Dental Specialities and what they mean to your teeth

[David Neeble]

Dentistry has continued to evolve as a medical profession since its inception in ancient times.The mouth is a much more complicated area than many of us can even imagine and it requires a wide variety of specialists trained to deal with very specific issues. 

Dentists in even the early 20th century were still very much general practitioners.Most of them tried to deal with a huge variety of problems- whether they were particularly qualified or not.The answer to most issues back then was to simply pull the affected tooth.No more tooth, no more pain.  This worked for them, but did very little to preserve their ability to eat and to function.

Dentistry advanced at an incredibly rapid rate, and began to include other fields and specialized areas of practice.  Someone could spend years learning everything they needed to know to adequately treat uneven teeth, or to understand the nature of infection inside of the mouth. By the end of the twentieth century, different dental practitioners were responsible for different things. The dentist who pulls a problematic tooth is very different than the orthodontist who determines the need for braces. Many dental practices will employ or associate with a wide variety of specialists in order to fulfill all of their patients’ needs.  Keep this in mind when you’re looking for a dentist in Goodyear.These are only a few of the specialists that you might see in the course of your dental treatment:

The Dental Hygienist

This is someone who works as more of a technician.They do not go through the same schooling as the doctor of dentistry, but they perform an extremely important service.  The dental hygienist is the one who provides you with the deep cleaning that you need every six months to maintain a healthy smile. They use a high powered toothbrush that allows them to clean any built up plaque and debris from the teeth.They can also identify problem areas, and report these to the dentist for follow up treatment.  

Pediatric Dentist

The field of pediatric dentistry looks after the mouths of children from birth to their teenage years.These dentists specialize in the way that a child’s teeth develop and grow as they mature.They are able to identify problems before than can grow to effect the teeth in adulthood.Pediatric dentists study juvenile teeth and are extremely knowledgeable in preventative care throughout childhood.  

Orthodontist

This is an extremely specialized field of dentistry that deals primarily with the development and placement of the jaws and teeth.They are the ones who recommend and apply braces and other dental guides.They can also correct deformities, and plan for the future treatment needed to keep teeth growing correctly.  

Endodontist

If you’ve ever experienced a root canal, this was the specialist that performed it.  Endodontists are specially trained to recognize and treat problems with the tissues inside of the teeth.  This is often referred to as the pulp.When the pulp becomes infected or begins to decay, it can cause horrible pain and other problems within the mouth.The endodontist can go in and remove or contain the damaged areas, and can allow you to keep a tooth that would’ve otherwise had to be pulled.

Oral Surgeon

This is the specialist who is qualified to provide anesthesia and to surgically remove impacted teeth.They can also perform reconstructive surgery, and help to deal with issues that can’t be reached via traditional methods.Oral surgeons are also able to operate on the soft tissues, remove growths, and to help with accident reconstruction.  They often work in a hospital setting in conjunction with other medical professionals.