An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in straightening teeth and fixing bite problems. While regular dentists clean teeth, fill cavities, and handle general dental care, orthodontists focus specifically on moving teeth into better positions and making sure your upper and lower jaws fit together properly.

Most kids visit an orthodontist to get braces, those metal brackets and wires that gradually shift crooked teeth into straighter positions over months or years. Orthodontists also fit patients with clear plastic aligners, retainers (devices that hold teeth in place after braces come off), and other appliances that guide teeth and jaw growth.

Becoming an orthodontist requires years of extra training beyond dental school. After learning general dentistry, these specialists study for several more years to understand how teeth move through bone, how jaws develop as children grow, and how to plan treatments that might take years to complete.

Many people see orthodontists during their teenage years, when most permanent teeth have come in but the jaw is still growing. That can make it an ideal time to correct alignment problems.