What Are the Different Types of Dentists?
Most people are familiar with general dentistry for teeth cleanings, checkups and the occasional cavity. But sometimes further treatment by a dental specialist is required from among a range of different types of dentists. Generally, any specialty dental professions require four years of general dentistry education plus two years of focused dental specialty education.
Other People Are Reading
-
Pediatric
-
Pediatric dentists treat infants, children and young teens. Included in their scope of responsibilities are preventive treatments, oral exams and repair of any defective teeth.
Periodontist
-
Periodontists focus on the gums more than the teeth. They specialize in the prevention and treatment of gum disease caused by bacteria in the mouth. In advanced situations, they may do dental implants or tooth and gum restructuring.
-
Orthodontist
-
An orthodontist focuses on the proper placement of teeth. He determines the need for braces and other methods of correcting misaligned teeth, before applying or removing any teeth-straightening techniques.
Oral surgeon
-
Oral surgeons, also called maxillofacial surgeons, are best known for tooth extractions. However, they also diagnose and treat conditions of the jaw, neck or head as long as those conditions are related to the mouth in some way.
Endodontist
-
The endodontist provides a common procedure called a root canal. Furthermore, this dental specialty concentrates on any conditions or problems occurring beneath the tooth enamel in the pulp, blood vessels and nerves of the teeth.
Holistic
-
A Holistic dentist provides dental treatment with a natural approach; for example, repairing teeth with non-toxic materials. This alternative method of dentistry is known as environmental or biological dentistry.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit http://write.demandstudios.com/edit.php?articleid=410396
