General Dentist Vs Dental Specialists

Regular dentists are equipped to handle most simple dental problems. There are times when a dentist comes along with a difficult complex case. In this instance, the dentist will then refer their patient to a local specialist. In this post, we will cover the differences between a regular dentist and dental specialists.

General Dentists

Approximately 79% of all dentists in the US are general dentists. A general dentist would normally be your primary dental provider. This dentist has earned a degree and earned the title of DDS or DMD. They usually complete three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school to become a general dentist. This dentist can diagnose and treat most of the common dental issues. These issues include root canals, fillings, crowns, preventive care, bridges, and veneers.

Dental Specialists

There are times when more complicated dental issues arise. Dental specialists are among the smaller number of dentists that can handle focused areas in the dental field. Dental specialists complete dental school as regular dentists. They also receive a DDS or DMD. After completing dental school, specialists choose a primary focus in the dental field and undertake additional schooling and training to become a dental specialist.

What Is The Difference Between a General Dentist and a Dental Specialist?

When you think of a dentist you are usually thinking of a general dentist. General dentistry is equipped to handle most of your dental needs, which can include: dental exams, tooth extractions, dental cleanings, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and root canals.

What about a specialist? Why are they different? A specialist is a dentist who has completed additional training after graduating and becoming a general dentist. They choose a specific area to specialize in and they complete substantial training in order to focus on that particular sector of dentistry.

Types of Dental Specialist Include:

• Orthodontist
• Prosthodontist
• Periodontist
• Endodontist
• Oral Surgeons
• Pediatric Specialists

A general dentist can sometimes perform the same procedures as a specialist. However, there are times when the case can become complex for a general dentist and that is when a specialist is required. If a general dentist determines you are in need of a specialist then they will refer you to the right one.

Is a Dental Specialist More Expensive Than a General Dentist?

The answer is a resounding no! A dental specialist can offer the same dental care as a general dentist with no additional cost and additional dental experience. They also offer the same financing options and even offer in-house financing with no interest.

What Makes a Great Dentist?

It is important to think about what makes a dentist great. Answering this question will help you choose the right dental office.

Does it have to do with their education?

A dentist should definitely be well educated and be board certified. However, is an education all a dentist needs to be called great? A well-educated dentist is definitely important. The knowledge to give you the quality care you need can not be taken for granted.

There are many complications that can arise that a poorly educated doctor can't help with or in some cases make things worse. There are a large number of people that choose to go out of the country to cut the cost of their dental procedures.

Going out of the country is not always a smart choice as the doctor may not have the proper equipment and education to help you with your particular dental problems. Having an advanced state of the art equipment such as 3D X-rays can help doctors determine how to proceed with the proper precaution in order to avoid serious and sometimes permanent damage to the patient.

Equipment and education aside are these all that are needed to be the greatest dentist?

A great dentist should have the best education, the most advanced technology, and equipment. However, this alone is not what makes a dentist great.

What really makes a great dentist is the concern and relationship that they have with their patients. A dentist can have the best everything but in reality, if they have no desire to build relationships with their patients and prioritize them then it makes them a poor dentist.

A dentist should be proud of their work and it should show in each patient they work on. A patient should be seen as a person and not just a client.

It is easy for any professional dentist to just be in it for the money but a great dentist is in it for his desire to make lasting relationships and to feel the satisfaction of helping a person in need.

Bio For Dr. Kanaan: Name: Wael Kanaan. Dds MS Specialty: Orthodontic & Tmj. Gender: Male Education: 2005 Postgraduate residency in Orthodontics, Saint Louis University. 2005 Master degree in Dentistry "Research" Saint Louis University.