Visiting the Dentist - A Look at the Different Specialties

Your dentist ensures that you receive the care for your teeth and your gums that you need. He also sees to it that whenever a treatment is required that can improve the health of your mouth it is put to work as soon as possible. You are probably very familiar with the general dental practitioner who many of us think of as our family dentist. There are many different areas of specialty within the dentistry world. If your dental provider does not do work in a certain area such as orthodontics or a special form of surgery due to a disease or injury then he will refer you to a specialist who does. Here we look at a few of the dental specialties that are out there.

Let us start with the most basic of all dental professionals- the individual who works in general dentistry. This individual is the one you go to for regular check-ups and x-rays. This healthcare provider exams your mouth, diagnoses any problems you may have and treats anything that may affect your teeth or gums. He also gets rid of decay from the teeth and fills cavities. Often a general practitioner will instruct his patients on the proper way to brush and floss their teeth.

A pediatric dentist is like a pediatric doctor- he works with child patients. The only difference is that the first deals with oral health and the latter is a medical doctor. While a general tooth doctor might be fine for you if you have young children you may prefer to take them to a practitioner who specializes in their age group. These providers treat babies, children, adolescents and those who have special needs. A dental practitioner who specializes in pediatrics offers both basic as well as more advanced preventative care to patients and also treats any number of oral health concerns that arise.

An orthodontist’s job is to straighten teeth that are crooked and misaligned. This action is done by artificial means such as braces that are affixed to the teeth and exert pressure to encourage the teeth to move into the proper place. An orthodontist diagnoses as well as corrects dental problems and does his/her part to prevent issues from getting started in the first place.

An endodontist concentrates on the structure of the mouth, as well as the pathology and composition of dental pulp and periradicular tissues. This dental specialist works to prevent disease from taking place and he performs a variety of procedures such as root canals. When injuries to the mouth occur he addresses the issue immediately with an appropriate treatment plan.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a specialist who performs an array of surgical procedures on patients. These surgeries could involve the teeth, gums or the jaw. This type of surgeon also performs surgeries on the mouth in general and the head and neck. Having wisdom teeth extracted is an example of a surgery that an oral and maxillofacial surgeon would undertake. Such a dentist would diagnose oral conditions, diseases, injuries and illnesses that affect any of the hard and/or soft tissues of the mouth.