Dentists - The Different Types

Different areas of dental work will require different types of specialized dentists. Make sure that you understand the types of specialists available to you as a patient.

When most people think about the dentist, they think about the man or woman they go to see when they need to get their teeth cleaned or get a cavity filled. What some people do not realize is that there are many different types of dentists out there, each who will specialize in a different part of dentistry. They can go above and beyond what a normal dentist can do. These dentists have more training in a specialized area of dentistry, above and beyond what your regular dentist has.

Pediatric Dentist

A Pediatric dentist specializes in the heath and care of children’s teeth. Some people choose to take their children to a regular dentist, but it is highly recommended to see a pediatric dentist for infants to young teenagers. A pediatric dentist will do the same types of activities as a regular dentist, oral examinations, teeth cleaning, cavity filling, etc, but they can better cater to the specific needs of a child’s teeth, which are different than the needs of an adult’s teeth.

Orthodontist

Most people are familiar with the orthodontist, but do not associate positive thoughts with him or her. An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the proper alignment of teeth. He or she can determine ones needs for braces or other appliances to help straighten or align the teeth properly.

Oral Surgeon

Regular dentists can perform every day extractions of teeth, but if the procedure is an in depth procedure, you will most likely need to see an oral surgeon who specializes in the removal of teeth. He or she will be equipped to do the best job for your mouth and with the least amount of pain. If you have wisdom teeth that need to be removed, you would most likely need to see an oral surgeon.

Periodontist

A periodontist is a type of dentist who specializes in gums. If you gave gingivitis, a periodontist can help to repair or prevent this problem. He can also help you to do an surgical procedure that involve the gum or gum removal or restructuring

Endodontist

An endodontist specializes in doing root canals. A regular dentist is trained and skilled enough to do root canals. However, if the root canal is very in depth and requires a lot of work, a patient would be better off to see someone who specializes in this procedure. Endodontists are going to do any type of dental work where nerves, tooth enamel or blood vessels of the mouth are concerned.

As you can see there are many different types of dentists. Many people do not even realize that this many different types exist. However, they all serve a distinct, different purpose. By seeing the right type of dentist for the right problem, the problem can be fixed easier and be less painful for the patient. Make sure that you are scheduling your appointments with a specialized dentist for all of your dental procedures.