If you see a general practice Orange dentist, you’ll get a dentist trained to do all types of treatment. Depending on the education and practice experience, some general dentists offer specialized services including braces, gum surgery, and implants. But what happens when you have difficult or unusual problems? Most likely your Orange dentist will refer you to a specialist trained to handle your particular problems.
A general practitioner has completed a minimum of four years of post-graduate study while a specialist must complete an additional one to two years of advanced study for their specialty. A general dentist and a specialist are degreed as either a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), depending on the school he/she graduated from.
Let’s examine the seven different dental specialists you’ll find:
1) Pediatric
This specialist limits the scope of their practice to seeing only children. Children who are very young, uncooperative, have disabilities, or require extensive dental treatment are referred here.
2) Periodontists
This specialist diagnoses and treats patients with all forms of gum disease. If you begin to develop deep gum pockets or your existing gum disease can’t be controlled with regular visits to your general Orange dentist, you will be referred to a periodontist for advanced care. Periodontists are also able to place implants.
3) Endodontists
If you’ve been suffering from constant tooth pain or the tooth’s nerve tissue dies, you’ll have a good chance of needing a root canal. A root canal removes the diseased tooth pulp to treat the infection. While many general practice Orange dentists perform root canals, there will be circumstances where a calcified or difficult tooth will require the services of an endodontist. An endodontist specializes in treating irreversible pulp disease. Advanced techniques and the use of microscopes allows the endodontist to access and treat the most difficult teeth. Once the endodontist finishes treating your tooth, they will refer you back to your Orange dentist to complete the final filling or crown.
4) Oral/Maxillofacial Surgeons
This specialist performs surgical treatment for removal of difficult teeth, wisdom teeth, cysts, and tumors. If you have a fractured jaw, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, or require corrective jaw surgery, you would be referred to this specialist. Oral surgeons also perform implant placements for missing teeth.
5) Prosthodontists
This specialist focuses on treating patients with missing teeth. You would be referred to this specialist by your Orange dentist if you need implant crowns, fixed bridges, removable dentures, and major reconstructive work.
6) Orthodontist
This specialist corrects improperly aligned teeth with braces and other appliances. Your Orange dentist will refer you to this specialist if you have gaps, crowding, misaligned teeth, and problems with the jaw or temperomandibular joint (TMJ).
7) Oral Pathologist
This specialist identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and its relationship to diseases of your body. In addition to the oral exam, an oral pathologist will use lab work as one of his/her diagnostic tools. Forensic dentistry is also provided by this specialist.
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