Are you having dental issues but are unsure of who to go to? If you have answered "yes," then you need a dental professional to have your teeth looked at. The dental professional you visit will depend on the nature of your dental problems. Not all dental professionals are the same, and this can make choosing one even more complicated.
When in doubt, opt for a professional who might know a bit about all things teeth-related. General dentists may not specialize in specialized procedures like placing dental implants or dental surgery. Be that as it may, their time in dental school has equipped them with the skills and knowledge to either address dental issues. If the problem lies beyond the scope of their expertise, general dentists can, at least, point you in the direction of an oral health specialist.
What is general dentistry? What does a general dentist do? Read on to take a bite out of these questions and more.
Dentistry is like medicine in the sense that there is the general practice of it, branching into many specializations. The gateway practice, in a word, is general dentistry.
According to the American Dental Association, a general dentist fulfills a primary health role. In other words, a general dentist addresses matters of oral health common to the population. The American Dental Association outlines the following roles for general dentistry:
Overall, a general dentist focuses on good oral health by fulfilling preventive roles alongside some curative functions. Dental procedures like extractions and root canals are part of the dental practice of generalists. Unlike a dental specialist, a general dentist has limits when it comes to restorative services like those rendered in cosmetic dentistry.
All family dentists were general dentists at some point in their dental practice. However, not all general dentists can practice family dentistry. If you are looking for a dentist, it is crucial to make a distinction between the two.
Within dental medicine, there is often a misconception involving the distinction between a general dentist and a family dentist. While the basic roles of oral health promotion are the same, there are several salient differences.
As soon as a dental student graduates from dental school, he or she needs to take an examination. Passing the examination leads to a license to practice as a general or regular dentist. State licensing boards issue this license.
Following licensure under state licensing boards, a dentist is not yet qualified to practice family dentistry. To practice family dentistry, a regular dentist must go back to dental school to undergo additional training.
Many family dentists can provide dental treatment general dentists are capable of rendering. On the other hand, many general dentists cannot perform what family dentists can. The reason for this is that family dentists can provide treatment to patients from any age group.
Family dentists can treat children, adults, and the elderly. Within the dental practice of family dentistry, a dentist can assess and treat diseases affecting the teeth of children. They can even extract deciduous or baby teeth.
They can also address dental disease in adults and the elderly. Family dentists who have undergone additional post-graduate training can craft dentures and other dental implants for the elderly.
Setting an appointment with a general dentist will help alleviate many of the dental problems you are likely to have. However, at times, you will need specialized procedures that go beyond tooth decay prevention like mouth x-rays and operations.
Implant placement or other cosmetic procedures for missing teeth may also be necessary. An impacted molar may even require you to seek out the services of an endodontist.
In short, a number of procedures or interventions lie beyond the scope of what general dentists can address. While a general dentist may not be able to perform the procedures mentioned here, he or she can make a referral.
Here are procedures other dentists can perform:
Endodontists carry out dental surgeries. Dental surgeries are indicated for problems that involve teeth along with the surrounding soft tissue and bone structures. Some of the services dental surgeons render are root canals and difficult impacted molar extractions. Minor dental surgeries may be carried out by dental generalists, but additional training and education are necessary.
Endodontics is one of the more recently recognized specializations of the ADA. The ADA's National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) officially added endodontics as a specialization in 2021.
Injuries can occur along the surrounding structures of the teeth and the mouth. In such scenarios, an oral surgeon is needed.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons carry out surgical procedures for patients who have injuries along the face and jaw. These dental surgeons can also work in tandem with oral medicine dentists. One example of a disease where the two dental professionals can work together is oral cancer.
Anesthesia is a must for dental surgeries of any kind. General dentists can give local anesthesia for simple procedures like lidocaine.
For major oral and dental surgeries, only a dental anesthesiologist can administer an anesthetic. Dental anesthesiologists ensure the safety of dental procedures by managing a patient's pain and anxiety.
Oral medicine received recognition as a dental specialty in 2020. According to the NCRDSCB, oral medicine dentists cater to the needs of patients with medical conditions in the soft tissues of the mouth.
Unlike specialists who target only the teeth, oral medicine dentists treat diseases in the maxillofacial region as well. Oral medicine dentists are also called upon to evaluate patients before they undergo maxillofacial or dental operations.
A prosthodontist is a dentist who replaces missing teeth with implants. Prosthodontists use materials that resemble the resilience and durability of teeth enamel. At times, prosthodontists will also use lighter-colored materials for cosmetic reasons.
If you need braces, you need to visit an orthodontist. Orthodontists focus on a particular aspect of dental health known as orthodontics, the branch of dentistry that deals with diagnosing or treating malalignments.
Malalignments come in the form of "bad bites." To treat these, orthodontists create alignment by moving the teeth with braces and brackets.
Dental school takes roughly three or four years. However, to get into dental schools, dental students need to fulfill several requirements.
One of the requirements for admission is the completion of undergraduate education. Preferably, a student's bachelor's degree needs to be a health care course. However, non-health care degrees like biology are also acceptable for many dental schools.
Besides an undergraduate degree related to health care, another requirement is membership in the American Student Dental Association. Mentorship programs during a student's undergraduate studies are also helpful but are not absolute requirements.
In short, the average dentistry student will be looking at more than four years of schooling. With the undergraduate requirements, the actual duration of a dentist's education is actually eight years. In other words, it takes just as long to be a doctor as it does to be a dentist.
Graduation will lead to a degree entitled Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) Passing the licensure exam after this time will lead to a license in dental medicine.
For those planning to render specialized care, further specialized study is needed. Hence, when you book your next appointment, know that you will be under the care of an extensively trained professional.
Indeed, the best dentists can be generalists or specialists. Regardless, finding the one you need can be confusing given the number of specializations out there.
Why not book your appointment with a dental practice that has it all? From preventive treatments to x-rays to prosthodontics, Miller Comfort Dental has it all. Choose a practice that leaves you smiling as soon as you leave the treatment room.
Call us now for treatment that you and your family can sink your teeth into.
