Is your Dentist an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a specialist that has undergone advanced training two to three years beyond a basic dental curriculum. Dr. Forbes was first trained as a dentist and then educated as a specialist in orthodontics. Orthodontic students are typically selected from the top ten percent of graduating dental students. Dr. Forbes’ orthodontic residency program at Northwestern University was a Master of Science, full time two-year experience. During that training, he treated approximately 100 orthodontic patients. His curriculum enabled him to diagnose and create treatment plans for patients with badly aligned teeth. He can distinguish the subtleties and ramifications of different types of bites. Bad bites are not all the same.
Dr. Forbes is a Diplomate of American Board of Orthodontics an honor only thirty-three percent of orthodontists can claim. Since his orthodontic residency, he has treated thousands of patients. This variety of patients provides Dr. Forbes with a diverse portfolio of orthodontic patients. Your orthodontic problem is most likely one that he has seen before.
In four years, dental schools instruct future dentists in oral hygiene and basic tooth restoration techniques. Primarily the emphasis is the treatment of gum disease, cavities and restoring broken down teeth. Dental schools quickly recognized that four years are not enough to provide dentists an in-depth education that includes orthodontics. To remedy one major deficiency, the American Dental Association created its first specialty: Orthodontics.
