Group of Dentists At Practice

Why More General Dentists Are Pursuing Orthodontic Training

Many dentists have begun seeking out specialties in other fields in recent years, with some of the most popular varieties including restorations, cosmetics, and orthodontics. These specializations allow for a greater range of services and allow patients to receive treatments at a more cost-effective rate. Many general dentists have even begun additional training programs to provide these services, and for those interested in orthodontics, it means all-around better care for everyone. We’re here to explore what that means for your care and how you can find the right dentist for your needs. 

Why General Dentists Are Becoming More Specialized

Most general dentists offer the basic format for dental treatments; dental cleaning, oral examinations, and restorations such as fillings and tooth extractions. In this line of work, general dentists tend to focus on providing basic care prerequisites that most dental insurance companies can cover and offer these treatments as part of preventative initiatives. However, with the onset of cavities and poor dental health rising, many dentists have had to step up to the plate to treat more complex problems such as misalignments, periodontal disease, and necrotic tooth decay. 

To counter these issues, many general dentists have begun exploring orthodontics as a potential solution and preventative for these issues. Orthodontics is a field of dentistry that typically deals with misalignments, tooth malformations, poor jaw alignment, and problems that are more intrinsic to people’s oral health. These complex issues often mean that they have to provide long-term solutions such as braces and oral surgeries to correct these problems. But orthodontics provides many benefits for patients due to their preventative measures, hence why many general dentists are beginning to offer orthodontic treatments to patients more effectively. 

The Benefits of Your Dentist’s Specialization

Because of the introduction of specialties in practices, many practices have begun to offer a greater range of services. Because of this influx in specialization, many patients have begun experiencing more benefits from their visits, including: 

  • Better Treatment Results: Dentists who get specializations in fields like orthodontics can provide care to a greater number of patients and expand their outreach. They can also improve their results with more complicated procedures such as tooth realignments. 
  • Improved Patient Care: The extra training general dentists receive allows them to provide a broader range of care to a larger group of patients. This also means that patients who require specific treatments or have difficulties with medical care improve the quality of their visits. 
  • Overall Positive Experiences: General dentists will also be able to be up-to-date with the latest practices and techniques in their field, which means that patients will experience a higher rate of treatment success overall and have an overall more positive experience. 

Because dentists are becoming more up-to-date with the latest practices and techniques through specialization, patients can also afford to be more selective about their practitioners and expect higher quality experiences. In these cases, patients can search through their insurance providers for dentists within their area that specialize in the treatments they need, all thanks to this budding interest in fields like orthodontics.

Maureen Karl, DDS, FAGD
As a graduate of the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2004, Dr. Maureen Karl continues to hone her craft through continuing education. Dental patients throughout the Granbury, TX area know they can rely on our practice for skilled dental care using the latest practices.