Most people think of a dentist as someone they visit twice a year for a good cleaning and cavity check. Although that is what a lot of dentists do, the fact is that there are several types of dentists who specialize in different types of dental treatments.
The General Dentist is the type of dentist that most people visit and think about when the think of dentistry. General dentists see patients of all ages and focus on maintaining oral health and screening for and diagnosing potential dental problems. If a minor problem is found, such as a cavity, a general dentist can usually treat that right in the office. However, sometimes your dentist will need to refer you to another type of dental specialist if you have a problem that is too complex for your regular dentist to handle, or could be better served by another kind of dentist. There are several types of dentists Honolulu to choose from.
A Pedodontic Dentist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of children. These dentists do much of the same work as a General Dentist, however their patients are mainly children. A large part of a Pedodontic Dentist’s job is to help children feel at ease and overcome their fears of being treated. Another major aspect of Pedodontics is education. Teaching children at a young age to take excellent care of their teeth sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
An Oral Surgeon is a special type of dentist that can practice surgeries on patients with severe problems. Some examples of the types of things an oral surgeon treats include the removal of impacted teeth, treatment of facial and dental injuries, jaw disorders, and preparing patients’ jaws for dentures using specialized techniques such as implants and bone grafts.
An Orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in correcting irregularites in the teeth and jaw. Orthodontists use different kinds of dental hardware to straighten teeth that have grown in crookedly, and to align a patient’s bite for better oral health.
These are just a few of the different types of dentists available to treat patients. If you are not sure about what is the best type of dentist for you, visit a General Dentist first and get an assessment and recommendation – they are trained professionals and will point you in the right direction.
