You will be quite familiar with general dentists as you may have paid them a visit at least once. However, if you don’t visit a dentist’s office regularly, you might be in for a surprise, so to maintain optimum oral hygiene, visit a dentist at least twice every year. Nevertheless, we want to discuss how many types of dentists you are familiar with in a dentist’s office. You may know about the general practitioner, but are you accustomed to other specialists? Like a prosthodontist. More specifically, do you know the difference between a general dentist and a prosthodontist?
Varying Duties:
You visit a general dentist for your normal routine checkup and diagnosis. On the contrary, a prosthodontist is reserved to cater to some of your special needs. What kind of special services? You might be wondering. Well, “prostho” means replacement or prosthetic, while “dontist” means teeth. Hence, if you decipher this wordplay, you would exactly know what you are in for – dental implants.
However, a general dentist is quite capable of carrying out filling procedures and installing implants. While a general dentist can carry out that duty very well, a prosthodontist only deals in implants and replacement. Hence, prosthodontist service can lead to better and comfortable results, plus are often referred by a general dentist in complex scenarios. Moreover, you can not access general dentistry services at a prosthodontist.
Education And Training:
The journey of a prosthodontist and a general dentist may begin at the same location, but their destinations are quite diverse. It all starts with a bachelor’s program from a dental academy. While a general practitioner may halt their education after their bachelor’s, a prosthodontist pursues an additional three years of education and training from an ADA-certified institute. This additional and rigorous training makes a prosthodontist an expert in their field.
Details Of Prosthodontist Services:
Implants and Replacement: The most common service includes offering dental implants or crown replacement. Additionally, you can receive a full set of teeth replacements in the form of dentures.
Rectifying Jaw Disorders: Jaw disorder can be quite troublesome with constant pain and stiffness in the jaws. Furthermore, jaw issues can make your life unbearable, with you having difficulty chewing and talking. All in all, at times, jaw disorder can hinder the most basic life functions. Therefore, seeking relief is a must for a better life, and a prosthodontist can help with that.
Oral Cancer Restoration: When oral cancer is removed, it can leave behind a mess that needs cosmetic restoration, such as implants or partial dentures. Hence, a prosthodontist can help with their services related to oral restorations.
Conclusion:
You can take the general dentist as a jack of all trades, and you can visit them for all your problems. More often, they can provide you the right treatment. However, the situation sometimes calls for a specialist, and then the general dentist will refer you to the right specialist. In short, your journey always begins with a general dentist. Hence, initiate your oral health journey with Brookshire Smile Dental. You can call us at 281-934-1010 for more inquiries.