There are many different sorts of dental specialties. This blog post will go through a number of the many sorts of dentists available and what they do. Here’s a quick rundown of each one:
General Dentist
General dentists are your primary care doctors when it comes to your teeth/jaw. Dentists analyze, diagnose, treat, and assist patients with a large portion of their dental health needs. Dental offices range from basic preventative visits to complex restorative and cosmetic services such as teeth cleaning, tooth whitening, filling cavities, dental crowns, porcelain veneers, bridges, dentures, root canals, extractions.
A DDS or a DMD degree is required of all general dentists. However, there is no difference between the two degrees.
In most cases, most dentists will have a bachelor’s degree in addition to four years of dental school in order to complete their studies. More post-graduate education is necessary to become a dentist.
Orthodontist
Orthodontists are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of malocclusions. In simple terms, they straighten teeth and aid in the improvement of your bite. In addition to abnormal jaw alignment, orthodontic treatment is required in the event of overcrowded, crooked, or missing teeth. Dental devices are used to augment and maintain the dental development of your children. They use braces and plastic “aligners” and retainers to enhance and preserve their teeth’s growth. Orthodontics not only improve the functionality of your teeth. They also make teeth more aesthetically attractive and easier to maintain. To practice as an orthodontist, dentists must complete a two-year residency.
Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist is a dentist that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of children’s dental problems from birth to the age of 17 or early adulthood. They can determine, diagnose, or recommend further treatment for issues such as decayed, missing, congested, or misaligned teeth. A pediatric dentist has more education than a general dentist – two additional years of study. The dental student’s further education focuses on child psychology, physical development, and children’s dentistry.
Endodontist
An endodontist is a dentist that specializes on the diseases and injuries of the human dental pulp or nerve in a person’s teeth. A dentist that specializes in endodontics may utilize a range of procedures, some of which are simple and others complex. To become an endodontist, you must complete 2-3 more years of post-graduate education.
Periodontist
Periodontists are specialists in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gum disease, bones, and teeth problems. They frequently collaborate with patients who have gingivitis (gum inflammation) or the more severe type known as periodontal disease. This specialty requires three years of additional education.
Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist is a dentist that specializes in restoring and/or replacing missing teeth on a much larger scale than the average dentist. A prosthodontist replaces missing or extracted teeth with dental (dentures) or crown (caps) substitutes. Prosthodontists are also frequently called on to replace teeth using dental implants. Prosthodontists that have received specialized training also treat individuals who have facial and jaw anomalies. They construct artificial replacements for missing portions of the face and jaws. This area of study requires three years of experience.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist that specializes in a variety of surgical treatments on the mouth, face, and jaw region. Maxillofacial surgeons frequently operate on patients who have facial injuries. These can include fractures and lacerations. Oral surgeons also provide reconstructive and dental implant surgery. They specialize in treating jaw tumors and cysts, implanting dental implants, removing wisdom teeth (particularly in difficult circumstances), and performing other complex extractions on people. They specialize in repairing jaw or cheek bones that have been fractured and doing soft tissue repairs, such as cleft palates. After dental school, they have as many as 4-8 years of additional education.
Hopefully you learned more about some of the various dental specialties that exist and what they do.