Dental Specialists Randolph MA
Like other areas of medicine, dentistry consists of a variety of specialties. The specific type that you would need for a dental problem depends upon the nature of the problem, its location, and other factors. Here are some common types of dental specialists and how they can help you.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
- Periodontist
- Endodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Pediatric dentist
- Orthodontist
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialists involved with treating conditions, injuries, defects, and aesthetic aspects of the teeth, mouth, face and jaws.
Some areas that oral and maxillofacial surgeons are involved with include problem wisdom teeth, misaligned jaws, and facial pain. They help treat those requiring dental implant surgery, victims dealing with facial injuries, and those with cysts or tumors of the jaw area.
Periodontist
Periodontists help patients who have problems with the gums, tissues, and bone supporting their teeth. If you have suffered from bone loss due to periodontal disease, a periodontist can perform a deep cleaning, sometimes with local antibiotics, to improve the health of your gums.
Some other treatments performed by periodontists include reducing excess gum tissue, creating gum grafts, placing dental implants, and performing bone graft procedures.
Why is my dentist referring me to a periodontist?
The most common reason why a dentist would refer a patient to a periodontist is if they are suffering from severe gum disease, or periodontitis.
Endodontist
Endodontists specialize in root canal therapy. They provide treatment for dead, infected, or inflamed tooth nerves that cause severe pain. An endodontist can remove the tooth’s dental pulp and fill the empty space with an inert, biocompatible material like gutta-percha to seal and protect the area.
Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who makes artificial teeth, both removable and fixed, for those missing some or all of their natural teeth. Prosthodontists also place dental crowns and bridges, as well as partial and complete dentures.
Pediatric Dentist
A pediatric dentist offers many of the same treatments as performed for adults; however, their focus is on treating young children. Children often benefit from visiting this type of specialist to receive dental care because they typically have anxiety about medical settings and doctors or dentists.
Pediatric dentists are very knowledgeable about the eruption of baby teeth and permanent teeth. They provide educational resources to parents to help them teach their children how to brush and floss their teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease.
Orthodontist
In the past, orthodontists only placed braces on patients who needed their teeth to be straightened. Now, orthodontists also help provide treatments for conditions like TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder that can cause pain and soreness in the area of the jaws.