Family Dentists, also known as general dentists, concentrate on diagnosis and treatment of dental problems for all family members. They perform the more common type of dental procedures including cleaning, whitening, fillings, crowns, bridges and extractions. Family dentistry is not considered one of the specialized types of dentistry described below. When selecting any dentist, be sure to determine if they accept your particular insurance plan. If you do not have dental insurance be sure to inquire about payments options and discounts they may offer to uninsured patients. Also, be sure to check if the dentist is offering anything special for new patients such as free initial exam and x-rays. These specials can save you hundreds of dollars!
Pediatric Dentists, If you have a small child that needs dental work, you may want to consider a pediatric dentist. They are general dentists who specialize in treating children and may be a better choice for your child!
Emergency Dentists are normally general dentists who are available on short notice, on weekends and during non-normal business hours! Most general dentists have an emergency number where they can be reached. If you call their office and they are closed, you will be given information on how to reach someone in case you do have a dental emergency!
Orthodontist are dentists that specialize in preventing and treating teeth and facial irregularities, such as a “bad bite,” jaw alignment and more. Treatment involves design, application and control of corrective “devices” such as braces, retainers, etc. to achieve proper facial balance and occlusion (bite).
Endodontist are dentists that specialize in diseases of the tissue, blood vessels, and nerves inside the tooth. The most common endodontic treatment is called a “root canal,” the removal of infected tissue and refilling of the nerve canal inside the tooth. Endodontists are also experienced at finding the cause of oral and facial pain that is difficult to diagnose.
Oral Surgeons are dentists that specialize in the surgical treatment of diseases, injuries and deformities of the mouth, teeth, gums and jaws. Oral surgeons treat problems caused by wisdom teeth, facial injuries, and jaw disorders, and are skilled in reconstructive and dental implant surgery.
Periodontist are dentists that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. Periodontist are experts at recognizing such gum disorders as gingivitis, an infection of the gums, and the more destructive gum disease known as periodontitis. Some of the more common treatments a periodontics might provide include: cleaning and scaling teeth to remove harmful substances called plaque and tartar; prescribing medicines like antibiotics and special mouthwashes; and for more severe dental problems, oral surgery.
Prosthodontist are dentists that specialize in restoring and maintaining oral function, health, comfort and appearance by replacing teeth and gum tissue with artificial substitutes (sometimes called false teeth). Prosthodontist can fit patients with such prosthetic devices as single or multiple tooth replacement implants, crowns and bridges, partial dentures and complete dentures.
