A misconceived notion about the vocation of dentistry is that there is a general specialty, unbeknownst to the dental patients who visit their dentist in Vancouver every six months. Some dentists perform important cleanings for their patients that prevent worsening oral conditions, while other dental professionals undertake complex oral surgeries.
The dentist you will visit will all depend on the oral health issue at hand, but in order to navigate what specialist you will see, you should learn about what variety of dental professions exists.
Keep in mind that visiting the dentist from time to time is one of the best ways to avoid more serious problems. It should be a habit developed at early age. Even if there are no problems with your teeth at the moment, there is always a chance for the development of various issues that only an expert can prevent or cure. Also, choosing a good dentist is also very important. If you need one in Vancouver, check out inspiredental.ca .
Discover what types of dental specialists are available to you, what they do, and how they help you maintain and improve your general oral health.
General
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A general dentist is among the most common professions in the dental profession, and they will act as your primary oral health provider. A general dentist in Vancouver will offer you cleanings and more routine dental exams to determine if any oral condition is present. These dentists will generally evaluate your tooth and gum health and perform fillings, and implement crowns and cavity removals when necessary.
Further, a general dentist will also make basic teeth restorative efforts like teeth whitening, approaching tooth decay, chipping, and cracked teeth. A general dentist will also refer to other specialists when they uncover more severe conditions that need extensive work, for they do not qualify. You should visit this type of dentist all the time. According to the expert, we should visit this service at least twice a year. This is the case for all ages not only for younger people who are still developing the jaw and teeth.
Having a beautiful smile is considered a standard today, and it can help you feel much more confident. There are different types of procedures that can help you improve the appearance of your teeth. However, if you are taking proper care all the time, and take at least two appointments each year, chances that you will have some bigger problems are much lower.
Orthodontist
You will typically visit an orthodontist when your jaw and teeth are misaligned and can install and work to maintain braces to realign everything accordingly and methodically. More than braces, an orthodontist will also mold and procure oral pieces that can include mouth guards, facial masks, and retainers, among other appliances to correct teeth and jaw alignment.
This is a common procedure for kids who are still developing the jaw. The key of wearing braces is to secure that the teeth will be aligned. On the other hand, if you skipped that when you were a kid, there is nothing to feel ashamed about even if you have to wear them in the late 30s.
Pediatric Dentist
Source: uab.edu
A pediatric dentist, also known as a pedodontist, specializes in treating tending to the dental care of young children and other youth. These dentists have a more youthful approach to dental health to make infants and children more comfortable in receiving care and treating specific issues. In addition to treating many similar dental health issues that a general dentist also undertakes, a pediatric is trained to adeptly handle the difficult and anxiety-filled behaviors of infants, children, and adolescents who are visiting the dentist’s office.
What is very important for this type of expert is to have the right approach to kids since they are often scared of the ordinance. The key is to help them feel more secure and relaxed and to explain to them why visiting this type of service is very important.
Gum specialists
A gum specialist, or a periodontist, works to prevent the disease from forming in the mouth’s soft tissue consisting of the gums and bone. A general dentist usually takes some preventive measures against gum disease; a periodontist offers more intensive treatment, like some minor surgeries, to eradicate advanced gum disease that has already begun to fester. This dentist can also diagnose and treat inflamed gums that might have gingivitis and periodontitis.
Oral surgeons
Source: wikipedia.com
Oral surgeons, or oral pathologists, specialize in surgically treating various oral conditions in the jaw and teeth region that range in severity. Such conditions include impacted wisdom tooth extraction, misaligned jaw, and cancerous growth in the mouth, jaw, head, or neck. These specialists will also have to be visited if an abnormality in the mouth or jaw is visible and needs to be X-rayed.
You will need to visit this type of expert if there are serious issues with your teeth, jaw, and gums. Keep in mind that avoiding to visit the dentist for a longer time can lead to some problems that are not visible at first, but can create serious damage to your mouth. If you want to keep your natural teeth in the right condition and number, visiting the expert and taking proper care is crucial.
Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist primarily focuses on the repair and restoration of the jaw bone and teeth. This specialty serves a cosmetic benefit that improves the appearance of broken, chipped teeth that have fallen out. A prosthodontist will use caps and crowns to enhance the look of a smile and make the necessary adjustments to correct your pearly whites, such as whitening and removing discolouration.
These types of problems can occur for various reasons. For example, you had an accident while playing some sport, or a car collision. It is important to choose a well-known and experienced expert in this area because there might be a need for some complex procedures. Therefore, using a price range as a factor is not always the best option.
Root canal specialist
Source: dentalcare.com
A root canal specialist will narrow their focus exactly as their title explains–on root canals. This specialty will tackle infected tooth pulp and is qualified and trained to do expert root canals. When general dentists notice the unmistakable signs of infected pulp in their patients, they will most often refer their patients to a root canal specialist who will perform this necessary procedure to maintain and improve oral health.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are different types of dental specialist that you might need according to the problem you are experiencing. The most important is the general one since you will visit him more often. This person will make sure that your teeth are in good condition and determine whether you need some additional procedure that will require other specialists. Also, it is common that the same person might be specialized in more than one area.