WHO’S YOUR DENTIST?

Dentistry has nine recognized specialties. They are listed below with a brief description. As you will notice, cosmetic dentistry is not one of them. Every general dentist does “cosmetic” work – unless they are putting silver fillings in front teeth. There are some general dentists who do more “cosmetic” work than others and some who even limit their practices to esthetic cases. However, a dentist cannot officially be designated as a “cosmetic dentist” or “cosmetic specialist.”

The nine recognized specialties in dentistry are:

Public Health Dentistry – this field of dentistry is involved in the assessment of dental health needs and improving the dental health of a specific population of patients.

Endodontics – this dentist, an endodontist, deals only with the inside of a tooth, the tooth pulp, and the tissues surrounding the tooth. They perform root canal treatments and other procedures only dealing with this specific area.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – these dentists treat a wide spectrum of disease, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face and jaws. Oral surgeons remove teeth, treat oral cancers and other oral diseases, place dental implants and some treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems.

Orthodontics – this area focuses on the straightening of teeth and modification of midface and lower jaw growth. This is the “braces” dentist.

Prosthodontics – this specialty deals with replacing missing or defective teeth using crowns, bridges, implants and removable appliances.

Pediatric Dentistry – specializes in treating dental diseases in children, adolescents and those with special needs.

Periodontics – the periodontist specializes in treating the supporting tissues of the teeth such as the gums and bone that surrounds teeth. Many periodontists also place dental implants.

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology – this group specializes in the diagnosis of less common dental and head and neck diseases. They work closely with the surgeons.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t just limited to super expensive fancy stuff. Orthodontics and whitening can give a really dramatic result without any “drilling.” Replacing stained fillings or replacing aging, dark silver fillings can lighten the color of your smile too. Also, most people don’t really think of dentures as “cosmetic dentistry”, but a well-made custom denture can make a huge cosmetic difference as well.

General dentists are allowed to perform procedures within any of the specialties, if they choose to. This includes dental implants, which is also not a recognized specialty.

There are some dentists who refer all specialized treatment out to specialists, and others who do much of it themselves. It really depends on the dentist’s interests and training. Specialists are often relied upon heavily due to their advanced training and focus on one specific discipline.

If you need any specialized care, have a conversation with your dentist about your options. Many patients like to stay within one office to be able to get the care done they need. However, there are times when a specialist’s care is in the best interest of the patient.