At Liverpool Smile Studio, we want you to be able to have the treatments you need in order to help you feel happy, health and confident. For some patients, this means getting their smile realigned for cosmetic or clinical reasons. If this is you, it is possible that you need to see an orthodontist.
Training
Your orthodontist in Liverpool is a regular dentist who has had extra training. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Only those who have completed another two to three years training that is focused on the development of the teeth, face and jawbone to ensure maximum functionality and form can call themselves orthodontists.
All dentists are members of the General Dental Council (GDC), which is the regulatory body for dental practitioners in the UK. This means they adhere to strict standards regarding qualifications and continuous professional development. If someone has a specialty, like orthodontics, this is reflected in their GDC membership.
Complex cases
While the orthodontist in Liverpool can treat any level of irregularity, you are more likely to be referred to them for treatment if you have a particularly complex case. Many patients get braces as adults for cosmetic reasons. However, there are cases where misaligned teeth can cause pain in the teeth, jaw and even the muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back. A misaligned bite or malocclusion is often the cause of this and other disorders such as sleep apnoea and temporomandibular joint disorder.
Your treatment plan
One of the skills that your orthodontist in Liverpool will use is their ability to create a detailed treatment plan for you. This is particularly important if your case is not straightforward. In order to get the perfect smile, teeth sometimes need to be turned, pulled into place or pushed back. You might need extractions to make room or pressure applied at sharp angles to achieve the desired effects. Each tooth has a knock-on effect on those around it. All of this, and more, needs to be taken into account when your orthodontist is making your plan. They will take scans and impressions of your teeth and use digital technology to help them do this.