There are many different kinds of dentistry that are practiced today, and there are a lot of specialties. With the many oral problems that people can experience, this can make it necessary to seek out specialized dental care in order to get the specific care that is needed. When you have a problem with your teeth, going to the general dentist is the first thing that most people do. Your general dentist will provide you with a wide range of services so that your teeth can be as strong and healthy as possible.
When you need a six-month dental exam or need a minor treatment such as a filling, going to your general dentist is what you need in order to get it done. They will provide you with complete oral exams twice a year as well as those minor treatments. However, when your oral needs go beyond these general services, you will likely need to seek out specialized dental care.
Periodontal Care
If you have a serious to severe level of gum disease, most general dentists do not perform the kinds of services you may need. Going to a periodontist or an oral surgeon is often needed for the right treatments. A periodontist can do some of these procedures, such as specialized cleaning and tooth reshaping under the gums. You might also need to have a gum graft in order to fix receding gums. For this type of service, you generally need an oral surgeon.
It requires an oral surgeon to take some of the gums from elsewhere in the mouth and to transplant them in the area where the gums are receding. This procedure, known as gum grafting, is something that is often needed for the health of both the teeth and the gums. When Serious gum disease is left untreated, it causes the teeth to become loose, and you can eventually lose your teeth. Having this type of specialized oral care is important for anyone who has a serious level of this disease.
Orthodontics
When your bite isn’t correct, or you have teeth that are coming in crooked or are otherwise misplaced, you may need to have orthodontics for your teeth. This requires seeking out the services of an orthodontist in order to fix the problem. Today, seeing an orthodontist will make it possible to get many different types of orthodontic devices. Traditional braces are a great way to move teeth and fix the bite, but there are now alternatives for many patients. There are clear aligner systems that don’t require the hardware of traditional braces in order to work. Not everyone is a good candidate for these, but many patients find that they appreciate the comfort and convenience of using this method for teeth straightening.
It’s common for a general dentist to notice that your bite is off, or your teeth aren’t as straight as they could be. They typically then refer you to an orthodontist for this specialized dental care. However, if you need orthodontic surgery, going to an oral surgeon is the best way to treat the problem.
Oral Surgery
If you need oral surgery, it’s always better to get it from an oral surgeon than from a general dentist. The offices of oral surgeons like us are well-equipped for a number of important dental and oral procedures. They also have a trained staff that is knowledgeable about the procedures and how you are to be kept both safe and comfortable. The offices invest in the latest technologies to make oral surgery highly technically advanced. Oral surgeons also have extra education and training in how to perform these procedures and have a lot of experience with them.
There are many oral surgeries that are commonly needed to fix certain problems with the teeth and gums. Patients may need to replace their teeth and seek out a dental implant or similar appliance. Many people today get implant-supported dentures to replace all of their teeth with just a few dental implants. Some patients need a bone graft to give them enough bone to have an implant implanted, and oral surgeons do this too.
Oral surgeons often do tooth extractions, and they perform the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. They perform surgeries to fix TMJ problems, and surgery for severe snoring and sleep apnea. They can also treat a number of oral pathologies such as thrush. There are many reasons why a general dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon. For so many reasons, it’s important to see these specialists for a wide range of dental and oral problems.
When you need a specialist because you need surgery, you can call on our oral surgery practice. At DFW Oral Surgeons, we are a full-service practice that performs a wide range of important oral procedures. Call us to schedule your consultation.