561-964-5200
At McCaffrey Orthodontics West Palm Beach, our mission is to help patients of all ages achieve beautiful new smiles through premium orthodontic treatment. Our orthodontist, Dr. Kevin McCaffrey, will work closely with patients to design personalized treatment plans, ensuring that orthodontic treatment fits into the busy lifestyles of our patients. As Board Certified orthodontists, our doctors have the specialized knowledge and skills to help patients achieve a healthy smile no matter what – something that cannot be said of general dentists.
Both general dentists and orthodontists perform treatments on the teeth and mouth, but the two specialties have fundamentally different goals. Dentistry focuses on the health and integrity of the teeth and gums, while orthodontics is focused purely on the alignment of the teeth. But in addition to a different focus, dentists and orthodontists have different requirements for education and training.
Orthodontists are dental specialists, which means that in addition to four years of general dental school, they complete two to four years of additional training in an accredited orthodontic specialty program. This added training gives orthodontists the expertise to use the complicated technologies and techniques of orthodontics to make permanent changes to the alignment of the teeth, jaws and facial bones – training that general dentists do not have.
Only someone who has completed an accredited orthodontic specialty program can call themselves an orthodontist, but in some states, it is legal for general dentists to offer treatment with braces or the Invisalign® system. However, that does not mean that a general dentist has the level of expertise an orthodontist has.
A dentist may be able to move teeth using braces or the Invisalign system, but the reality is they are lacking the specialized training of an orthodontist – and whereas an orthodontist spends 100% of their time realigning teeth, a general dentist may only spend 5% of their time using braces and Invisalign clear aligners. This means that in order to achieve the best possible outcome from your orthodontic treatment in West Palm Beach, Florida, you should always choose a licensed, Board Certified orthodontist instead of a general dentist.
If you are considering straightening your teeth through orthodontic treatment, it is always best to go with a fully-trained orthodontist – and at our practice, we have two! If you are interested in learning how orthodontic treatment can help you achieve a better smile, request a free consultation with us using our easy online form or by calling 561-964-5200. We cannot wait to hear from you, and we are excited to help you achieve the smile of your dreams!
