Knowing the differences between dental specializations will help you choose the right dentist for your needs. Review this brief overview of the various dental areas available.
A general dental office can be operated and owned by one or more board-certified and licensed dentists. Together with dental hygienists and other dental professionals, general dentists will see patients for routine cleanings or dental exams. A general dentist can educate patients about proper oral hygiene because your overall health is directly linked to oral care.
Dental Public Health, which is different from general practice, is a group of select dentists who aim to improve the oral health of the entire community, not just one person. These dentist specialists establish dental guidelines and examine situations to determine if there is a problem with public dental health.
A Dentist Anesthesiologist has received advanced training in pain management and can administer sedation to patients to relieve anxiety and discomfort. Because of their extensive knowledge about pain management for all types of procedures (not simply dental), Dentist Anesthesiologists tend to work in both dental practices and medical centers.
Endodontics is the dental branch that works to save teeth and the surrounding tissues around the tooth root. Endodontists can diagnose tooth pain caused by decay or trauma and then use their refined skills to perform complicated procedures like root canals.
A Periodontist's primary focus is on the health of your gums and stabilizing structures for teeth. A Periodontist can receive patients thru referrals from general dentists who discover advanced gum disease. To become a Periodontist, you will need to complete additional education to learn how to treat periodontal disease plus position, maintain and restore dental implants.
Prosthetic Dentistry refers to Prosthodontics. This dentistry field focuses on restoring teeth function and oral well-being with synthetic substitutes like dentures, crowns, or veneers. These complex cosmetic procedures are possible because of the specialized skills of the Prosthodontist.
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dentists are responsible for diagnosing and treating diseases of the mouth and connected structures. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists (or Head and Neck Pathologists) will assess the patient's lifestyle along with clinical aspects to determine the source of the disease.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology examines dental scans such as CT or MRI to determine if there is any disease or irregularities within the head, face, and mouth. Dental practices and educational systems are two possible employment options for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery dentists are responsible for treating injuries and diseases of the neck, jaw, and facial areas. Commitment is essential for these Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons because the training process is very lengthy. These dentists tend to start in general medicine with a secondary dental focus.
An Orthodontist's primary focus is the alignment of the jaws and teeth using standard treatment options such as wires, retainers, and braces. Dentofacial Orthodontics, a specialty in Orthodontics, focuses on facial growth anomalies.
Children and young adults can have healthy dental hygiene with regular visits to a Pediatric Dentist. Pediatric Dentistry conducts routine cleanings and exams to detect irregularities and prevent them from affecting children's growth and development.