orthodontist

IPA/ˌɔːθəˈdɒntɪst/
KK[ˌɔrθədˈɑntəst]IPA/ˌɔːrθəˈdɑːntɪst/

orthodontist — noun

  • orthodontistsingular
  • orthodontistsplural

1. a dentist who has had extra training to fix teeth that are not in the right plac

1.nounB2
Definition

a dentist who has had extra training to fix teeth that are not in the right place, often by fitting braces or other devices to move them gradually.

Example

Ayesha's parents took her to an orthodontist when her front teeth started growing crooked.

take someone to an orthodontist (for treatment)

The orthodontist fitted Hugo with metal braces last spring to straighten his lower teeth.

the orthodontist fitted X with braces

Common collocations
  • see an orthodontist
  • visit an orthodontist
  • consult an orthodontist
  • qualified orthodontist
  • pediatric orthodontist
Synonyms
  • dental specialist

    broader term covering several dental fields; less precise than orthodontist

  • braces doctor

    informal everyday phrasing, often used by children or parents

Grammar Patterns

a/an + orthodontist

see/visit + an orthodontist

Usage Note

Subject is usually a person seeking treatment for a child or teenager; the patient's name is the grammatical object of verbs like 'see', 'visit', or 'take ... to'. Distinguish from a general dentist: an orthodontist focuses only on the position of teeth and jaws, not on cavities or cleaning.

Common Mistakes

I went to the orthodontist to clean my teeth.
I went to the dentist to clean my teeth.
an orthodontist treats tooth position, not general cleaning.
She studies orthodontist at university.
She studies orthodontics at university.
the field of study is 'orthodontics'; 'orthodontist' is the person.

Word family

  • orthodontics
    nounC1
  • orthodontic
    adjectiveC1
  • orthodontically
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four work inside the mouth, but their jobs are very different. A 'dentist' handles general care — filling cavities, pulling teeth, and treating gum problems — and is the person most people see twice a year. A 'dental hygienist' works alongside the dentist, mainly cleaning teeth and teaching patients how to brush and floss. An 'orthodontist' has trained for several extra years beyond regular dentistry and focuses only on the position of teeth and jaws, using braces, retainers, and clear aligners. An 'oral surgeon' performs more serious operations, such as removing wisdom teeth or fixing a broken jaw. So a child with a missing filling visits the dentist; a child with crooked teeth is referred to an orthodontist. After her yearly cleaning, the dentist suggested that Noor see an orthodontist about her overlapping front teeth.

orthodontist ↗dentist ↗dental hygienistoral surgeon

Common collocations

Nouns

  • orthodontist appointment
  • orthodontist office
  • orthodontist visit

Phrases

  • see an orthodontist
  • visit an orthodontist
  • be referred to an orthodontist
  • qualified orthodontist

Prepositions

  • at the orthodontist
  • to the orthodontist

Etymology

GreekModern LatinEnglish

Built from Greek roots: 'orthos' meaning 'straight' and 'odous / odont-' meaning 'tooth', joined with the agent suffix '-ist' to mean 'one who straightens teeth'. The word entered English in the late nineteenth century alongside the new dental specialty 'orthodontics', which was first organised as a separate field in the United States in the 1900s.