What on Earth is a Dental Specialist?

Many students considering a future career in dentistry often only consider general dentistry, and this makes sense. Most people have been to a dentist, hopefully on a regular basis, for most of their lives. They've become very familiar with the idea of dentists performing check-ups, fillings, crowns and the like. In reality, there are literally hundreds of other procedures that a dentist can perform. However, due to the wide range of procedures, it is practically impossible for a general dentist to develop and maintain competence in all of them. This is why there are dental specialties.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), a dental specialty is any area of dentistry that has been formally recognized by the ADA. The ADA will recognize a dental specialty to protect the public, the nature and the art and science of dentistry, and to improve the quality of care delivered to the patient. Currently, the ADA recognizes nine different dental specialties. Below is a brief introduction to all nine of the recognized dental specialties:

Dental Public Health: is the science and art of the prevention and control of dental diseases and the promotion of dental health through organized community efforts.

Endodontics: is the branch of dentistry concerning the dental pulp. Endodontists are the dentists known for specializing in the root canal procedure.

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: is the dental specialty that deals with the identification and management of diseases concerning the face and mouth and are most well known for the diagnosis of oral cancers.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: deals with the production and interpretation of dental x-rays and other image scans of the mouth and face.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: this is the specialty within dentistry which involves surgical treatment of disease, injury, and birth defects of both the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and face. These are the specialists most well known for removing wisdom teeth, placing dental implants, and performing facial reconstruction surgery.

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: this is the dental specialty that involves correction of peoples bites and skeletal abnormalities. These are perhaps the most well known of all the dental specialists and they often use braces to straighten peoples' teeth.

Pediatric Dentistry: is an age-defined specialty which concerns its self with the treatment of infants, children, and adolescents.

Periodontics: is the specialty which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease of the gum and bone tissues surrounding the teeth. Often, people will see a periodontist for treatment of gum and bone diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Prostodontics: the last in our list of dental specialties, which is centered around the restoration of oral function associated with missing or deficient teeth and tissues. These dentists are most well known for... 

A general dentist is still allowed to practice all areas of dentistry, including those areas covered by a specialty, however, they must ensure that they still perform the procedures to deliver the same standard of care as a specialist would. With that said though, competent dentists know when they are not the best doctor for the job and will instead refer patients to specialists. For most dentists, this is where their knowledge of the specialties ends, but how can you become a specialist anyway?

Becoming a dental specialist is no short and easy road to travel. After completing a doctorate of dental surgery or a doctorate of dental medicine at dental school, you must then be accepted into and complete a residency program. These programs differ in duration and requirements. They range from three additional years of training for most specialties to up to six years of training after dental school to become an oral surgeon. This means that to become a dental specialist it could take you up to 10 years after you start dental school. Additionally, specialist residency programs are highly competitive and often only select the most qualified candidates.

So, when considering your path to a dental career it is important to consider all of your options. Many will be happy as general dentists but there is an option to specialize. With that said, there are many years between now and when you might finish dental school and even have to consider specializing. This is why I believe it is very important to start dental school with an open mind and gain exposure to as many dental specialties as possible before making a decision. Either way, whether you specialize or not, the profession of dentistry has never been more exciting than it is right now.

Photos Courtesy of:
1) Toothmingle.com
2) dooey.net
3) American Association of Orthodontics