Both can. In Ontario, general dentists are permitted to provide orthodontic treatment, while an orthodontist is a registered dental specialist who has completed two to three years of additional full-time training in tooth movement and facial growth.
So the question isn’t who is allowed to treat your child. It’s which one suits the complexity of your child’s case, and that’s something a straightforward assessment at our family dental clinic in Woodbridge can establish.
Mild to moderate cases are commonly and competently handled in general practice. Complex skeletal problems belong with a specialist. Here’s how to tell which you’re dealing with.
What’s the difference in training?
Every dentist covers orthodontic principles at dental school. A general dentist who takes on orthodontic cases then builds on that with continuing education, certification courses and clinical experience, and the depth of that varies considerably from one dentist to another.
An orthodontist has completed an accredited specialty programme after dental school, focused entirely on tooth movement, jaw growth and dentofacial development, and is registered with a specialty designation.
Worth knowing for Ontario specifically: only dentists registered in the specialty may use the title orthodontist. A general dentist can provide braces and aligners, and many do so well, but cannot describe themselves as an orthodontic specialist. If you’re unsure which you’re seeing, it’s a fair and ordinary question to ask.
Which cases suit a general dentist?
Plenty of orthodontic work is well within general practice, and there are real advantages to having it done where your family already attends.
Typically suitable: mild to moderate crowding, minor spacing, modest front tooth alignment, relapse after previous treatment, and straightforward aligner cases in cooperative teenagers and adults. Our Invisalign treatment covers many of these.
The practical benefits are worth something too. One clinic holds your child’s full history, checkups and cleanings continue alongside the orthodontic appointments, and if a filling is needed mid-treatment it’s handled in the same place rather than coordinated between two offices.
Which cases need a specialist?
Some findings genuinely warrant specialist management, and a good general dentist will say so rather than attempt them:
- Skeletal discrepancies, where the jaws themselves are mismatched rather than just the teeth
- Severe underbite or open bite
- Impacted teeth needing surgical exposure and guided eruption
- Cases likely to need jaw surgery alongside orthodontics
- Cleft palate or craniofacial conditions
- Severe crowding requiring extraction of adult teeth as part of the plan
- Early treatment involving jaw growth modification in young children
- Previous treatment that didn’t achieve its goals
Extraction cases deserve particular mention. Deciding which adult teeth to remove and how to close the spaces is one of the more consequential judgements in orthodontics, and it’s difficult to reverse if it goes wrong.
Comparing the two routes
| General dentist | Orthodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Training in orthodontics | Dental school plus continuing education | Accredited specialty programme after dental school |
| Best suited to | Mild to moderate cases | Complex and skeletal cases |
| Other dental care | Handled in the same clinic | Referred back to your dentist |
| Continuity of records | One clinic for everything | Two clinics coordinating |
| Appliance range | Usually aligners and standard braces | Full range including growth modification |
| Who decides | Assessment should identify complexity honestly | Referral made when warranted |
The single most important factor isn’t the designation on the door. It’s whether whoever assesses your child is willing to say this case is beyond what I should take on.
What to ask before committing
- Are you a general dentist or a registered orthodontic specialist? A direct question with a direct answer.
- Would you consider this case simple, moderate or complex? And on what basis.
- How many cases like this have you treated? Experience with your child’s specific problem matters more than volume generally.
- What’s the plan if treatment doesn’t progress as expected? There should be a referral pathway.
- Will adult teeth need removing? If so, ask why and what the alternatives are.
- Are records being taken? X-rays, photographs and scans should precede any plan, not follow it.
- What does retention involve afterwards? Retainers are part of treatment, not an afterthought.
A second opinion before starting a multi-year commitment is entirely reasonable, and no dentist should take offence at the suggestion.
How we approach it
We assess first and are straight about complexity. Where a case sits comfortably within general practice, we treat it here, with the advantage that your child’s checkups, cleanings and any other work carry on in the same clinic. Where it needs specialist management, we say so and refer, which is the honest answer rather than the convenient one. You can read more about our team on our about us page, or see the range of braces options we provide.
Peridot Dental Care is at 6175 Highway 7 West, Unit 7 in Woodbridge, with ample free parking. We’re open Monday to Thursday until 7:00 PM, Friday until 5:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, which matters for orthodontic cases since they involve regular appointments over a long period and evening slots keep children in school.
We bill most insurance plans directly, send predeterminations for orthodontic treatment so you have a written estimate before starting, and help families with the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Ask about senior discounts if other family members need care. Call 647-313-4164 or email info@peridotdentalcare.com. We serve Woodbridge, Kleinburg, Maple, Concord, Bolton, Nobleton, north Etobicoke, King and Caledon, in line with the standards of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Is a general dentist allowed to fit braces in Ontario?
Yes. General dentists may provide orthodontic treatment within their training and competence. What they cannot do is use the protected title of orthodontist unless registered in that specialty. Asking which applies is reasonable and normal.
Will treatment take longer with a general dentist?
Not inherently for cases well suited to general practice. Timelines depend mainly on case complexity and patient cooperation, particularly aligner wear. A complex case treated in the wrong setting is where delays and compromises tend to appear.
Does insurance treat the two differently?
Most plans cover orthodontic treatment based on the procedure rather than the provider’s designation, though specific plans vary. A predetermination sent to your insurer before treatment begins is the reliable way to find out what yours covers.
Can we start with our dentist and move to a specialist if needed?
Yes, and a clear referral pathway should be part of the original plan. Transferring mid-treatment is workable but less tidy than starting in the right place, which is why the initial assessment of complexity matters so much.
At what age should we get the first orthodontic opinion?
Around age seven, when the first adult molars and incisors have come through and developing problems become visible. Most assessments at that age result in monitoring rather than treatment, which is a useful outcome in itself.
In summary
Both general dentists and orthodontists can straighten teeth, and the right choice follows from how complex your child’s case actually is. Mild to moderate work is well served in general practice with the convenience of one clinic. Skeletal problems, impactions and extraction cases belong with a specialist, and any honest assessment will tell you which you have.
