Dental Health
Dental Specialties Explained
What is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS)?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dentists specializing in surgery of the mouth, face, and jaws. After four years of dental school, surgeons receive four to seven years of hospital-based surgical and medical training, preparing them to do a wide range of procedures, including a variety of surgeries of both the bones and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and neck.
What is a Periodontist?
Periodontists are dentists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. They’ve had extensive training with two additional years of study after dental school. As specialists, they devote their time, energy, and skill to helping patients care for their gums. Periodontists are one of the eight dental specialists recognized by the American Dental Association.
Why is Your Dentist Referring You to a Periodontist?
Your dentist has determined that your gums require special attention. The periodontist and dentist work together as a team to provide you with the highest level of care. They will combine their experience to recommend the best treatment available to you while keeping each other informed on your progress. By referring you to the specialist, your dentist is showing a strong commitment to your dental health.
What is an Endodontist?
The endodontist examines, diagnoses, and treats diseases and destructive processes, including injuries and abnormalities of dental pulps and periapical tissues of the teeth.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
A pediatric dentist has at least two additional years of training beyond dental school. The additional training focuses on the management and treatment of a child’s developing teeth, child behavior, physical growth and development, and the special needs of children’s dentistry. Although either type of dentist is capable of addressing your child’s oral health care needs, a pediatric dentist, his or her staff, and even the office décor are all geared to care for children and to put them at ease. If your child has special needs, care from a pediatric dentist should be considered.
What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist prevents and treats mouth, teeth, and jaw problems. Using braces, retainers, and other devices, an orthodontist helps straighten a person’s teeth and correct the way the jaws line up.
Orthodontists can also treat kids for many problems, including having crowded or overlapping teeth, issues with jaw growth, and tooth development. Tooth and jaw problems in kids may be caused by tooth decay, losing baby teeth too soon, accidents, or habits like thumb sucking. These problems can also be genetic or inherited.
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