Shakespeare once said that a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. But that's hardly the case in dentistry that has plenty of specialties.
The long set of oral healthcare providers could be confusing to consumers who may not know whether to consult an orthodontist, periodontist or endodontist for their particular problem.
As a public service to my faithful readers, listed below are different dental specialties. Knowing this can help you consult the right dentist to get the appropriate dental care and treatment you need.
To begin with, don't be bothered whether your dentist is just a DDS (doctor of dental surgery) or DMD (doctor of dental medicine). The two degrees are one and the same. Some schools award one degree while others supply the other.
General dentists normally earn a DDS or DMD degree after years of study. Becoming a specialist, they have to undergo additional post-graduate training.
One such specialist is the endodontist who is worried with the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the dental pulp - the soft area within the middle of the tooth. This specialist performs root canal treatments or other surgical root procedures. This treatment is completed to fix and save a tooth that's badly decayed or infected.
An oral or maxillofacial radiologist is person who produces and interprets a myriad of X-ray images that are used to identify and manage different diseases in the mouth and face.
An oral pathologist, on one other hand, is one that studies diseases that alter or affect the oral structures (teeth, lips, cheeks or jaws) as well as elements of the facial skin and neck. This is accomplished by studying the biopsy, tissue, or lesion that arises from other dental specialists.
If you want surgery of the face, mouth or jaw, you must consult an oral surgeon. This person performs many types of surgical procedures to take care of accident victims with facial injuries, remove tumors and cysts of the jaws, and other reconstructive surgery such as the keeping of dental implants (artificial teeth which are attached to the jawbone).
"The forms of surgeries an oral surgeon may perform include: simple tooth extractions, complex extractions involving removal of soft tissue or overlying bone or remaining roots, impacted teeth (especially wisdom teeth) removal, soft tissue biopsies, removal of tumors in the oral cavity, implant positioning, complex jaw realignment surgeries involving facial or bite discrepancies, fractured cheek or jaw bone repair and soft tissue (cleft palate or lip) repair," based on WebMD.Com.
If you have crooked teeth or perhaps a bad bite (malocclusion), see an orthodontist. This specialist straightens teeth in the shape of bands, wires, braces, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances or retainers.
A pedodontist or pediatric dentist is person who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of dental issues that affect children from age one to early adulthood. He or she looks following the child's developing teeth and is been trained in child behavior and the special needs of children.
For dental problems that involve the gums and bones of one's teeth, visit a periodontist. This person treats gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (gum and bone disease).
"A periodontist may perform the next procedures: simple and deep pocket cleanings, root planing, crown lengthening procedures, soft tissue and/or bone grafting, gingival or flap procedures, soft tissue recontouring or removal (gingivoplasty or gingivectomy), hard tissue recontouring (osteoplasty) and implant placement," said experts at WebMD.Com.
Finally, if you have missing teeth and need dentures, consult a prosthodontist. This specialist repairs natural teeth or will provide you with a new pair of artificial teeth. Another dental practitioner who does here is the implantologist who specializes in dental implants.
"The prosthodontist uses artificial teeth (dentures), gold crowns (caps), or ceramic crowns to replace the missing or extracted teeth. The prosthodontist can be very active in the replacement of teeth using dental implants. Furthermore, specially trained prosthodontists work with patients with head and neck deformities, replacing missing areas of the face area and jaws with artificial substitutes," said WebMD.Com.
So there you have it - Dental implants different dental specialties and what they are able to do for you. See the proper dentist for expert help and treatment. That way, you obtain the smile you deserve.
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