Oral health is a culmination of many things that involve specialists along with dental professionals. Usually, issues with teeth include more than dentistry alone, sometimes there are orthodontic or jaw alignment issues that need to be tended to in order to create harmony. There are also many other kinds of experts who deal with specific problems like gum disease, root canals, and more. Learning about each specialty can help people identify what type of care they may receive if the need arises.
General Dentist
Almost everyone will hopefully visit a general dentist in their lifetime, usually once or twice a year. They are the primary oral health care provider for any kind of care that concerns the gums and teeth. Dentists can perform root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and bonding. Practicing general dentists attend three or more years of undergraduate studies with another four years of dental school after. They either have a DDS (doctor of dental surgery) or DMD (doctor of dental medicine) degree. People often wonder what the difference id between the two degrees, but they are actually both the same. There is no difference in the teachings or knowledge that is acquired; they are simply titles from differing schools. There are post-graduate programs for dentists to become specialized in any particular area such as cosmetic dentistry or pediatrics. See a general dentist for the following:
- Tooth sensitivity to heat or cold
- Suspected cavities
- Pain while chewing
- Abnormal bleeding while brushing
- Routine checkups
- Dental cleanings
- X-rays to check bone health
Pedodontist
After four years of dental school, pediatric dentists go into post-graduate studies to specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of dental issues in children from the ages of one to early adulthood. These specialists can treat children that are suffering from decay, crowding, missing, or crooked teeth, as well as referring them to other specialists as needed. Pedodontists attend their two-year post-graduate training to learn about emerging teeth, child behavior, growth, and development, as well as care for those with special needs. Parents are urged to begin their child’s oral health routine while they are only several months old, and every child should see a dentist by their first year. See a pediatric dentist for the following:
- Child is almost 1 year old
- Within 6 months of first tooth eruption
- 6-month checkups
- Flossing and brushing education
- Ensure proper fluoride dosage
- Monitor new and permanent teeth
Orthodontist
These specialists work with the diagnosis, prevention, interception, and correction of malocclusions, or improper bites, of the teeth. When teeth are misaligned, there can be crowding, missing or extra teeth, or jaw issues. Orthodontists consult both children and adults with the best ways to go about straightening their teeth and improving their bites through the use of braces, bands, wires, retainers, and other corrective appliances that can significantly improve the overall structure of the jaw and teeth over time. Most people will visit an orthodontist at some point in their lifetimes as only 35% of the population has well-aligned teeth. See an orthodontist for the following:
- Crooked teeth
- Crowding of teeth causing plaque build-up
- Improper bite formation
- Children with all or most adult teeth ages 6-10
- Early prevention of advanced issues
- Tongue posture education
- Jaw pain or trouble chewing
Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons
When the mouth needs and kind of surgery, these are the trusted specialists who can treat the face, teeth, gums, and jaw area. For people who have injuries and need reconstructive surgery, they are able to use various dental implants as well as plates to help heal injured or broken jaws. There are also cases where people are diagnosed with various oral cancers or tumors and need surgeries to help treat their ailments. Dentists will defer to oral surgeons for things like tooth extractions, removal of soft tissue, impacted teeth, biopsies, implants, as well as jaw realignment surgery. Once these specialists finish dental school, they take up to eight years of additional training to become certified in their professions. See either of these specialists for the following:
- Jaw surgery prior to orthodontic treatment
- Corrective surgery for deformity of injury
- Wisdom teeth extraction
- Referral from dentist for procedure
- Joint issues like TMJ
- Sleep and breathing issues
- Implants
- Cancer treatment
Periodontist
Gums are as crucial as teeth when it comes to oral health, and these specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating diseases of the soft tissues in the mouth. This includes all supporting structures of the teeth, especially those that are prone to gingivitis and periodontitis, which are gum and bone diseases. The most common procedures that periodontists perform are deep pocket cleanings, root planning, crown lengthening, soft tissue grafting, flap procedures, gum and bone grafting, and gum contouring. Some of these procedures require general anesthesia, so it’s not uncommon for these specialists to work alongside dental anesthesiologists to perform routine surgeries. See a periodontist for the following:
- Changes in bite pattern
- Loose adult teeth
- Swollen, painful, or red gums
- Gum recession
- Gum disease
- Referral from dentist for procedure
Learning about the different kinds of specialists that perform in the dental field is a great way to learn about important aspects of dental and oral health that go beyond general dentistry. Most people come into contact with dental specialists in their lifetime through a referral from their dentist, which is why yearly checkups and six-month cleanings are vital. Routine x-rays can also help show the health of teeth below the gum line, where potential issues are not visible to the eye.
Prevention will always be the most preferred method of having to avoid seeing specialists, but if the situation arises, these dental professionals are highly educated and masters of their craft. Many specialists’ educations are ongoing as technology is always advancing and changing the way they practice. They are able to introduce innovative techniques that benefit patients by attending conferences, clinics, and certifications that introduce and train them to use new tools, methods, and medicines that are making oral health care easier and more accessible than ever.
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