Dentists: The Many Areas of Dentistry

When you see a dentist, chances are you're going to see a DDS. This stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. The practitioner may also be a DDM, which is Doctor of Dental Medicine. There isn't too much difference between the two degrees except for perhaps what they specialized in. Both practice general dental medicine, but may also have another special skill to offer. There are a couple of different specialties, all with specific medical professional names.

A dental hygienist is the person that you see the most during your years at the dentist. They are not dentists. These are specially trained assistants who help to take care of the general maintenance of your teeth. This requires a degree, though it is not as extensive as the medical degree of a dentist.

Endodontist is a dentist whose main focus is on the health of the inner tooth. They can also effectively diagnose and treat dental pain. Another common specialty is Periodontist work. They are gum specialists and treat the tissues around your teeth and mouth. They focus on the health of your gums and can treat patients suffering from gum disease.

A Prosthododontist is the kind of dentist that designs and makes missing oral and even facial structures. These dentists replace missing teeth and deal with dental implants as well as bridges. There's even denurists that specialize in just making dentures!

A maxillofarcial surgeon treats major conditions in the face and also deals with the extraction of teeth. These kinds of dentists are also known as oral surgeons. A common procedure you might see this kind of dentist for would be if you needed to get your wisdom teeth out. If you need to get a tooth pulled – a common fear that most people have of the dentist.

Orthodontists are usually specialists who only work with their one focus. This kind of dentist aligns teeth with braces or other appliances. Nowadays a lot of insurance covers both teenage brace work as well as adults. Sometimes for adults you go to a cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist can also help with the beauty of your teeth such as whitening or gum surgery for a fuller smile.

Pedodontist is like a pediatrician. Their main focus in dentistry is children and their dental health. Dentists in this profession not only have the candor needed to really deal with children as early as toddler age but they also have special training with dental development. As a child grows up, there are a lot of changes. This kind of dentist can take care of your mouth until you've reached maturity.

Now you know all of the different kinds of dentists there are. See what your DDS or DDM has available in their office and, if needed, other specialists they can refer you to in case there's a big problem.