What Are the Different Types of Dentists and Dental Specialists?

Most people know when to see a general dentist, but what about their dental problems that are less routine? There are many types of specialist dentists, depending on your oral care problem. To help you make decisions about specific dental problems, we'll discuss the most common types of dentists and dental specialists and when to go to each of them.

Dentists

are primary care oral health providers and are one of the most common types of dentists. Mild cases of gum disease can be treated with a general dentist and a thorough oral hygiene routine, but your dentist will likely recommend that you schedule an appointment with a periodontist if you have a more serious case of gum disease.

After graduating, an emerging dentist must apply to the appropriate state dental board to become a licensed dentist in that state. Your general dentist will also refer you to other types of dentists if you need services and procedures that you are not qualified for.

Dental Anesthesiologists

specialize in treating pain, anxiety and the general health of the patient during dental, oral, maxillofacial and complementary surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the perioperative period. Paediatric Dentistry or pedodontics is an age-defined specialty that provides primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care to infants and children during adolescence, including those with special health care needs. The educational criterion for announcing the practice limitation in additional specialty areas is to successfully complete an advanced education program accredited by the Dental Accreditation Commission (or its equivalent if completed before 1964) in each area that the dentist wishes to advertise. While any dentist can advertise, no dentist will promote or solicit patients in any type of communication in a way that is false or misleading in any material way. Dental specialties are recognized by the National Commission for the Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certification Boards (NCRDSCB) to protect the public, promote the art and science of dentistry, and improve the quality of care.

Dentists should disclose to their patients all the relevant information that the patient needs to make an informed purchase decision, even if the product is available elsewhere and if there are economic incentives for the dentist to recommend the product that are not obvious to the patient. Prospective patients who call the service may be referred to only one subscribing dentist in the geographical area and will be billed to the appropriate dentist for each patient referred. Dentists who use their eligibility to advertise themselves as specialists and make the public believe that the specialized services provided in the dental office are being provided by qualified specialists, when that is not the case, are engaging in unethical behavior. A dentist who presents educational or scientific information in an article, seminar, or other program will disclose to readers or participants any monetary or other interest that the dentist may have in a company whose products are promoted or supported in the presentation.

Tom Roberts
Tom Roberts

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