What Type Of Dentist Do I Need?

Dentists that meet your particular needs can be tough enough to do but finding a dentist that is a specialist can be even more difficult if you don’t know where to look for a referral you can trust. Most consumers report that they found their current dentist from a recommendation usually from a friend or family member. However in today’s mobile world most people don’t stay in one area more than five years or so before they move on for a job or school opportunity and that means a lot of transition. Part of that transition means finding a new dentist all over again which can be difficult when you’re new in town.

Luckily, in today’s world most consumers are used to using the internet for everything from finding a particular address to ordering a pizza to finding their new dentists. Because of this trend to use the internet to find referrals for a dentist, many consumer based web sites have popped up that allow you the ability to read reviews written by other consumers and get a realistic idea about the type of dentists or doctors that are in your area. This includes reviews and recommendations to many dental specialists.

For most consumers a general dentist is all we may ever need. A general practice dentist can take care of dental decay, extractions, simple root canals and cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening, caps, veneers and the like. But for patients who have special needs like having a difficult tooth extracted or who need a dentist who specializes in caring for children or gum diseases there is still a way to find a specialist using these consumer based web sites.

Sometimes you just need to know what type of dentist you are looking for. An oral surgeon for example is a dentist who you would probably need to do difficult extractions, such as pulling a broken wisdom tooth that may crumble if done by a general dentist. An oral surgeon is also the one who can do things like surgically install a prosthetic tooth with a titanium screw to replace a broken or lost tooth.

A periodontist is a dentist that specializes in the care of your gums and is who you would see for treating your gum disease.

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in performing root canals that need more care and skill than a simple root canal may require.

A prosthodontist specializes in making false teeth that resemble your natural teeth in order to restore you ability to chew and eat properly without making it look like you have false teeth.

And of course most parents are familiar with an orthodontist who specializes in straightening teeth with braces to give that perfect smile-someday to their teenage patients.

So if your in the market for a specialist, use a consumer based web site to find one and hopefully this little guide will help you understand what kind of specialist your looking for in your quest.