According to the World Health Organization, most oral health issues are preventable and easily treated in their early stages. Yet, people still suffer and die due to dental issues.
Many of these cases occur in impoverished countries with little, if any, access to proper dental care. Fortunately, in the US, we can reach out to any kind of dentist we need.
These are the most common types of dentists available and what they can do for you.
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General Dentists
The local dentist that you visit for dental checkups has this type of general qualification. They’re highly skilled at keeping your teeth in great shape and detecting when there’s something more serious afoot.
These kinds of dentists can perform the following tasks:
- Dental exams and teeth cleaning
- Cavity fillings and treating tooth decay
- Restorative dentistry like bridges, implants, inlays, bonding, and dentures
- Fluoride treatments
- Dental X-rays
- Removing wisdom teeth
- Simple tooth extractions
- Cosmetic dentistry
Although it’s not an official specialization, some general dentists focus on treating children. Others work with nervous patients who experience anxiety when going to the dentist.
Specialized Types of Dentists
If your dentist comes across signs you need dental care that’s out of their league, they will refer you to a specialist for more advanced treatment.
These are some of the best-known dental specialists:
Periodontists
Periodontists work with the soft periodontal tissues in your jawbone that surround and support your teeth. They’re well-versed in the aesthetics, structure, and overall health of these tissues.
As such, they’re committed to diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases that threaten these structures.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral surgeons treat the functional and esthetic features of your mouth and the areas of your face surrounding it.
They’re usually called in to assist in cases of accidental injury or trauma. They also deal with treating deformities, diseases, tooth loss, and serious dental caries.
Prosthodontists
Although general dentists also work in this field, it’s only a small part of their services. Prosthodontists deal with diagnosing and restoring damaged teeth and oral tissues full time.
Their specialty involves restoring missing, decayed, or damaged teeth.
Endodontists
Endodontists take care of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues. These are the blood vessels, nerves, and tissues, surrounding the roots of the teeth.
Their most common function is performing root canal treatments and surgery to treat dental pulp diseases.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists treat malocclusions where the teeth aren’t positioned correctly in the upper or lower jaw. Left untreated, malocclusions can lead to a permanent underbite or overbite
Common orthodontic treatments help correct and realign the teeth over time. These include:
- Clear aligners and braces
- Retainers
- Space maintainers
- Palate expanders
You can also see this type of dentist for TMJ headaches caused by an uneven bite.
Find Out More Things You Didn’t Know
Who knew that a dentist could help relieve your mysterious headaches? Knowing when to see a dentist, and which types of dentists can help you treat certain problems, might save you years of suffering.
If you’d like to find out more information about common health and lifestyle issues, keep reading our blog.
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