subject: The Duties Of A Dentist [print this page] A dentist is a doctor who diagnoses, treats and prevents mouth, gum and tooth problems. They do sometimes go into specialized forms of dentistry. There are also many types of specialized options to choose from.
Normal dentistry includes many services. They treat tooth decay and also use preventative measures to delay or stop tooth decay. They will also take x-rays of the teeth to examine them for any problems. Sealants will be put on the teeth to protect them. They can also fix broken or chipped teeth and perform procedures such as filling teeth and performing root canals.
They can prescribe dentures and arrange the making and fitting of them. You can get advice from them about how to brush and floss correctly and anything else you can do to prevent tooth decay. If you have problems that are not covered in this wide spectrum, you will normally be referred to a specialist.
You will be referred to a periodontist if you have disease of the gums, the bones or any other tissues that support your teeth. If you wish to have restorative surgery done, these specialists will ensure that the foundation is adequate for crowns, dentures or bridges. They also offer services like the rebuilding of the gums or the bones.
Prosthodontists deals with the repair of natural teeth. They also deal with the replacement of teeth that are missing. So their area of specialization is normally the use of artificial teeth which are dentures or implants. They also do crowns or caps. Their field of specialization will include fitting of bridgework. This is the procedure where either partial dentures are used or implants are used to fill the gaps.
Orthodontists specialize in resetting the teeth by the use of appliances. They will use retainers or braces to improve the function and look of the teeth. These are also used to aesthetically adjust the teeth for example to straighten crooked teeth.
Maxillofacial surgeons do oral surgery for a range of conditions. They will remove pieces of broken teeth from the jawbone. They also handle the removal of teeth that are buried in the gums. If there is the need for you to have your wisdom teeth removed, this will be done by this type of surgeon. This is the case particularly if the wisdom teeth are buried close to the nerve to ensure that there is not damage done to the nerve when the tooth is extracted. They will also assist with the preparation of the jaw to enable implants to be used. They also do surgery for resetting misplaced jaws. This is done for example for someone who has a jutting jaw and this causes complications with the placement of their teeth. They may not be able to chew properly as the upper and lower teeth will not be aligned.
You may well find that your dentist is able to offer most of these treatments. Many people do not ever have to go these specialists as their dental practitioners often do the required treatments themselves other than in the case of bone surgery.
by: Adriana Noton
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