There are many types of dentists, each with their own specialty. The most common type is the general dentist, who can treat all kinds of dental problems. The pediatric dentist is a new specialization that treats children’s teeth and mouths. Orthodontics focuses on straightening teeth and correcting jaw alignment.
“Generalist” dentist
The general dentist is a professional who is the first person to diagnose dental problems and provide dental care to their patients.
The general dentist can treat a wide range of dental problems, from cavities to gum disease. They also focus on prevention by educating patients on how to maintain good oral hygiene.
They must have a thorough knowledge of the different dental specialties such as surgery, pathology, orthodontics, endodontics and periodontics.
In orthodontics, irregularities in the alignment of teeth are diagnosed, corrected and treated. In general, orthodontic treatment is carried out in close collaboration with your dentist for several months or even years. Their specialties are the treatment of oral and facial irregularities such as the position of the teeth, the spacing, the misalignment, the problems of joint of the jaw… in particular with the installation of dental appliances .
Orthodontists are better able to provide you with orthodontic treatment than your dentist, these are their areas of expertise and they are equipped for it.
In its domain, all the functions of the oro-facial sphere which includes the face, the mouth and the teeth. Stomatologist as a specialty of maxillofacial surgery, cranio-maxillofacial surgery therefore focuses on the skull, jaws and face .
This specialty is used to treat various diseases, injuries and abnormalities affecting the face, mouth, teeth and jaws (including fractures, tumors and infections of the frontal bone of the skull), as well as disorders related to salivary glands. Their main procedures: dental extractions, salivary gland conditions, rhinoplasty, benign tumours, maxillofacial prostheses, etc.
Endodontics is a dental specialty concerned with the root canal system. This specialist deals with treatments related to the pulp of the tooth and treatments related to the roots of the tooth (for example, abscesses and cysts). Simply put, endodontics deals with the hard tissue structures inside a tooth .
A dentist who detects any complexity in your case should refer you to an endodontist, as they are skilled in the advanced study of this part of the mouth.
The pedodontist
Pedodontics is often called ” pediatric dentistry ” because it focuses on the dental care needs of children from birth through adolescence. In fact, most of the time it is “generalist” dentists who take care of children. He can work with the orthodontist to obtain the best results.
Periodontists are experts in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. In general, periodontists diagnose, treat, and manage conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and other conditions that affect the gums and supporting structures of teeth. They use a variety of techniques to treat infection and inflammation around the teeth. These include scaling, root planing, gum surgery…
They are responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the manducatory apparatus . To do this, the teeth of the upper and lower jaws must be in good contact with each other, while the muscles and bones of the jaw must be in balance. Her specific areas of interest are dental issues related to bruxism (such as teeth grinding in the middle of the night), dental occlusion issues and mandibular joint pain.
