Shakespeare once said that the rose by every other name would still smell as sweet. But that's hardly the case in dentistry that has plenty of specialties.
The long listing of oral healthcare providers can be confusing to consumers who might not know whether to consult an orthodontist, periodontist or endodontist for their unique problem.
As a public service to my faithful readers, listed here are different dental specialties. Knowing this will allow you to consult the best dentist to get the proper dental care and treatment you need.
To start 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 give the other.
General dentists normally earn a DDS or DMD degree after years of study. Becoming a specialist, they should undergo additional post-graduate training.
One particular 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 biggest market of the tooth. This specialist performs root canal treatments or other surgical root procedures. This treatment is done to fix and save a tooth that is 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 another hand, is one who studies diseases that alter or affect the oral structures (teeth, lips, cheeks or jaws) along with areas of the face and neck. That is accomplished by studying the biopsy, tissue, or lesion that originates from other dental specialists.
If you need surgery of the face area, mouth or jaw, you must consult an oral surgeon. This person performs many types of surgical procedures to deal with accident victims with facial injuries, remove tumors and cysts of the jaws, and other reconstructive surgery including the keeping of dental implants (artificial teeth that are attached with 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, Invisalign fractured cheek or jaw bone repair and soft tissue (cleft palate or lip) repair," based on WebMD.Com.
When you yourself have crooked teeth or a bad bite (malocclusion), see an orthodontist. This specialist straightens teeth through bands, wires, braces, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances or retainers.
A pedodontist or pediatric dentist is one that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of dental problems that affect children from age someone to early adulthood. He or she looks after 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 provides you with a fresh group of artificial teeth. Another dental practitioner would you this is actually the implantologist who specializes in dental implants.
"The prosthodontist uses artificial teeth (dentures), gold crowns (caps), or ceramic crowns to restore the missing or extracted teeth. The prosthodontist can also be very mixed up in replacement of teeth using dental implants. In addition, specially trained prosthodontists assist patients with head and neck deformities, replacing missing parts of the facial skin and jaws with artificial substitutes," said WebMD.Com.
So there you have it - the various dental specialties and what they could do for you. See the best dentist for expert help and treatment. Like that, you get the smile you deserve.
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