Different ailments and sicknesses require specific doctors. The same goes for dentists. Keeping up with your oral hygiene requires more than a toothbrush and mouthwash. It might even require more than a trip to your regular dentist every six months. For every procedure, there is a specialist, so here are different types of dentists you should know about.
General Dentists
General dentists are professionals people must see every six months. They know the history of their patients’ mouths, and they are familiar with the issues patients currently experience. They work with overall oral hygiene. Everything from plaque to pulling their patient’s wisdom teeth.
Because they must be learned in almost every area, they don’t necessarily have a specialty. For issues that require more detailed attention, they have people they can refer their patients to. Patients typically see their dentists for simple cleanings, dental exams, and fluoride treatments.
Knowing all these different areas in the field sometimes requires a refresher. There are always opportunities for dentists to further their dental education.
Cosmetic Dentists
Cosmetic dentists focus more on the state of a patient’s smile. They help improve their confidence. Everyone loves a beautiful smile, and everyone loves receiving compliments about their smiles. Again, general dentists can perform these procedures, but it requires additional schooling for them.
It’s not advised to see cosmetic dentists for general dental needs. Their areas of expertise are:
- Teeth whitening treatments
- Braces
- Veneers
- Gun contouring
Patients should consider this option when they want more surface-level treatment. These procedures are not simple by any means, but they won’t offer any more assistance in terms of oral hygiene.
Family Dentists
Family dentists focus on oral hygiene and teeth health. Taking care of your teeth goes beyond brushing twice a day and flossing. They treat patients through every stage of their life. Family dentists are also dentists. They know the history of their patients more thoroughly because of the long-standing relationship.
Typically, they perform cavity fillings, teeth cleanings, gum disease treatment, and sealant applications. They must know the stages of teeth from infantry to adulthood. Different stages require different care.
Specialty Dentists
Specialty dentists are where patients go when they can’t visit their dentists for standard care. Their dentists might just recommend a few of these specialists to them if they feel their patient’s situation requires additional care. Some examples of specialty dentists include:
- Endodontists: highly trained to perform root canals and dental pulp disease surgeries
- Orthodontists: specialize in teeth straightening and malocclusion
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons: treat the esthetic and functional features of the oral and maxillofacial regions such as accidental injury, tooth loss, or trauma
- Prosthodontists: diagnoses and restores missing or damaged oral tissues
- Periodontists: deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the supportive structure of teeth
Most of these areas require further education and it’s important to see one who has completed the necessary courses and continuously educates themselves.
Knowing these different levels and types of dentists will only provide further information and knowledge about the proper care of teeth and oral hygiene.
