An endodontist is the dental specialist who deals with the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the human dental pulp or tooth nerve. Dental specialists are dentists who receive additional training in a specific dental specialty, beyond their general dentistry degree. Due to heredity, problems with your general health, an accident, or some other reason, you may need to visit a dental specialist. Most people know when to see a general dentist, but what about their less routine dental concerns? There are many types of dental specialists depending on your oral care problem.
To help you make decisions about specific dental concerns, we'll review the common types of dentists and dental specialists and when to see each of them. General dentists are primary oral health care providers and are one of the most common types of dentists. You can visit your general dentist to clean your teeth and have routine dental exams. In these tests, a general dentist will evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, as well as perform treatments such as tooth decay removal, root canals, and dental crowns.
Your general dentist will also refer you to other types of dentists if you need services and procedures for which you are not qualified. Pediatric dental specialists offer youth-friendly approaches to routine dental care, as well as child-specific dental problems. A pedodontist will monitor the child's teeth and oral development and refer the child to an orthodontist, when needed. Orthodontists specialize in aligning teeth and jaw, using wires, braces, retainers, and other devices.
If you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or misaligned teeth, you may be referred to an orthodontist for correction. Periodontists Help Treat and Repair Gum Diseases and Problems. While a general dentist will support the prevention of gum disease, a periodontist will provide treatment (including minor surgery) for tissue damaged by progressive gum disease. You may also be referred to a periodontist for dental implantation.
When you have a dental problem, your general dentist or even your primary care doctor can refer you to any type of dentistry for which they are not qualified. It's important to see your general dentist at least once a year, not just for cleaning your teeth, but also for an exam that ensures your oral health. Receiving a professional opinion will help you manage any potential problems before they become a major problem. See your general dentist right away if you have any pain in your mouth.
For dental emergencies, such as a chipped tooth, falling out of a dental filling, or a dental abscess, talking to your general dentist should be the first step. A general dentist is also known as a family dentist and takes care of your oral health on a regular basis. This is the most common type of dentist and most of their work revolves around important preventive oral care. This includes regular dental cleanings, dental x-rays and educating patients about proper oral care at home.
General dentists are also responsible for restorative oral care, such as treating dental cavities by replacing them with artificial fillings, repairing cracked, chipped, or missing teeth, and whitening services. They also treat oral problems caused by gum disease and root problems below the gum line. Your general dentist can also guide you through the path of placing braces, dentures, mouth guards, and other treatments. Because your general dentist is the health professional you are likely to see most often, they also monitor the health of your mouth, neck and head to make sure there are no problems.
Endodontics is the field that studies the supply of blood and nerves within the roots of our teeth. This tissue (dental pulp) sometimes needs one-time treatments to eliminate infections or repair injuries. Root canals are the most common procedure performed by endodontists. Most of the time, when you go to the dentist, you are seeing your general dentist, which is a DDS or a DMD.
A dentist with a DDS earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree; one with a DMD earned his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Both a DDS and a DMD have three or more years of undergraduate study, followed by four years of dental school to earn those credentials. Specialist in the field of dentistry, who is especially concerned with the oral health care of children, from childhood to adolescence. By guiding children and teens through their dental growth and development, pediatric dentists often work closely with pediatricians, family physicians, and other dental specialists to provide comprehensive medical and dental care.
Endodontists have received specialized training in performing root canal therapy. This particular branch of dentistry is concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of human dental pulp and periradicular tissues, including the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are actually orthopedic facial surgeons responsible for treating a wide variety of dental problems, including removal of retained teeth and reconstructive facial surgery. Periodontists are responsible for the care and prevention of diseases related to gums, guided bone regeneration and dental implants.
It is the specialty of dentistry that includes the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of teeth or their substitutes, and maintaining the health, function and aesthetics of these structures and tissues. The various specialties within dentistry collaborate to research and advance the art and science of dentistry to prevent diseases and improve the oral and general health of their patients. . .
