What Are the Different Types of Dentists, and Which One Do You Need?

Now that you have fully committed to your physical, mental and oral health for the year, it is a good time to concentrate on enhanced dental care. Intercare Medical and Dental Centres can assist by advising you on the different types of dentists who specialise in various types of dentistry.

Aside from your general dental practitioner, some doctors and hygienists have studied different areas of oral health and hygiene to ensure that the condition and appearance of your teeth, gums and mouth remain in a good condition. Some oral specialists can reconstruct your jaw and teeth if needed.

The Importance of Investigating Different Types of Dentists

Maintaining a level of physical and mental health is important in today’s modern society. Watching what you eat will improve your health and wellness, daily exercise will maintain your fitness levels, and Tai Chi, yoga and other meditative practices will go a long way in keeping your mind sharp and your spirit centred. Neglecting these areas of your general health may lead to medical and dental conditions that might prove irreversible. Moreover, few people realise that dentists can tell the general state of your health, by examining your mouth.

The general condition of your mouth, teeth and gums may show signs and symptoms of your overall health, and poor oral hygiene regimes may further contribute to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, endocarditis, pneumonia and even birth complications.

7 Different Types of Dental Professionals

 

Your smile defines both you and your personality. Being able to present a smile with healthy, pearly white teeth is not only attractive, but it also instils a feeling of self-assurance. A yellow-toothed smile with chipped, broken or damaged teeth, ruins the self-confidence of the sharer and may lead to extreme humiliation.

To maintain your dental health, make sure to attend regular dental check-ups. However, if your dental needs are more complex, you might need professional guidance and treatment from one of the types of dentists below:

• General Dentist – Like your family doctor, a general dentist is a primary care health provider and is the most common type of dentist. They are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment and management of the general oral health of patients of all ages. They may perform procedures like teeth polishing, tooth filling and extraction, x-rays and other general dentistry practices. For further, more specialised treatment, they may refer you to a specialist in that specific field.
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• Paediatric Dentists (or Pedodontists) – These experts specialise mainly in children or adolescent oral health. Oral development in children from infancy to adolescence, especially in children with special oral health needs, is a specialised field. These doctors offer youth-friendly approaches to dental care as well as solutions for paediatric-specific dental issues. They will monitor a child’s tooth development, referring them to an orthodontist if necessary.
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• Orthodontists – Professionals who use wires, braces, retainers and other devices to align teeth and jaws are orthodontists. They realign overbites, underbites, crossbites and misaligned teeth, offering you a more aesthetic smile and a more powerful bite. These procedures make it easier for you to chew, bite and speak more clearly because it’s never too late to have an attractive smile.
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• Periodontists – They specialise in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of gum disease (including minor surgeries to the gum tissue in progressive cases). Where a general dentist supports gum disease prevention, a periodontist will treat cases ranging from mild gingivitis to more severe cases of periodontitis. They are specifically qualified to repair gums, bones and tissues which support the teeth. Also, you may be referred to one if you require placement, repair or maintenance of dental implants.
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• Endodontists – The focus of this specialisation is issues relating to the soft pulp (nerve tissue and blood vessels) inside the tooth, decay around the tooth’s nerve and the pain associated with it. They are qualified to perform root canals, endodontic surgery and procedures to repair or save teeth following oral trauma and other dental injuries. Further, they can manage tooth pain and save teeth where decay has infected the nerve pulp.
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• Oral (or Maxillofacial) Surgeons – Although extremely competent in complex tooth extraction, surgical correction of misaligned jaws, biopsies and removal of tumours, cysts and lesions of the jaw and mouth, bone grafts and implant procedures, they will always be predominantly known as the dentist who extracted your wisdom teeth. They work closely with ear, nose and throat specialists in complex operations relating to the head, neck, face, and jaw and assist with reconstructive surgery.
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• Prosthodontists – This is a type of cosmetic dentistry for patients who are missing some or all of their teeth and segments of their jaw structures due to accidents, injuries, surgeries, birth defects, cancer or other traumatic events. They sculpt, mould or produce removable and non-removable replacement teeth, and specialise in dental implants, porcelain crowns, bridges, veneers and partial or full denture sets.

Which One of These Types of Dentists Do You Need?

The general dentists in our dental community at Intercare Medical and Dental Centres advise that you should visit a dental professional at least once, preferably twice a year; not just for a polish and a clean but a general oral health check-up. If you are experiencing any pain in your mouth or regular toothache, consult with one of our dentists immediately. Receiving a professional opinion regularly will nip any potential problems in the bud.

Our general dental professionals are competent in most areas of dentistry. However, should they have any concerns relating to your oral health, or they do not specifically deal with a certain area that may be affecting you, they would refer you to one of the specialists mentioned above.

The convenience of using Intercare Dental Services is that everything is situated under one roof in most of our communities. From treating gingivitis or bad breath, fillings and x-rays to orthodontics and oral surgeries, we can accommodate you.

Conveniently located in most major cities and their suburbs, our hours of operation cater to most working schedules. Additionally, we are available and open for emergencies seven days a week. For all your physical, mental, medical and dental health check-ups and concerns, consider Intercare Medical and Dental Centres. We’re the Leaders in Health.

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