Generally, dentist services include the different dental treatment services a particular dentist offers in a dental clinic. Most of these services are offered by most, if not all, dentists. However, you may come across various dentists specialising in particular dentist services, meaning they won't offer some dental treatment services.
General Dentists
These are the most common types of dentists. They specialise in examining your teeth and diagnosing your dental condition. They may also offer services like dental cleaning, teeth whitening procedures and simple tooth extraction procedures that do not involve surgery. They may also prescribe oral medication and products.
The information above tells you that a general dentist will treat most of the common dental conditions, but might refer you to a specialist if you are diagnosed with a dental condition that requires specialised care. You may also find that general dentists are the kind of dentists you will find in most of the dental clinics in your locality.
When Might You Be Referred to Other Dental Specialists?
If you need braces
Dental braces are used to treat misaligned or crooked teeth. They can also treat some mild cases of overcrowding or overlapping teeth, but if you have severe overcrowding or overlapping, tooth extraction or dental headgear may be recommended.
The dental specialist you might be referred to is called an orthodontist. This is a dentist who is specifically trained to handle problems with misaligned and crooked teeth.
If you are suffering from severe gum disease (periodontitis)
Gum disease is treated by a specialist referred to as a periodontist. Periodontitis can make your teeth start falling off one by one. This results from tartar and plaque attacking your gums and jawbone where the roots of your teeth attach to it. Bacteria also play a huge role in this disease; they eat away at your teeth and jawbone causing decay. The solution is either extracting severely damaged teeth, salvaging mildly affected teeth through dental filling and root canals, cleaning off tartar and plaque or taking oral medication to control gum infection.
If you have missing teeth
Missing teeth need a specialist referred to as a prosthodontist. They specialise in dental treatments like dentures, dental bridges, denture implants and dental implants. Dentures are the cheapest and simplest missing tooth treatment option. This is followed in complexity and price increment by dental bridges, denture implants and lastly dental implants. Let your dentist inform you which treatment suits your condition and health best, then choose based on price and the results you need.
To learn more, reach out to a local dentist service.
