Allsmiles

The American Dental Association certifies nine specialties that require training beyond the standard four-year degree. Each specialty has a specific focus in which the dentist is an expert practitioner. Typically, dentists refer patients to specialists after an initial consultation so that a treatment plan can be developed and implemented to correct any of a number of dental problems.

The specialties that require education and training beyond the Doctor of Dental Science and Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees are:

• Dental Public Health: Practitioners in this field are concerned with social oral health policies and the study of oral diseases including their cause, trends and treatment. Specialty is also known as dental epidemiology.

• Pedodontics: Children’s dental care and treatment.

• Prosthodontics: This focus is on restoration treatments for people who have lost death due to disease, genetics or injury. Some of the dental implements created in this field include dentures, dental implants, dental bridges and dental crowns. Sometimes dentists in this field work to correct abnormalities in the facial structure.

• Orthodontics: Doctors who work in the specialty of correcting crooked or misaligned teeth are called Orthodontists. In this field, cases of malocclusion (improperly aligned bite and crooked or leaning teeth are restored using metal braces and retainers. This field has become heavily used in the past two decades as more and more people have opted to correct bite-related problems.

• Endodontics: Dentists who work in Endodontics are focused on the health of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues, including the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of related diseases. One of the most frequently conducted procedures in Endodontics is root canal surgery.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: Attention is given to all aspects of diseases of the mouth, jaw and face in this field.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: Imaging devices like X-rays and CT Scans are used to identify, diagnose and study diseases of the mouth, jaw and face so that treatment plans for removal or reconstruction can be put into place.

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Surgeons perform surgeries on the mouth, jaw and face to correct dental problems and abnormalities. Some of the procedures that fall within the field include, reconstructive surgery, dental implants and cleft lip and palate operations.

• Periodontics: Treatment of bacterial infections affecting gum tissue and similar problems attacking the structure of the teeth is covered in this specialty’s sphere of expertise.

As the practice of dentistry has improved and technology advances have marched all aspects of dental health forward, the industry has responded by developing a number of highly distinct field specialties. The specialized care provided by professionals in these focused fields of practice ensures patients receive the highest quality support.

With full attention-getting smiles more and more important in modern society it is good to know that there are many dental specialists available in a number of fields to address most any condition that arises. These days there should be no reason to suffer through a dental problem or continue to wonder what may be underlying a particular symptom – no matter what it is, there are ample dental specialties to address the concern.