Most people are familiar with seeing their local dentist every six months to have their teeth cleaned and ensure that no major oral issues are arising. But if an issue does arise, you may be sent to a dental specialist.
In that case, you might wonder what makes this specialist more qualified to deal with your issue. There are some key differences between a general dentist and a dental specialist:
Education Level
After completing a bachelor’s degree, dentists attend dental school to earn a degree in either DDS (Doctor of Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). They then take a dental board exam and obtain a license to practice in their respective state. Specialists, on the other hand, spend a few additional years training in a specific field. This gives them an expertise in whatever area they choose to focus on.
Specificity
Your general dentist is concerned with your all-around oral health — they clean your teeth and keep an eye on your mouth to make sure everything is in working order. Specialists narrow their view to provide the best possible care in their specific area. For example, a periodontist is concerned with gum health while an implantologist focuses on dental implant surgery.
Handling Complex Issues
While your general dentist may be able to identify an oral health problem, they may not always be able to solve it. Most dentists can handle common procedures, such as a root canal or wisdom tooth extraction, but leave more complex treatment up to the specialists. An example would be a general dentist referring a patient to a prosthodontist to replace multiple missing teeth.
General dentists and specialists work best when they work in sync. As a full service dental office, Capital Dental Group provides top-notch general dentistry while its specialty practice, the Center for Implant Dentistry, employs an implantologist, prosthodontist, periodontist, and oral surgeon for your more specific needs under one roof. Whatever your dental needs are, we can help. Schedule an appointment today.