What is the difference between general dentist and orthodontist?

[ColumbiaOrtho]

Of course, I am well-aware of the fact that in order to become an orthodontist you need to go through another high competition in the dental school. My question is, can orthodontist exercise same dental procedures as general dentists do, since orthodontists have to complete the same curriculums before they enter the orthodontic curriculum? If not, could someone explain why? Thank you.

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[JLT223]

They could but why would they? They'd make no money/that's not in their scope of practice. You don't see oral surgeons doing crowns; they'd much rather extract 3rds because that is what they specialize in, it's easier for them, and will allow them to gain the most profit. At the end of the day it's a business and you need to generate profit.

 

[winnadds]

To the best of my knowledge, once you specialize you cannot practice the same dental procedures as general dentists do.

I think the common misconception is that people who specialize learn how to do more things but general dentists can do everything braces etc by taking continued education courses. (Maybe exception of oral surgeons with third molars? Up to the dentists if they wanna risk it). People who specialize gain better skill set for those specific types of cases in their specialized fields and are limited (legally? correct if I'm wrong but I don't believe so) dental procedures within those fields.


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[Scumbag_Steve]

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[hellofuturedentists]

Yes if you are board certified in a certain specialty you are legally required to limit your scope to that specialty.

Really? Interesting. I just assumed an orthodontist could fill a cavity if it was like super necessary. Guess you learn something new every day!

 

[Typical Average Student]

Would you see a neurosurgeon doing strep throat checkups?

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Would you see a neurosurgeon doing strep throat checkups?

Bad analogy. At the very least, a general dentist and an orthodontist still work on the same part of the body.

 

[Advance]

Bad analogy. At the very least, a general dentist and an orthodontist still work on the same part of the body.

I mean the throat is sort of close to the brain. If you squint really hard.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I mean the throat is sort of close to the brain. If you squint really hard.

Lol you're right, my bad.

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[ncide]

If you're a specialist, you still have a DDS/DMD degree so you are well within your legal bounds to practice general dentistry. Lots of prosthodontists and dental anesthesiologists do.

As a generalist, you can also do specialist procedures, you are simply held to the standard of care that is provided by specialists that patients have access to. This doesn't include oral surgery techniques that are done exclusively in a hospital setting.

 

[ColumbiaOrtho]

I see your point. Thank you

 

[ncide]

Because insurance companies compensate specialists more for doing specialist procedures. It's more financially wise to just focus on your specialty training. Also, you will be more proficient at doing the procedures you do most, rather than doing a filling every once in a while. On top of that, specialists take a lot of their patients from referrals, so you don't want to step on your general buddy's toes by taking away his/her bread and butter.

 

[ColumbiaOrtho]

I see I see haha. Thank you

 

[doktorinprogres]

On top of that, specialists take a lot of their patients from referrals, so you don't want to step on your general buddy's toes by taking away his/her bread and butter.

Yeah, I've heard from numerous dentists that a specialist who also does general is "double-dipping" and doing so is a sure-fire way to dry up all referrals.

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[darknightzzz]

I shadow an orthodontist and he basically does all general and part orthodontics. he does fillings, deep cleaning, RCT, implants, teeth whitening.

because of this, i dont have to find another general dentist to shadow but is also expose to orthodontic practice.

 

[doc toothache]

I shadow an orthodontist and he basically does all general and part orthodontics. he does fillings, deep cleaning, RCT, implants, teeth whitening.
because of this, i dont have to find another general dentist to shadow but is also expose to orthodontic practice.

Does he claims board certification?

 

[nateriver]

But I think for peds, youre a gen dentist but for kids, so then you're a specialist and a generalist of sorts as well, shazam, confused now ? lmao, no but obvi peds is a specialty, I'm just kidding 😛

 

[Jbrowndds]

As a specialist you can legally do any of the dental procedures. They choose not to because most of their business comes from referrals. They also haven't had adequate practice in general dentistry due to going to into specialty training upon graduating dental school. It's also not economically smart to do that. General dentists can do whatever but they aren't allowed to advertise as being a specialist. If a malpractice lawsuit arrises, they are held to the same standard of care as a board certified specialist.

 

[darknightzzz]

Does he claims board certification?

to my knowledge, yes, he has the "the best orthodontics in America wood block thing"

this is why I was so confused when I put hours down (which is required to be spent with general dentist). what i saw shadowing/assisting was 80% general, the 20% he adjusts braces (putting on rubber bands, and glue the braces back on). it was kinda funny that he does night guard, veneers, in lay, on lays, etc etc too. he even extracted super impacted wisdom tooth and place and restore implants. the biggest surprise is that he even treats small children (2-4 year of age) some even just a year and cant even talk yet.

is this the so called SUPER GP? lol

this dentist was weird, he graduated from Loma Linda, completed orthodontic residence at loma linda, but then left to pursue a 2 year MD program in china that he just had the degree to show for it but not really use it.

 

[Jbrowndds]

to my knowledge, yes, he has the "the best orthodontics in America wood block thing"

this is why I was so confused when I put hours down (which is required to be spent with general dentist). what i saw shadowing/assisting was 80% general, the 20% he adjust braces (putting on rubber bands, and glue the braces back on). it was kinda funny that he does night guard, veneers, in lay, on lays, etc etc too. he even extracted super impacted wisdom tooth and place and restore implants.

this dentist was weird, he graduated from Loma Linda, complete orthodontic residence at loma linda, but then left to pursue a 2 year MD program in china that he just had the degree to show for it but not really use it.

Edit: Nevermind, I neglected to read the bottom before writing my post. He may be funny but he isn't doing anything out of the ordinary.

 

[darknightzzz]

Edit: Nevermind, I neglected to read the bottom before writing my post. He may be funny but he isn't doing anything out of the ordinary.

yep he practices in a very saturated area (irvine, ca south CA basically) and his practice location alone has 3 other dental practices in one block.

 

[JLT223]

to my knowledge, yes, he has the "the best orthodontics in America wood block thing"

this is why I was so confused when I put hours down (which is required to be spent with general dentist). what i saw shadowing/assisting was 80% general, the 20% he adjusts braces (putting on rubber bands, and glue the braces back on). it was kinda funny that he does night guard, veneers, in lay, on lays, etc etc too. he even extracted super impacted wisdom tooth and place and restore implants. the biggest surprise is that he even treats small children (2-4 year of age) some even just a year and cant even talk yet.

is this the so called SUPER GP? lol

this dentist was weird, he graduated from Loma Linda, completed orthodontic residence at loma linda, but then left to pursue a 2 year MD program in china that he just had the degree to show for it but not really use it.

Sounds like he is either too prideful to refer out or he just wants the money

 

[ncide]

Or he doesn't have enough ortho patients...

 

[doc toothache]

to my knowledge, yes, he has the "the best orthodontics in America wood block thing"
this dentist was weird, he graduated from Loma Linda, completed orthodontic residence at loma linda, but then left to pursue a 2 year MD program in china that he just had the degree to show for it but not really use it.

If he was board certified, it would say so on his door/card/marquee. Assuming he is, does he also berate gps that do ortho?

 

[darknightzzz]

If he was board certified, it would say so on his door/card/marquee. Assuming he is, does he also berate gps that do ortho?

his door or office does not say ortho his door does not even have his name on it. his card reads family dentistry. he is a pretty cool dude. he does not comment on any gps or others while i shadow assist him. just sit in his office watching asian dramas and let his wife run office and do her stuff when hes done and just talk to patients in taiwanese (which i dont understand)

i once ask him what he thinks of gp doing invisalign he just says if it does not work he does not know whos responsible the dentist or the company

and he assured me of not being afraid of making mistakes in dentistry cuz every body makes mistake. at worst, you return the money to the patient and patch it up and refer them out

and he always come to practice in worn out jean with torn bottom and tight tees. practice 3 days a week with his wife working at the practice too
LOLL

 

[JLT223]

his door or office does not say ortho his door does not even have his name on it. his card reads family dentistry. he is a pretty cool dude. he does not comment on any gps or others while i shadow assist him. just sit in his office watching asian dramas and let his wife run office and do her stuff when hes done and just talk to patients in taiwanese (which i dont understand)

i once ask him what he thinks of gp doing invisalign he just says if it does not work he does not know whos responsible the dentist or the company

and he assured me of not being afraid of making mistakes in dentistry cuz every body makes mistake. at worst, you return the money to the patient and patch it up and refer them out

and he always come to practice in worn out jean with torn bottom and tight tees. practice 3 days a week with his wife working at the practice too
LOLL

Sounds shady asf.

 

[doc toothache]

his door or office does not say ortho his door does not even have his name on it. his card reads family dentistry. he is a pretty cool dude. he does not comment on any gps or others while i shadow assist him. just sit in his office watching asian dramas and let his wife run office and do her stuff when hes done and just talk to patients in taiwanese (which i dont understand)
i once ask him what he thinks of gp doing invisalign he just says if it does not work he does not know whos responsible the dentist or the company
and he assured me of not being afraid of making mistakes in dentistry cuz every body makes mistake. at worst, you return the money to the patient and patch it up and refer them out
and he always come to practice in worn out jean with torn bottom and tight tees. practice 3 days a week with his wife working at the practice too
LOLL

Your "orthodontist" may be a case of mistaken identity. It does not quack nor walk like a duck. Not much to suggest it is a duck.

 

[Cello]

A thread about a lawsuit involving just this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...l-dentistry-could-this-change-things.1074699/

As a specialist, you want to tread lightly when it comes to GP turf. If you piss off the GPs in your area by stepping on their toes, who is going to refer patients to you?

 

[doc toothache]

A thread about a lawsuit involving just this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...l-dentistry-could-this-change-things.1074699/

As a specialist, you want to tread lightly when it comes to GP turf. If you piss of the GPs in your area by stepping on their toes, who is going to refer patients to you?

Looks like the good doctor lost the battle.With the amount of money he spent on the lawsuits, he could comfortably have hired a gp to do free prophies for a few years and still have enough let over for a good steak dinner for him and his staff.
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/109071/burris-drops-lawsuit-surrenders-specialist-license