Dentistry: It's More Than Drilling and Filling

Part of making sure that you are healthy is going to see a dentist on a regular basis. The dentist can make sure that your mouth and teeth are healthy and may even be able to alert you to other issues before they get too bad. There are several kinds of dentists that you can see. Not every person is going to need to see every kind of dentist. What kind of dentist you see depends partially on preference and partially on need. So, what kinds of dentists are there?

General Dentist

A general dentist is like your primary care physician. They are going to be the first person you see if have a toothache or it's time for your routine appointment. For many people, they will never need to see more than a general dentist because they don't have any other problems with their mouth. Pediatric and family dentists could also fall under this classification since they are the same first point of contact. A pediatric dentist will only work with people 18 and under, while a general dentist may prefer to only work with older teens and adults. A family dentist will work with people of all ages, so your entire family can go to just one dentist. Contact a general dentist to learn more. 

Orthodontists

An orthodontist is going to be more concerned about how your teeth and jaw are aligned. The orthodontist will evaluate your bite, your X-rays, and how your jaw opens and closes. They may decide that you need to wear braces in order to get the correct bite pattern. The orthodontist may also suggest that you have to have teeth taken out so that you can wear braces or so that you can have enough space in your mouth for all of your teeth, but they aren't going to be the ones who do the extraction. 

Oral Surgeons

If you have to have extractions or other kinds of dental surgery done, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon. Your dentist may choose to do simple extractions, but for multiple extractions or for complex ones, you need to see an oral surgeon. They will have the knowledge to handle those more complex issues without causing you undue pain. The oral surgeon can also administer better anesthetic than a general dentist can, making the process easier on you. 

Going to see a dentist regularly is important. You should see your general dentist regularly and any specialists as ordered so that you can have the best oral health you can possibly have.