There’s no doubt that you know your local dentist, and you are undoubtedly familiar with his or her profession. But did you know that there are a number of different dental specialties, each with its own significance for your oral health? Read on to find out.
Your Dentist and Oral Care Specialist
Clearly, taking care of your oral health is one of the most important steps you can adopt to preserve your overall health. To ensure that your teeth are healthy and well cared for, there’s nothing better than knowing about the various dental specialties that can play a decisive role at some point in your life.
To start with, there are a wide variety of dental specialties that can help you maintain healthy teeth for many years to come, and dental schools across the country prepare candidates for practice or further specialization.
There are general dentists, dental surgeons, orthodontists, pediatric dentists and more. Becoming better acquainted with these different specialties will help you decide which one is right for you.
As we’ve just mentioned, the many dental specialties all pursue the same goal: help maintain good oral health, but they draw on even more specialized knowledge in a particular area. Each specialty offers different services and focuses on different aspects of dental care.
General Dentists
First and foremost, general dentists are the most familiar, and are responsible for both general dental care and preventive services. They’re your ultimate gateway!
Through their training, they perform periodic check-ups and cleanings, as well as fillings, extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges and many other treatments. General dentists are very often the first point of contact for patients, and can then refer you to other specialists when the need arises.
General dentists are trained to diagnose and treat dental diseases and injuries. They also provide preventive care, including regular cleanings and examinations. Moreover, dentists can perform other procedures, such as veneers, teeth whitening and long-lasting dental implants.
In short, general dentists play a crucial role in the community, attending to numerous patients as well as providing preventive care. If they are called upon to care for your teeth, you should also know that their expertise also extends to oral advice. Versatile, general dentists are your primary connection to comprehensive dental care.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws. They will treat your teeth and restore your smile. To do this, they use braces, such as Invisalign aligners, retainers and other appliances to help straighten teeth and correct malocclusions.
Orthodontic treatments are numerous, and patients who are referred to this specialty wish to correct misaligned teeth or solve their jaw problems.
Endodontists
Endodontists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of tooth and root diseases. They perform root canal treatments, as well as other procedures such as surgery to save a problematic tooth that has previously undergone root canal treatment (apicoectomy).
Such specialists can also provide advice on dental care, nutrition and, of course, treating your dead teeth.
Pediatric Dentists
Pediatric dentists are true specialists, catering to the special needs of children from an early age. They specialize in preventive care and the detection of dental problems in children. In fact, it’s a good idea to start visiting a dentist at a very young age.
Periodontists
Finally, periodontists are specialists in the treatment of gum disease, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. They provide preventive care, as well as periodontal treatments. These include scaling and gum grafts.
In conclusion, there are many dental specialties. The best route to take before looking for a specialist is to visit your general dentist.
At the Centre Dentaire et d’Implantologie Boucherville, a team of professionals is waiting to answer all your questions. Make an appointment today!