisible trays that straighten teeth without brackets or wires
• Retainers: appliances worn after active treatment to maintain proper alignment

Specialized treatments

• Palatal expanders: devices used in children to widen the upper jaw and create space for permanent teeth
• Orthodontic appliances: such as space maintainers, headgear, or habit-breaking devices (for thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, etc.)
• Jaw surgery referrals: coordinated with oral surgeons when severe jaw misalignments require surgical correction in addition to orthodontics

How do I choose the best orthodontist?

When choosing an orthodontist, look at their experience, treatment options, technology, insurance acceptance, reviews, and location. Zocdoc makes it easy to compare orthodontists near you and schedule a visit that fits your needs.

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.