Can a Pediatric Dentist Put Kids Dental Braces
If your child needs orthodontic treatment, you might be wondering if you need to see an orthodontist, or if you can just take your child to his or her pediatric dentist for treatment. The good news for San Diego patients is that there is a provider who is both a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist.
Dr. Santiago Surillo has a unique distinction among his peers – he is both a certified orthodontist and a pediatric dentist. This is important because it signifies that he has the knowledge, expertise, and skill to treat patients with a variety of dental and orthodontic issues.
“I am committed to providing the best possible care to children of all ages,” says Dr. Surillo, who has more than two decades of experience. “Because I treat children from the time of their first dental visit, I have unique knowledge and understanding of orthodontic issues they may experience. And because I see them regularly, we can work on starting orthodontic treatment when it will have the most impact.”
Every Dentist is Not an Orthodontist
It is important to note that not every dentist is also an orthodontist. While they start out in the same place – dental school, an orthodontist has to go on to additional years of training before he or she can earn the specialty title of the orthodontist. Dr. Surillo not only did that but went an extra step to also become a board-certified orthodontist, an achievement gained by only about 25% of orthodontists in the United States.
“Board certification was a natural step for me to take in my career,” says Dr. Surillo. “I want each of my patients and their families to know that I am completely committed to providing exceptional care, using the latest in treatments and technologies. Board certification signifies that.”
What makes Dr. Surillo stand out from his peers is that he is one of only a handful of dually trained and certified pediatric dentists and orthodontists in the area.
Orthodontic treatment should only be provided by a trained orthodontist. Dentists and orthodontists both help patients improve their oral health, but only an orthodontist has the proper training to specialize in the proper alignment of teeth, improving bites, and the latest braces options. Orthodontics is about much more than just simply straightening teeth – it’s also about creating harmonious, stables bites that create facial symmetry.
Whether to Choose Your Pediatric Dentist or an Orthodontist
When deciding whether to choose your pediatric dentist or an orthodontist for your child’s orthodontic treatment, it’s important to look into how the treatment may be different. Is the pediatric dentist trained and up to date on the latest technologies and treatment options? How many orthodontic cases have the dentist handled, and how difficult were they?
For patients in the La Mesa area, Dr. Surillo provides the best of both worlds. As a pediatric dentist and orthodontist, he can care for your children’s teeth front infancy to adulthood, using his years of expertise to determine if and when orthodontic treatment is needed.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call Dr. Surillo at 619-461-6166.