Last Updated on March 3, 2023 by Hassan Abbas
The type of dentist you should visit will depend on your needs, oral health, and age. Generally, the most typical kinds of dentists would include family, general, pediatric, cosmetic, specialty dentists, and orthodontists.
To ensure you receive appropriate dental care, let’s discuss them one by one and determine their work scopes.
Table of Contents
General Dentist
The majority of dental professionals are general dentists. Their job is to work on the entire well-being of oral hygiene and teeth. And instead of focusing on one specialty, general dentists commonly offer the following:
- Cavity fillings
- Restorative dentistry
- Tooth decay treatments
- Dental X-rays
- Tooth extractions
- Fluoride treatment
- Cosmetic dentistry
Furthermore, general dentists also treat special cases and provide dental care for pregnant women, young adults and teens, and even seniors above 65.
Family Dentist
Similar to general dentists, family dentists specialize in the overall oral hygiene ad health of teeth. They can also perform the same procedures and treatments as general dentists, but there’s a difference.
Family dentists can treat people of all ages. As mentioned, dental patients require various dental care according to their age, oral health, and specific needs. For example, dental care for seniors is much different from that of a child.
Cosmetic Dentist
The main objective of cosmetic dentists is to enhance their patient’s smiles and self-confidence. Many general dentists venture into cosmetic dentistry, but they must also accomplish additional training after dental school for certification.
Cosmetic dentistry has been around for quite a while. Yet, aesthetic dental treatments are becoming more prominent as people realize the importance of having a healthy smile. Treatments included in cosmetic dentistry are veneers, teeth whitening, gum contouring, and braces.
However, it’s important to remember that braces are not for cosmetic purposes only. Indeed, they can improve appearance and smile, but they offer significant dental health benefits. Some advantages of braces are fixing crooked teeth or jaw misalignment. When these teeth issues are resolved, it will be easier for patients to floss and brush their teeth.
Special Dentists
As of this writing, there are only nine board-certified specialties in dentistry. And six of them focus on personal patient care. Family and general dentists have a broader range of dental services.
Prosthodontists
The primary role of prosthodontists is to diagnose and provide treatments to restore damaged or missing oral tissues. They focus on restorative treatments, which rehabilitate missing, decayed, or damaged teeth.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists specialize in teeth straightening and malocclusion, resulting in incorrect bites such as underbite and overbite. Generally, orthodontists offer treatments that fix a patient’s bite and realign their teeth. The most common orthodontic treatments include:
- Retainers
- Braces
- Space maintainers
- Clear aligners
- Palate expanders
Periodontists
Periodontists handle the periodontium, including the soft tissues that surround and hold the teeth in the jawbones. Their role is to focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal diseases that affect the supporting framework of teeth.
In addition, periodontists also specialize in the aesthetics, overall health, and function of oral tissues.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral surgeons focus on treating the aesthetics and functions of the oral and maxillofacial areas. Often, other dentists ask for their help for the following reasons:
- Disease
- Trauma
- Accidental injury
- Periodontal issues
- Deformities
- Tooth loss
- Dental caries
Pediatric Dentists
Pediatric dentists specialize in treating babies and children. They also treat young people facing physical and mental difficulties. These dental professionals offer broad dental treatments and preventive measures like fluoride treatment or tooth sealants.
Endodontists
Endodontists manage periradicular tissues and the dental pulp. Periradicular tissues are the nerves, tissues, and blood around the tooth root. If treatment is needed, endodontists perform surgeries and root canals to treat dental pulp diseases.
Why You Need To Visit the Dentist
Ideally, people need to visit their dentists every six months for routine check-ups. This ensures that you take care of your teeth correctly and that you have excellent oral health. However, some events require you to visit your dentist. Here are the signs that you need urgent dental care:
- Constant toothache. It’s time to give your dentist a call if your toothache is not subsiding despite remedies.
- Severe headaches. Jaw problems often cause extreme headaches. If your jaw pain seems connected to your headache, get treatment right away.
- Bleeding gums. Bleeding gums might occur for a day or two. But if your gums are bleeding too often, talk to your dentist about the possible causes and best treatments.
- Knocked-out tooth. Dentists can put back in a knocked-out tooth, as long as you inform them quickly.
- Extreme swelling. Often, excessive swelling is a symptom of an infection. So be sure to call your dentist as soon as possible.
As you can see, there are different kinds of dentists for different needs. So whether you need treatment for cosmetic or function purposes, there’s always a dental professional who can cater to your specific demands.
Read More: Looking For the Best Dentist in Delhi?
