Dentistry is a field with various specialties that most people are not aware of. A general dentist is an oral health provider who has successfully completed dental school; whereas a dental specialist has received further specialised training in a preferred specialty after dental school. Dentistry has a variety of specialties that offer a range of services to improve the quality of dental care. Now let’s examine the different specialties.
General Dentists and Family Dentists
Usually, the first point of call for general dental care includes dental examinations, radiographs (X-rays), diagnosis, treatment and management of overall oral health. They make referral of complex dental cases to appropriate specialists for further management.
Paediatric Dentist or Pedodontics
For all dental treatments related to children from as early as 6 months to adolescent years and includes care of children with special needs.
Orthodontist
For the majority who do not like the arrangement of their teeth or that of their kids, an Orthodontist is the dental professional to see for full consultation, assessment, treatment and management. They focus on aligning bites and straightening teeth, and use different dental devices such as braces, retainers, and clear aligners to correct dental abnormalities of patients.
Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry
This speciality deals with tooth fillings, replacements and restoration of damaged teeth. Under this specialty we have:
- Endodontist – if you’ve ever seen a dentist about toothache and a root canal was recommended an endodontist is the dental specialty that you are referred to for management.
- Periodontist – For dental problems relating to your gum such as bleeding gums, mobile teeth etc collectively known as Periodontal diseases are attended to by a periodontist. Some reasons to see a periodontist are advanced gum problems, bone loss, gum recession, and tooth loss.
- Prosthodontist – These dentists specialise in treating complex dental and facial problems, like restoring the smiles of patients by using dentures, crowns (caps) or bridges to replace missing or extracted teeth.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The surgical specialty of dentistry that deals with patients who have tumours, masses, and cysts within the jaws, as well as the head and neck region.
Oral Medicine and Geriatric dentistry
Patients who are medically compromised and require dental care are attended to by oral medicine specialists whilst dental care of the elderly and aged are managed by geriatric dentists.
Dental Ancillaries
These are dental professionals trained to assist the dentist in the treatment and management of dental cases. This includes: Dental Hygienist, Dental therapist, Dental nurses and Dental surgery assistants.
In summary, dentistry is a vast field with many specialities that deal with different needs. Each specialty requires extensive training and expertise to deliver the best possible care to patients. Specialising in a specific area helps dentists grow and offer comprehensive services to their patients. It is imperative for dental patients to note that, their first point of call is a general dentist who would make the necessary referal to a specialist.
