Miami Board-Certified Orthodontist

What is a board-certified orthodontist?

• Graduate from an accredited Orthodontic program
• Document a portfolio of treated orthodontic patients that meet the guidelines of the Board
• Pass written and oral examinations

Additional, ABO-certified orthodontic specialists need to be recertified every 10 years to ensure they stay current with modern developments and techniques. This process involves a new examination as well as a continuing education requirement.

Are all orthodontists board-certified?

No, according to the American Dental Association only 30% of US orthodontists are board-certified. While graduating from an orthodontic training program will allow you to practice orthodontics as a specialty, it is not sufficient to become certified. In the US, orthodontic specialists can only be certified by the American Board of Orthodontics as determined by the ADA's list of Recognized Dental Specialty Certifying Boards.

How does an orthodontist become board-certified?

Orthodontists that wish to become certified need to carefully prepare a portfolio of finished cases that meet the very stringent requirements of the American Board of Orthodontics. These cases need to be of a sufficient degree of difficulty and encompass different categories of dentofacial challenges. Additionally, they need to be treated to a very high, stringent standard. With the cases completed and documented, applicants need to present and defend their choices in front of a panel of examiners.

Lastly, orthodontists also need to complete a written examination consisting of 240 multiple-choice questions covering the following topics:

• Basic and applied biomedical sciences
• General clinical sciences
• Orthodontic clinical sciences
• Clinical case analysis

How do I find a reputable orthodontist?

According to the American Board of Orthodontics, some of the questions you should ask your orthodontist are:

From which Dental School did you graduate? Where did you complete your Orthodontic Residency Program?

Training matters. Every dental school and training program has a different philosophy that will shape a doctor's diagnosis and treatment options. Asking about your doctor's training will ensure that the doctor has sufficient training to ensure your goals are met.

Do you only perform orthodontic treatment, or do you also offer general dentistry services?

Anybody with a dental license can perform orthodontic treatment. The difference between a general dentist and an orthodontic specialist is not the tools available, but the knowledge and experience. With both Invisalign and metal braces, the quality of the results depends largely on a correct diagnosis and a correct treatment strategy.

Do you personally do all of the work on your patients or will some of the work be completed by other associates?

With proper training, dental assistants can help with certain portions of orthodontic treatment under the direct supervision of an orthodontist. Other parts of the treatment, however, must be performed by the orthodontist and cannot be delegated. These include making any treatment decisions, making any adjustment to the teeth (such as slenderizing or IPR) and using high-speed dental handpieces (such as for removing braces or Invisalign attachments). These tasks cannot be delegated as per the Florida Board of Dentistry.

Are you a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and/or certified by The American Board of Orthodontics?

There are two main organizations for US orthodontic specialists:

• The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) requires members to be orthodontic specialists, meaning having completed an orthodontic residency program (typically 2-3 years).
• The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), in addition to being an orthodontic specialist, requires members to have completed their Board-Certification process.

In Miami, any licensed dentist can perform orthodontic treatment, whether using traditional braces, cosmetic ceramic braces or Invisalign clear braces. The differences between a general dentist and an orthodontic specialist are:

Which doctor is best for braces?

• orthodontic specialists have an additional 2-3 years of full-time training after their dental training
• orthodontic specialists are better trained for treating complex adult cases as well as any treatment on growing children, including dentofacial orthopedics and state-of-the-art treatment options
• orthodontic specialists spend all of their day doing braces and Invisalign treatment only, whereas a general dentist might only see a few orthodontic patient per day or week
• only orthodontic specialists are eligible for board-certification