Orthodontists are dental specialists. After graduating from dental school, they go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists.  Training lasts at least two to three academic years—sometimes more.  By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.

Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.  Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.  That means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and that is all they do.  Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (misaligned aligned teeth and/or jaws).  They regularly treat young children, teens as well as adults of any age.

Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is your assurance that you have chosen an orthodontist: the dental specialist with at least two to three years of post-doctoral, advanced specialty education in orthodontics in a university-based program accredited by the American Dental Association.  Specialty education includes the study of subjects in biomedical, behavioral and basic sciences; oral biology; and biomechanics. 

Only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). 

©2006 American Association of Orthodontists