Table of Contents
Both orthodontists and dentists are professionals who focus on oral health care, but their daily responsibilities, specialized training, and career outlooks differ significantly.
All orthodontists start as dentists, but they complete years of additional residency training to specialize in teeth alignment and jaw biomechanics. Dentists, meanwhile, provide broad primary oral health care, managing everything from cavities to gum health.
Choosing the right career path depends on your interests, willingness to invest additional time and money into education, and your professional goals. Below, we take a closer look at educational requirements, certifications, responsibilities, and salary expectations for both professions.
Key Points
• Dentists provide general oral healthcare, including cleanings, fillings, crowns, and preventive care.
• Orthodontists are dental specialists who focus on correcting teeth and jaw alignment issues.
• Orthodontists complete an additional two to three years of specialized residency training after dental school.
• Orthodontists generally earn higher salaries, but they also spend more time and money on education.
• Dentists typically have a broader scope of practice, while orthodontists focus on specialized corrective treatments.
What Is a Dentist?
Dentists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat oral health conditions. Dentists perform routine checkups to assess teeth and gum health, provide preventive care, repair or replace damaged teeth, perform cosmetic procedures, and prescribe medications when necessary. They also work closely with specialists and refer patients when advanced care is needed.
Recommended: Funding Dental School: FAFSA and Financial Planning
What Is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed additional specialized training focused on diagnosing and treating teeth and jaw irregularities. Orthodontists work with patients to correct issues such as misalignments, overbites, underbites, and overcrowded teeth.
They use tools including braces, clear aligners, retainers, and palate expanders to improve both the appearance and function of a patient’s bite and smile. Orthodontists often collaborate with general dentists to provide comprehensive oral care.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Private student loans offer fixed or variable interest rates. So you can get a loan that fits your budget.
Orthodontist vs Dentist: Key Differences
Here’s a look at some of the biggest differences between dentists and orthodontists:
| Dentist | Orthodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Overall oral health, teeth, and gums | Jaw alignment and tooth movement |
| Common procedures | Fillings, crowns, cleanings, root canals | Braces, aligners, retainers, palate expanders |
| Education path | 4 years of dental school to earn a DDS or DMD | 4 years of dental school plus a 2–3 year residency |
| Total post-grad training | About 4 years | About 6-7 years |
| Daily routine | Wide variety of procedures and patient needs | Specialized focus on alignment treatments |
| Salary potential | High | Generally higher than dentists |
Education and Training
To become a dentist, students typically earn a bachelor’s degree before completing four years of dental school to achieve either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. Graduates must then pass licensing exams through their state dental board before practicing.
Dentists can begin working after obtaining state licensure, though they must complete continuing education courses throughout their careers to maintain their license.
Orthodontists complete the same undergraduate and dental school requirements but must also finish an additional two to three additional years in an orthodontics residency program accredited by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). Residency training focuses on facial growth, jaw alignment, and tooth movements.
Orthodontists who want board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics must also pass written and clinical examinations. Certification must be renewed periodically throughout their careers.
Because orthodontists spend more years in school, they often take on higher educational costs and may rely more heavily on graduate student loans.
Scope of Practice
Dentists diagnose, prevent, and treat disease and injuries affecting the teeth, gums, mouth, and surrounding facial structures. Their responsibilities can range from routine cleanings to complex restorative procedures.
Common responsibilities of dentists include:
• Providing dental screenings, cleaning, and exams
• Diagnosing and treating oral health conditions
• Taking and interpreting X-rays
• Completing fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, and extractions
• Educating patients about oral hygiene
• Referring patients to specialists when necessary
Orthodontists, by contrast, specialize in correcting alignment and bite problems. Their advanced training focuses specifically on tooth movement and facial development.
Common responsibilities of orthodontists include:
• Evaluating patients for teeth and jaw alignment issues
• Using diagnostic tools such as X-rays and dental molds
• Installing braces, aligners, retainers, and other orthodontic devises
• Monitoring treatment progress over time
• Correcting bite and jaw irregularities
• Helping improve oral function and communication challenges related to alignment issues
Salary Comparison
When it comes to how much dentists make compared to orthodontists, they generally earn less. The average annual salary in the United States is approximately $221,245 for dentists and $271,770 for orthodontists, a difference of roughly $50,000 annually.
However, a dentist vs. orthodontist salary can vary widely based on geographic location, years of experience, specialization, and whether a professional owns a private practice.
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: Master’s degree or graduate certificate? Private or federal student loans can smooth the path to either goal.
How to Choose Between a Dentist and Orthodontist Career
Deciding between dentistry and orthodontics depends on your career goals, preferred work style, and willingness to spend additional years in training. Here are several factors to consider:
• Scope of practice: General dentistry offers significant variety. Dentists may perform root canals, extractions, crowns, and preventative treatments all in a single day. Orthodontics is more specialized, focusing primarily on braces, clear aligners, retainers, and long-term treatment plans.
• Education: Both careers require an undergraduate degree followed by four years of dental school to earn a DDS or DMD degree. Dentists can then begin practicing after obtaining licensure, while orthodontists must complete an additional residency program lasting two to three years.
• Costs: Dental school can be expensive. Average annual tuition and fees for the 2025-26 academic year were approximately $46,845 for public in-state programs and $79,168 for public out-of-state tuition, and $90,090 for private dental schools. Orthodontic residency programs can add an additional $115,600 to $196,700 in educational expenses.
• Lifestyle: Dentists may occasionally deal with emergency situations such as broken teeth or severe tooth pain, which can require after-hours care. Orthodontists typically work on scheduled treatment plans and generally experience fewer emergency situations, which may allow for more predictable hours.
• Earning potential: Orthodontists generally earn higher salaries than dentists due to their advanced specialization. Their generally higher earning potential can help offset the expense of additional education, making it easier to manage and repay dental school loans after graduation.
Recommended: Budgeting as a New Dentist
The Takeaway
Dentists and orthodontists both play essential roles in oral healthcare, but they follow different career paths and focus on different areas of treatment. Dentists provide broad preventive and restorative care, while orthodontists specialize in correcting teeth and jaw alignment issues through additional specialized training.
For students considering either profession, the best choice comes down to whether you prefer variety in patient care or a highly specialized clinical focus. While orthodontists spend more time in school and often take on higher education costs, they typically earn higher salaries and may benefit from more predictable work schedules.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
What is the main difference between an orthodontist and a dentist?
The primary difference between an orthodontist vs. a dentist is the scope of the practice. Dentists provide general oral health care and treat a wide range of dental conditions, while orthodontists specialize in correcting teeth and jaw alignment issues.
Can a dentist do orthodontic work?
Some general dentists offer basic orthodontic treatments, such as clear aligners or minor tooth movement procedures. However, orthodontists complete several additional years of specialized training that allows them to manage more complex alignment issues.
Does a dentist or an orthodontist earn more?
On average, orthodontists earn more than dentists because of their additional training and specialization. However, income can vary depending on experience, location, and practice ownership.
How many additional years of school does an orthodontist need?
Orthodontists typically complete an additional two to three years of residency training after dental school, bringing their total education timeline to around 10 years, including undergraduate studies.
Should I see a dentist or an orthodontist for braces?
Patients seeking braces or other alignment treatment are generally best served by an orthodontist because of their specialized training in tooth movement and jaw alignment.
Photo credit: iStock/ronstik
SoFi Private Student Loans
Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
SoFi Bank, N.A. and its lending products are not endorsed by or directly affiliated with any college or university unless otherwise disclosed.
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
SOISL-Q226-037