General Dentist

As your primary dental care provider, a general dentist has many responsibilities and competencies, including the diagnosis, treatment, care, and management of your overall oral health. Non-metal fillings, periodontal (gum) care, root canal surgeries, crowns, bridges, and preventive education are some of the services a general dentist provides, among several others.
A general dentist is also known as a family dentist and takes care of your oral health on a regular basis. This is the most common type of dentist and the majority of their work revolves around important preventative oral care. This includes regular dental cleanings, dental X-rays, and educating patients about proper at-home oral care. General dentists are also responsible for restorative oral care such as treating tooth decay by replacing it with artificial fillings, repairing cracked, chipped, or missing teeth, and whitening services. They also treat oral issues caused by gum disease and root issues below the gumline. Your general dentist can also help guide you down the path of getting braces, false teeth, mouth guards, and other treatments. Because your general dentist is the health care practitioner you likely see the most, they are also monitoring the health of your mouth, neck, and head so ensure there are no issues.

Orthodontist

You may know orthodontists as the ones who install braces, but their care extends much farther beyond that. Generally speaking, orthodontists are concerned with righting misaligned teeth, jawbones, and other supporting facial structures for both cosmetic and functional reasons. This means they work to improve people’s bites by designing custom oral hardware such as braces, clear dental alignment trays, mouthguards, headgear, retainers, and facemasks that correct developmental issues. All of these devices work overtime to improve bone structure that may be deformed and teeth that have spacing issues.

Pediatric Dentist or Pedodontist

Being a pedodontist entails diagnosing and treating the dental problems of children. This dentist can identify and address the onset of decay, crowding, crookedness, falling teeth, and other oral health problems. Pediatric dentists encourage parents to schedule their child’s first dental appointment as soon as the first tooth erupts.

A pedodontist will also work with the child’s parent to educate how to ensure their child performs a proper oral hygiene routine, and will also discuss treatment plans for the future. 

Pedodontist is a word that was used for some time to describe the specialty of dentistry devoted to the treatment of children. “Pedia-“or “pedo” means child or children, and “-dentist” denotes one who studies teeth. Since some found “pedodontist” to be confusing (they thought it meant foot doctor) the more commonly-used term is “pediatric dentist.” Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.

Oral Surgeon

Oral surgeons perform simple and complex tooth extractions, including wisdom tooth extraction. They also provide care to accident victims who need reconstructive dental surgery. Oral surgeons may also perform soft tissue biopsies, tumor removal, jaw realignment surgery, soft tissue repair, or positioning of implants. There are many types of oral surgery, including surgical procedures such as tooth removal or a root canal. Some oral surgeries involve the repositioning of the jaw. In other instances, oral surgery may involve the removal of a tumor. Oral surgeries might be performed by any one of a number of different kinds of dental specialists, including endodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists.

Prosthodontics

A prosthodontist concentrates on the restoration of natural teeth and the replacement of missing teeth on a larger scale than a general dentist. This dental care professional utilizes artificial teeth (dentures) or crowns (caps) as permanent replacements for missing or extracted teeth. Furthermore, some prosthodontists address and rehabilitate deformities of the head and neck, replacing any missing parts of the face and jaw with artificial substitutes. A prosthodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating complex dental and facial matters, including the restoration and replacement of missing or damaged teeth with artificial devices. Prosthodontists also specialize in cosmetic dentistry, which has been on the rise over the last few years. Studies show that 25% of Americans say that their smile or teeth are the one facial feature they would change to boost their self-esteem. This type of dentist has a careful understanding of the dynamics of a smile and the preservation of a healthy mouth.

Implantologist

Dental Implantology is the latest advancement in the field of dentistry concerned with the replacement of missing teeth and supporting oral tissues. Dental implants are inserted into the jawbones to support the dental prosthesis. This curriculum aims at providing dental students with a broad dental-implant experience.

Endodontist

An endodontist has the critical responsibility of diagnosing, treating, and preventing infections and injuries in the human dental pulp or the nerve of the tooth. This dental expert may perform simple to advanced root canal treatments, as well as other types of restorative root procedures.

How do I know which types of dentistry I need?

Your general dentist or physician will refer you for any type of dentistry they’re not qualified to provide.

It’s important to see your general dentist at least once a year – not just for teeth cleaning, but for an examination that ensures your oral health. Receiving a professional opinion will help you manage any potential problems before they become significant. See your general dentist immediately if you’re experiencing any pain in your mouth.