An inequity for sure.
Ortho goes for at least 2 years of training, after dental school. Then he opens a ortho office, can't practice any GP type work.
A GP with no ortho training can practice ortho.
A GP will also charge less than a ortho office. They should, they are untrained, non specialists.
A recent conversation with a GP, I was unaware was a GP, I had been doing a few things for for about 6 years. His total billing for that time was less than 5k. In talking with him he mentioned Space Maintainers, as well as that he was a pediatirc dentist, not ortho. I asked if he used Space Maintainers to write up his treatment program, he said that was a demeaning statement. Strange, there are several GPs using that method.
Some Orthodontists are not very aware at all of the practice being done by GPs, some are not concerned.
After discussion here and with various DRs, interest in who does what doesn't seem to be a large concern for them......yet.
