Dental Information » Dental Specialists
Dental Specialists
Please review the different types of dental specialists.
Currently, there are nine recognized specialties within the field of dentistry. These specialties include periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, pedodontics, oral pathology/oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial radiology, and dental public health.
A periodontist is responsible for treating periodontal (i.e. gum) disease. This treatment may range from regular maintenance visits with a hygienist to surgical procedures designed to save teeth.
An endodontist's main responsibilities include diagnosing tooth pain and performing root canal surgery.
An orthodontist diagnoses and treats occlusal discrepancies and malaligned teeth with braces and orthodontic appliances.
A prosthodontist specializes in preparing crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. Prosthodontists can be especially helpful for complicated cases.
Pedodontists only treat children and young adults. With their extra training and child-friendly office environment, they can help extremely fearful or difficult children.
An oral pathologist is trained in diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions affecting the tissues of the oral cavity.
Most people associate oral surgeons with the extraction of wisdom teeth. In some cases, this may be the oral surgeon's "bread and butter," but oral surgeons are trained in many other areas of oral and facial surgery. In fact, several oral surgery programs offer combined dental and medical degrees.
An oral and maxillofacial radiologist is frequently encountered in hospital and university settings. These dentists help diagnose a range of diseases in the head and neck regions using imaging technology like radiographs, CT scans, and MRI.
Dental public health focuses on the prevention and control of dental diseases and promotion of dental health through community education and programs.
In 1999, an attempt to create two other specialties, dental anesthesiology and oral medicine, did not pass in the House of Delegates for the Council on Dental Education. Perhaps, this will change in the future. Please note that some dentists claim to be CMD (craniomandibular disorder) or TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) specialists. While these dentists may have additional training in this area and may be quite competent in diagnosing and treating craniomandibular disorders, this is not recognized as a dental specialty in the United States as of 1999. Technically, cosmetic dentistry is not an official dental specialty either. However, some dentists limit their practice to cosmetic dentistry (i.e. smile analysis, teeth whitening, and orthodontics).
To gain recognition, all dental specialties must: 1)be represented by a sponsoring organization; 2)show it is a distinct field that requires extra knowledge; 3) be distinct from existing specialties; 4) be in public demand; 5) directly benefit patient care; and 6) show that formal education programs of at least two years beyond the predoctoral curriculum exist.
Dentists may choose other career paths. Some dentists attend law school and practice dental malpractice defense or prosecution. Forensic dentistry is not an official specialty, but it has been very helpful in personal identification and justice. Other dentists may choose to become dental practice management consultants. This path emphasizes the business side of dentistry and often eliminates exposure to clinical dental work. In my work as a clinical instructor at the University of Pacific Dental School, I have found that teaching dentistry can be rewarding too.