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The type of dentist a person must visit depends on age and oral health condition. The most common types of dentists include:
To ensure you receive the proper care, read about the different types of dentists and their services below.
The type of dentist you need to visit depends on your needs.
A general dentist will likely be able to handle most of your dental needs. However, you should consider visiting a specialist if you want more specialized care.
Your primary care physician can recommend a specialist based on your specific needs. Remember to visit your dentist at least once a year to ensure that all areas of your mouth are healthy.
There are nine board-certified dental specialties. However, only six focus on individual patient care.
General and family dentists provide a wide array of services.
Dental specialists are experts in one field of dentistry:
This field of dentistry deals with the periodontium. This includes the soft tissues that support and surround the teeth in the mandibular (lower) and maxillary (upper) jawbones.
Periodontists focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the supporting structures of teeth.
These dental experts also specialize in tissue structure's function, overall health, and aesthetics.
The primary role of a prosthodontist is to diagnose and restore missing or damaged oral tissues to proper function.
They specialize in dental restorations, which restore teeth that are:
Oral surgeons specialize in treating the esthetic and functional features of the oral and maxillofacial region.
The following conditions typically need oral surgeries:
Endodontists deal with the dental pulp and periradicular tissues.
Periradiciular tissues are the blood vessels, tissues, and nerves surrounding a tooth’s root.
Endodontists are highly trained to perform root canals and dental pulp diseases surgeries.
General dentists perform two root canals per week. Endodontists perform 25 per week, on average.4
Orthodontists specialize in malocclusion and teeth straightening. Malocclusions can lead to an improper bite, such as an overbite or underbite.
Orthodontists provide treatment that corrects an individual’s bite and realigns teeth over time.
Common orthodontic treatments include:
Pediatric dentists treat infants and children.
They also treat young patients with physical or mental challenges.
These dental practitioners provide both comprehensive dental treatments and preventive therapies. For example, tooth sealants and fluoride treatment.
Eighty percent of dental practitioners are general dentists.3
General dentists work with the overall health of teeth and oral hygiene.
Instead of specializing in one specific area, general dentists offer:
Similar to general dentistry, family dentistry focuses on teeth health and oral hygiene.
Common procedures and treatments include:
Family dentists treat people during every stage of life. This is because people require different dental care throughout their life, depending on their age.
For example, oral care for a baby or child differs from that of an adult.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures improve a patient’s smile and self-confidence.
Many general dentists perform cosmetic procedures. However, they must go through extra training after dental school to become certified.
Cosmetic dentistry is not new. However, esthetic treatments are becoming more popular. Having an attractive and healthy smile is important to many people.
Common cosmetic procedures and treatments include:
Braces are not strictly cosmetic. They create cosmetic results but have many functions as well.
These functions include fixing jaw misalignment and crooked teeth. These functions make the teeth easier to brush and floss between, improving a patient's oral hygiene.
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