Orthodontics + cosmetic dentistry?

[sunny4615]

Hi guys! I did some research but was struggling to find an answer to this-- is it possible to do an ortho residency and eventually have a practice that offers cosmetic services as well? For example-- veneers and crowns? I know to be a "cosmetic dentist" you just have to take courses in it, but I didn't know if you can combine those into a practice.

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[piratewow]

You can if you advertise as only a GP and do not mention specialty training. Under the ADA code if you say you are a specialist then you are limited to practice within the scope of that specialty. Ex there are many prosthdontists that just say they are GPs but offer advanced prosth work. Might be harder to attract all those ortho patients though if you can't legally say you're an orthodontist.
ADA statement

 

[schmoob]

It’s a bad business move. Ortho works off of referrals from GP’s so they likely would not refer to you if you provide the same services as them.

 

[luisfigo]

If that doesn't work out you can always go OMFS and work on COVID patients in primary care

 

[P7898]

Dude. Just get Invisalign certified and take some CE courses in anterior composites and veneers. Done deal. Market correctly.

 

[e00z]

No reason you can’t be ortho trained and also market cosmetic services. You could have an open bay clinic for ortho and one private room for cosmetic dentistry. It is a nontraditional business model but I don’t see why it can’t work if you market yourself and hustle.

 

[jda02624]

You can if you advertise as only a GP and do not mention specialty training. Under the ADA code if you say you are a specialist then you are limited to practice within the scope of that specialty. Ex there are many prosthdontists that just say they are GPs but offer advanced prosth work. Might be harder to attract all those ortho patients though if you can't legally say you're an orthodontist.
ADA statement

ADA code doesn't mean anything, as they are essentially a membership club. If you're not a member, they have no power to do anything. The real concern would be from your state dental board. Some state dental boards have specialist licenses or designations and they do not allow you to practice outside of your specialty. It would really depend on your state rules and you can possibly work around it, but I think it would not be a good business model (as others have mentioned).

 

[2TH MVR]

Hi guys! I did some research but was struggling to find an answer to this-- is it possible to do an ortho residency and eventually have a practice that offers cosmetic services as well? For example-- veneers and crowns? I know to be a "cosmetic dentist" you just have to take courses in it, but I didn't know if you can combine those into a practice.

Short answer is not really. If you are in an isolated area .... you could probably do whatever you want assuming you have a supply of willing patients. Being an ortho specialist means that you are limiting your practice to that specific specialty. Ortho relies at least 50% on outside referrals. Your situation means you will get no referrals from your dental colleagues. The other thing is that people usually go into ortho because they do not like dentistry procedures.

Like others have posted. Be an ortho if that is what you truly want to be. Be a GP who does cosmetic procedures and take some ortho CE on aligners if you want to offer additional broad-scope procedures to your practice.

 

[FrancesMaldo]

I think it is possible

 

[knband25]

Cool idea! I think with time, word of mouth and branding you could do it. But it's definitely the exception