---
title: "What Is Orthodontist? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "An orthodontist is a dentist with extra training in how teeth and jaws grow and fit together."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontist
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Dental Team and Specialties

# Orthodontist

An orthodontist is a dentist with extra training in how teeth and jaws grow and fit together. Orthodontics is the recognized dental specialty for straightening them.

Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is one of the 12 dental specialties the ADA's National Commission recognizes. It includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception, and correction of malocclusion, which means a bite that does not fit together well. An orthodontist is a dentist who completed extra training in this area.

Orthodontists work with braces, [clear aligners](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/clear-aligners), retainers, and other devices. See [malocclusion](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/malocclusion) and [braces](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/braces). A general dentist may also provide some tooth straightening care, depending on training. This is a title for a specialty. It is not a title for the dentists at Town Center Dental, who are general dentists.

See the practice's [teeth straightening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-straightening) page for what the practice describes about its own services.

[Town Center Dental can helpTeeth Straightening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-straightening)

## Related terms

-   [Malocclusion](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/malocclusion)
-   [Braces](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/braces)
-   [Clear aligners](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/clear-aligners)
-   [General dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/general-dentist)
-   [Retainer](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/retainer)

## Sources

1.  [ADA National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties: Recognized Dental Specialties](https://ncrdscb.ada.org/recognized-dental-specialties)
2.  [ADA National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties: Recognized Dental Specialties](https://ncrdscb.ada.org/recognized-dental-specialties)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)