Unlike many people assume, dentists aren’t the only professionals responsible for treating and managing all dental issues in patients. Instead, it is often a collaborative effort between several professionals, depending on the type of care a patient needs. This article outlines several specialties within the dental field and the roles they play in caring for your teeth.
General Dentist
General dentists are the primary oral health providers in the dental field. They offer services such as routine dental examinations (teeth and gums), tooth extraction and cleaning, dental implants, and root canals. In cases where specialized treatment will be required beyond their scope of expertise, general dentists may refer patients to other dental professionals, such as periodontists.
Periodontist
A periodontist is a dental professional that has undergone special training to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a condition resulting from inflammation of the gums and jawbone. The main difference between a dentist and a periodontist is that the latter is qualified to treat advanced diseases of the teeth and gums. They also help to manage symptoms of advancing gum issues, such as oral inflammation.
Dr. Bret Dyer and Dr. Thomas Nguyen are periodontists with decades of combined experience in their field. Listen to Dr. Dyer speak on how dental professionals collaborate to address dental issues here.
Orthodontist
An Orthodontist is a professional trained to treat abnormalities of the teeth and jaws. These professionals utilize a wide range of surgical tools, including wires, retainers, and braces to correct the alignment of the teeth, improve bite pressure, as well as close gaps between the teeth. A general dentist will typically undergo two additional years of training in Orthodontics to qualify to perform these surgical treatments.
Pediatric Dentist (Pedodontist)
Pediatric dentists specialize in treating dental problems in children (from infants up to teenagers and children with special needs). A pedodontist can perform a wide range of treatments for young patients, e.g., the installation of crowns, X-rays, dental cleaning, treatment of cavities, tooth extractions, and early Orthodontic care. They help to guide a child’s oral development up until adulthood.
Endodontist
Endodontists, also known as Root Canal Specialists, are dental professionals trained to diagnose and treat dental issues that cause tooth pain, e.g., nerve damage and tooth abscess (infection). The root canal treatments they perform regularly help to eliminate infections in patients’ teeth and also prevent further microbial invasion.
Oral Surgeon
Oral surgeons are professionals trained in oral treatments of the teeth and jaws. This includes simple and complex tooth extractions (e.g., extraction of impacted wisdom teeth). Additionally, they provide care to patients needing reconstructive surgery, soft tissue biopsies or repair, installation of implants, tumor removal, and more.
Periodontist in Sugar Land: Contact Dr. Bret Dyer for help With Dental Issues
Dr. Bret Dyer, Dr. Thomas Nguyen, and the team at Fort Bend Periodontics and Implantology in Sugar Land, TX, offer cutting-edge treatments for a broad range of dental issues. He is an experienced periodontist with many decades of experience in the field specializing in treatments for cavities, dental disorders, and cosmetic procedures.
For more information about our services or to book an appointment, please contact us or call us at (281) 980-2344.
