If there is one thing besides the health of our body and mind that we need to look after, it is our teeth. No matter what age you are, our teeth is one of the most important parts of our mouth that need regular cleaning, and checkups, mainly because they are what we use on a daily basis to chew food, and is in constant motion. Compared to decades ago when there was one dentist who did almost everything at their practice, in modern-day this has changed and there are now numerous different kinds of professional experts who dedicate their lives to looking after what’s in our mouth to ensure we keep things as they should be. In this article, we explore the difference between a pediatric dentist expert and all the other types of oral practitioners out there. visit here
6 Types of Dental Specialists
No dentists may be alike, as some specialize in one thing and another would specialize in something else. The basis of all dentistry may be the same, in that the entry requirements and training involve going to dental school for several years, on average 5 years, plus a few extra years of supervised practical know-how.
To become one, takes meticulous studying and training and in the USA it entails joining the American Dental Education Association, click here to find out more. There are many paths to becoming one and you can either teach the practice or do it yourself. Each expert will go through the appropriate education but will become an expert in one or two fields. This is where the different types come in.
There are those who own their own practice, or who work for an existing establishment like a hospital or high street practice. Their responsibilities could range from dental nurses to hygienists and technicians.
The selection of dentists includes:
- Cosmetic
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- General
- Pediatric
- Endodontists
- Prosthodontists
Cosmetic
Back in the day, these types of specialists were few and far between, however, over the years it has become more popular in every country. Their services range from various treatments to rectify or enhance facial appearance in various ways. They mostly work for private clinics either ones that they own or for someone else. These aesthetic treatments that they are knowledgeable in and offer their patients include:
- Teeth Whitening
- Fillings
- Veneers
- Composite bonding
- Gum contouring
- Lumineers
- Implants
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
This is a field that combines both medicine and dentistry and treats a number of different conditions that affect the teeth, face and jaws and is a lot more complex in nature. The surgeon can treat a range of restorative work like;
- Advanced gum disease
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
- Facial injuries
- Fractured jaws
- Oral cancer
- Dental implants
The primary concern is to restore things when patients have suffered an injury and specialize in plastic surgery.
General
As the name suggests, these professionals deal with a range of different things and do check-ups and treatments such as root canals, fillings, extractions and crown work to name a few, when needed.
Similar to the way your general practitioner or GP deals with an array of health issues, they deal with different oral matters and are considered a ‘family dentist’ who helps those of all ages from infants to seniors. They will also offer their advice on things such as
- Good nutrition for your teeth and gums
- General oral cleaning practices
- And how to maintain a healthy mouth
A Pediatric Dentist
A Pediatrician or a pediatric dentist mainly helps children. They are different from any kind of other specialists in that, their career is devoted towards the oral health of kids and caring for their mouth and everything included inside – teeth and gums. Children go through various stages in their mouth, until they reach adulthood, and at each stage of their growth, this individual needs to help them make sure they look after things appropriately so they don’t suffer from issues as an adult.
With the first 6 months when children receive their baby teeth up to the ages of 7 years on average, they will naturally lose their first set which is then replaced by the 2nd set, or the second set.
During this stage, dentists (https://www.pediatricdentistmaui.com) are where children will go to get check-ups and cleaning done to avoid things such as tooth decay and any diseases of the oral kind. Children are more susceptible to oral diseases and are a more common occurrence than other common aspects such as hay fever or asthma.
The training to become a children’s oral health practitioner takes 4 years of schooling and then an additional year or two specializing on children from their infant stage up to young adults.
The difference in treatments with these and the other above-mentioned services is in the treatments they offer:
- Early treatments and assessments of straightening teeth using braces, typically done by the children’s Orthodontics physician
- Diagnosing oral conditions such as gum disease and pediatric periodontal disease
- Reparation of defects and cavities
- Teeth whitening and cleaning
- Health examinations and overall preventative risk assessments
- Caring for oral injuries such as broken or cracked veneers
And more.
Endodontists
Not many people have heard of this kind, and this may be because the endodontists are few and far between. Only about 3% of dentists in the US fall under this category. They complete the standard educational requirements and then have to do an additional two to three years of training in the field.
They mainly diagnose issues such as root canals and tooth pain related to the inside of the tooth. They would be the rescue person when a tooth is diseased and can help remedy the situation. They are also known as those who ‘save teeth’. So, the main difference between them and general or pediatric is their advanced education.
Prosthodontists
When it comes to treating slightly more complex dental matters, these guys step in. they help to remedy both facial and dental problems and help in restoration, as well as replacing of teeth that are missing or damaged. They mainly use artificial ones to do this but ones that look exactly like your own.
Their training includes managing dentures, crowns, implants, jaw disorders and crowns to name a few.
In the US alone, almost over 300,000 people visit them to get their implant treatments. They can also lend a hand towards cosmetic surgery if their clinic offers it.
So, as you can see there is a vast difference between all of these individuals and services, and choosing the right one is important so you don’t have to hassle yourself in the long run. Looking after your teeth is a choice, but one that needs to be taken seriously.
