What is the difference between an Orthodontist and a Dentist?

If you are beginning to research how to “get straight teeth” or “do I need braces,” a question you may be wondering is, "can my dentist give me braces?" The answer is a big NO! There are major differences between an orthodontist and a dentist. From what a dentist does to what an orthodontist can do.

As orthodontists, we utilize the latest technological advances in the profession to achieve unsurpassed results for our patients. Dentists are mainly concerned with your overall dental health. Dentists treat decayed teeth and remove failed teeth. Dentists look for abnormalities in the mouth and teach patients how to prevent dental disease.

Orthodontists are specialists in training teeth and aligning jaws. Another difference between both dentist and orthodontist, is orthodontist become specialists by completing four years of general dental education in dental school and then continuing in an accredited program where they study their specific specialty full-time for two or more years.

Located in Greenville, Mississippi, our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best care possible. Your smile lasts a lifetime and our practice's top priority is to provide you the highest quality orthodontic care. Our goal is to create beautiful smiles and grow self-esteem in our patients.

Join our Halloween 2019 Contest

Happy Halloween! Joint TLS Orthodontics and other practices around our Greenville community, and vote for your favorite pumpkin. https://www.facebook.com/pg/TLSOrthodontics/

 

Protect Your Smile #MouthGuardDay

Today is #NationalMouthGuardDay! As everyone has gone back to school and fall sports are about to begin, it is a perfect opportunity to remind our Greenville community the importance of wearing a mouthguard during activities, especially during orthodontic treatment!

Wearing a mouthguard ensures our teeth and overall smile is protected. During the ages of 7 to 11 years old children are most vulnerable to sports related mouth injuries. 67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouthguard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports.

Here are the three types of mouthguards you can wear, especially if you are currently in orthodontic treatment.

• Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly.
• Stock mouth guards - these types of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky.
• Boil and bite mouthguards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth. 

Treatable Orthodontic Problems at TLS Orthodontics

Crowding: 

Crowding of the teeth is probably the most common orthodontic problem. Although many factors contribute to dental crowding, this problem typically stems from a discrepancy between the space in each jaw and the size of the teeth.

Crowding can be the cause or result of other problems, such as impacted teeth, retained teeth or teeth that do not naturally fall out. Crossbite of the front or rear teeth can also cause the teeth to become crowded.

Spacing: 

Spaces between teeth are another common problem associated with the need for orthodontic care. Like crowding, spacing may be related to a tooth-to-jaw size disharmony. Spacing may occur between the front and the back teeth. Tooth size discrepancies, such as smaller teeth or abnormally shaped teeth, or tongue thrust habits can also create abnormal spacing.

If you are experiencing some problems or want to find more information, give us a call at (662) 332-4902

Back to School in Greenville

Who's ready for another giveaway? We are giving away 2 backpacks filled with school supplies, perfect for back to school!  All you have to do is enter on our Facebook Page:

Why is it important for a check-up during back-to-school season? This is the time to schedule an appointment to measure the progress of your child’s orthodontic treatment. This will ensure your child's treatment is on schedule. Schedule a consultation or an appointment today by calling us at (662) 332-4902

Dr. Skelton’s Birthday Giveaway!

Dr. Skelton is celebrating her birthday in a big way! We’re giving away 4 bikes to 4 different winners. Perfect for summer adventures. It’s all happening on June 10th! Enter on our Facebook page here and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates.

Go Purple for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness

Go Purple for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month! May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month and we are encouraging all our patients to join us in celebrating awareness by getting purple braces. This easy fun way allows anyone with braces to participate in raising awareness for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs.

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation more than 30,000 people are living with cystic fibrosis (more than 70,000 worldwide) in the United States. There are 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis diagnosed each year.

“Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.” Learn more by visiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.