Trust an Orthodontist with Your Family’s Smiles

Posted on March 31, 2021

Have you been considering orthodontics for your or your child in the coming months? Choosing to improve your smile is a big decision and one you shouldn’t make lightly. After all, you only get one smile and you don’t want to trust it to anything less than an expert! You may have wondered if your family dentist can perform an orthodontic evaluation or if you’ll need to see an orthodontist for your care. While many people believe the two are interchangeable, there are some significant reasons why you should trust an orthodontist with your family’s smiles.

Chawla Orthodontics is proud to provide expert orthodontic care to patients of all ages in Westmont, Villa Park, and the surrounding communities. Once you understand what we have to offer that general dentists don’t, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about the best provider for you and your family. Keep reading to learn more! 

Extended education and training

Although dentists and orthodontists both begin their careers in dental school, their paths diverge following graduation. Orthodontists, on the other hand, will enter an extremely competitive residency program. In fact, only the top graduating dental students tend to be accepted! These programs usually last 2-3 years and include specialized education and training that focuses on diagnosing and correcting orthodontic issues. A simpler way of putting it is that orthodontists are dentists who also have extra years of instruction in a specialized field. There are exceptions to every rule, but in general, a general dentist won’t possess this same level of exhaustive orthodontic training and experience. 

Can dentists straighten teeth?

The answer to this is “yes, but…” It’s true that all dentists receive some basic orthodontic training at school, and there are certainly some general dentists who are capable of providing orthodontic care to their patients. This is often due to the dentist brushing up on their skills through seminars and workshops. While this gives them the opportunity to acquire extra orthodontic experience, it’s still an imperfect system. Unlike orthodontic-specific programs, continuing education courses aren’t always able to cover such extensive and material in any real depth.

If your family dentist offers orthodontic care, it makes sense that you would consider them as an option. You’re already familiar with their office and team, and most of us prefer the familiar to the unknown! However, before you move forward with orthodontic treatment by your dentist, take a moment to consider what an experienced orthodontist like Dr. Chawla can offer, including:

• a wider variety of treatment options
• a customized treatment plan built around your unique smile, lifestyle, and goals 
• more efficient treatments and visits, since orthodontics is the main focus
• the best possible outcome for your smile, particularly if your case is complex or severe

Here at Chawla Orthodontics, orthodontic care is our only focus. We put a great deal of time, energy, and dedication into perfecting our techniques and service! We perform teeth-straightening procedures daily and keep up to date on the latest in industry practice. In our Westmont and Villa Park offices, we use cutting-edge techniques and technology to provide patients with the best results in the shortest amount of time possible. 

Specialized care leads to superior results

As the patient, you should always choose the care provider you feel comfortable with.  But when it comes to the way your teeth look and feel, we think it makes sense to trust an orthodontist with specialized education, training, and experience! 

If you needed heart surgery or a broken bone mended, would you ask your family doctor or would you prefer a trained surgeon or orthopedist? While general dentists are able to provide some level of specialized orthodontic work, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best choice. As the old saying goes, just because something can be done doesn’t always mean it should be.  

Experienced orthodontic care can also prevent any unnecessary complications. As trained a orthodontist, Dr. Chawla is more likely to notice the little things that a general dentist may overlook. We will only recommend the appropriate treatment plan for you and your smile, which means shorter treatment times, less chance of complications, and a treatment plan that’s time and cost-effective!

Choose Chawla Orthodontics for expert care

At Chawla Orthodontics, we’re committed to providing every patient with a stress-free and rewarding orthodontic experience. We want you to feel welcomed and comfortable from your first appointment to your last! Since our sole specialty is orthodontics, we have the experience and expertise necessary to give you the absolute best in treatments, cost, and efficiency. 

If you’re ready to explore everything orthodontics has to offer, we’d love to meet you! When you schedule a FREE consultation with our office, you’ll receive a thorough examination by one of our doctors. Following this exam, we’ll walk you through any diagnosis and outline a personalized treatment plan just for you. 

This is a no-pressure appointment, so if you decide not to pursue orthodontic treatment immediately, no worries! Our team will still be happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you might have to help you make an informed decision.

Your family deserves a lifetime of healthy smiles, so get in touch today to schedule your FREE in-office exam!