orthodontist

Everyday

A dentist who specialises in straightening teeth and fixing the way teeth and jaws fit together, often by fitting braces. tree →

In the lessons

An everyday and health word: many children go to the orthodontist at about 10–14 years old for braces or retainers. In science lessons about teeth, it shows that teeth can be slowly moved with gentle pressure.

Examples

• I'm going to the orthodontist to get my braces tightened. tree →
• The orthodontist said my teeth are too crowded. tree →
• My sister wears a retainer from the orthodontist at night. tree →
• The orthodontist took a mould of my teeth. tree →
• You can't eat sticky toffee when you have braces, says the orthodontist. tree →
• After two years, the orthodontist took my brace off. tree →

Note

Countable; use «an». Related: orthodontics (the science), orthodontic (adjective). An orthodontist is a kind of dentist. «Ortho» means straight, «dont» means tooth. UK often says «a brace», US «braces».