Of course having a general dentist is important for oral health and hygiene, but it is also important to know specialists you can seek out if your general dentist cannot help you with your specific needs. General specialists are trained and schooled in the basics of dental care. With a specialist, they go to dental school and then usually do extra years of training and schooling to ensure they are giving their patients the best care they can.

Specialists come in a wide range when it comes to dental. The types of dental specialists you may find yourself looking for include:

• Orthodontists
• Prosthodontists
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Periodontist
• Endodontist

And the list goes on. Each of these specialists preform specialized dental treatments and care, to provide patients with specific procedures. General dentists tend to stay away from preforming more specific procedures, because they may become more involved over time – needing a specialist to take over.

Each specialist when going through schooling will complete their undergrad and go through grad school for dentistry. From there, they will have extra schooling for their specialty, and from there will commit a few more years doing a residency. Specialists complete immense amounts of training, so you can be confident in trusting them to preform your procedures.

If you’re looking for a specialist, such as a periodontist, you should start with contacting your general dentist to see who they would recommend for soft tissue care. Your periodontist will then be able to assess your soft tissue and create a treatment plan specifically for you.

Always remember to schedule your regular cleanings and dental care. Keeping on top of your oral hygiene is imperative to a healthy mouth and body. If you have not kept up with going to your routine checkups, contact your dentist and their staff to set up an appointment. From here, you will undergo a cleaning with the hygienist and see your doctor for any other necessary information.