7 Different Types of Dental Specialists

 Dentistry is a branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums and mouth. The field of dentistry is vast and there are different areas of expertise that goes into maintaining dental health. Knowing about the different types of dental specialists will help you choose the best dentists out there to help you with your problem. In this article, we will share with you the details about 7 different types of dental specialists.

General Dentist

General dentists are the most common dentists and they are the primary oral health care providers. They clean your teeth and do routine dental checkups. They evaluate your teeth and gum during these checkups and conduct treatments like cavity removal, root canal and dental crowns. And they will refer you to other types of dentists if you need services that they are not qualified to provide.

Pedodontist

Pedodontists or pediatric dentists specialise in dental care and treatments for children as young as infants up to teenagers. They offer child-friendly approaches, routine dental care and pediatric-specific dental issues. They will monitor a child’s teeth and oral development and will refer them to an orthodontist if it becomes necessary.

Orthodontist

An orthodontist is a specialist dentist who works on teeth and jaw alignment using wires, braces, retainers and other devices. If you want to align your teeth, or if you have conditions like overbite, underbite or crossbite you can visit an orthodontist for correction and you will get a perfect smile at the end of the process. But this will take some time and you will have to make some sacrifices.

Periodontist

Periodontists specialise in treating and repairing diseases and problems of the gums. A general dentist will help you prevent gum disease, whereas a periodontist will provide the necessary treatment and surgery for tissue damaged by advanced gum disease. Dental implants are also given by a periodontist.

Endodontist

Endodontists deals with issues affecting the nerve of a tooth and the pain the patients have to deal with when a nerve gets involved. They perform root canals when there is decay around the tooth’s nerve.

Oral Pathologist

An oral pathologist deals with the diseases of the oral cavity and its associated structures. Oral pathologists and oral surgeons specialise in the treatment of oral diseases of the teeth and jaw like an impacted wisdom tooth, oral reconstruction, misaligned jaws, and cancers of the mouth, head and neck. They also work closely with ear, nose and throat specialists to treat issues like facial trauma and sleep apnea.

Prosthodontist

A prosthodontist is a dentist who specialises in treating complex dental and facial matters which includes the restoration and replacement of missing and damaged teeth with artificial devices. They also specialise in cosmetic dentistry, they have a careful understanding of the dynamics of smiles and the preservation of a healthy mouth. They are highly trained in dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures and jaw disorders. Specially trained prosthodontists also treat people with head and neck deformities and replace missing parts of the jaw and face.