Not necessarily. Dentists will only be able to treat your orthodontic needs to a limited extent, they may use “one-type-fits-all” treatments for patients, or attempt to rush treatment using approaches not endorsed by the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists.
In some cases patients may end up with unstable or unsatisfactory outcomes, which require re-treatment at an additional full cost, and will need to be referred to a specialist orthodontist due to problems encountered by a dentist attempting orthodontic treatment without specialist training.
Only a specialist orthodontist can provide comprehensive treatment as they have had three additional years of extensive postgraduate University education which dentists do not receive. They are experts in diagnosis, treatment planning andmanagement of orthodontics, and are recognised as orthodontic specialists by the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Make sure the person you choose to do your orthodontic treatment is a specialist orthodontist and a member of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists. A list of members can be found here.