A Beginners Guide To Dentists and Dental Specialties

Updated on April 25, 2023

Aside from your general dentist, there are quite a few dental specialists you might need to see during your lifetime. Here is a summary of each of the most common fields. 

Cosmetic Dentistry

Your cosmetic dentist can be further broken up into two specialties. One group deals with dental cosmetology, while the other deals with skeletal cosmetology. Cosmetic dentistry involves all portions of the lower part of a person’s face, paying particular attention to the jaw and mouth. It is also known as aesthetic dentistry. 

Most cosmetic dentistry falls under the dental category because it involves making adjustments to your teeth. That could be moving, removing, or adding to your teeth. For example, they can use braces to move your teeth, remove them when necessary, and add to them with bonding or porcelain. They may also reshape or file your teeth. 

Geriatric Dentistry

Geriatric dentistry is designed to focus on the elderly. This specialty exists because older people tend to have health issues and take medications, making oral care more complex. For example, certain medications can react with others, and a senior dentist must know this before helping a patient. It also deals with the unique gum and tooth decay that older people face. These dentists may even provide prosthodontics for their patients. 

Implant Dentistry

The dental implants OKC will act as an artificial tooth root. They connect false teeth you must have to your jawbone. That means they are seated inside your jawbone, underneath your gums, and give your false teeth a place to stay. One implant gives you one tooth, and you can have eight implants in your jaw. 

Oral Microbiology

There are hundreds of types of bacteria living in your mouth. Those who study oral microbiology have an in-depth understanding of this bacteria and the ones in your gut. They might also look at microbiology in other body parts and how they connect to your mouth. Therefore, these experts can identify the bacterial causes of tooth and gum decay and tell you how it affects other aspects of your health. They may also design oral vaccines and antibiotics. 

Forensic Dentistry

Forensic dentistry deals with legal issues. In many cases, it is overlooked as a specialty. However, it is a required field. That is because your teeth are resilient, and it is easier to destroy bones than teeth. Additionally, the way your teeth sit in your mouth and any features you have, such as an All-on-4 prosthetic, make your bite unique, like a fingerprint. People in this field can use their specialty to help find people based on their dental records. 

There are a lot of different dental specialists out there. You can research each of these to determine the best option if you need a specific type of care. Plus, oral healthcare can be interesting. Knowing more about it can help shed light on your oral health situation. Then, you can know when something goes wrong in your mouth. You’ll also know which specialist you need to see. That can make taking care of your oral health much more manageable. 

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.