Someone once said to me “Anyone can straighten teeth.”
Perhaps there’s a little truth to that? Perhaps. But what if someone said to you, “Anyone can cut hair.” I have enough friends who have had bad hair experiences to know that’s not true. Most people wouldn’t even dare to give themselves a haircut, and those that attempt it are often the butt of hilarious videos on YouTube. Often more research is put into searching for a hair stylist than the person who is going to be moving teeth through your bone which is what happens when we straighten teeth.
If you make a decision to invest in your smile then wouldn’t you want someone super qualified rather than just anyone? Or worse yet, no one? With more and more DIY options and more general dentists posing as orthodontists (believe me, there are quite a few pretenders out there) it has become increasingly difficult to work out who is actually a Specialist at moving teeth; an Orthodontist.
A Specialist Orthodontist has not only completed a Dentistry degree, but has then gone on to complete an additional two- three years residency (with over 5000 hours of clinical training) gaining a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics. The competition is tough with most programs taking only a few dentists that make the cut to be selected into the residency program. Some programs like the one Dr. Cherubini attended offer a Master’s Degree in Orthodontics in addition to the Certificate of Specialization
For some of my fellow colleagues, dental school and residency can be a ride or die for personal relationships – so doing an online course or a two day seminar has its appeal – but the achievement of gaining a skill set from high quality training at selective tertiary institutions has value.
Despite the intense training, straightening teeth and correcting bites not only becomes a craft but it becomes a passion. And you know when you’ve caught the orthodontic bug when you watch a show and a person comes across your screen and the first thing you look at is teeth, and then do a quick assessment and treatment plan in your head. Orthodontists specialize in moving teeth and practice their profession and art every day. They are best equipped to solve the problems you have with your bite and smile. Also, they are best equipped to handle the daily challenges you might have with your Invisalign or braces.
Dr. Cherubini and his team are committed to excellence in smile aesthetics and bites. Check out our smile of the month on our website to see for yourself the results. Your hair will grow back if you pick the wrong stylist. Your smile is for LIFE. So be picky, do your research, and find a specialist like Dr. Cherubini to help with your smile journey.
Adapted with permission from Dr Shaz MacAvoy from Milk Orthodontics, New Zealand.