Why Do I Need To See A Dental Specialist?

Here at Smile Sarasota, we are often asked by patients if they can have all their dental treatment done under one roof. We are, of course, happy to see our patients for general routine exams, cleanings, and restorative dental treatment such as fillings or crowns. However, sometimes our smiles need more than your general standard care. There are several types of dental specialists Smile Sarasota refers to, each with a different role to treat your specific dental needs.

Endodontist: Root Canal Specialist

Endodontists are dentists who specialize in tooth pain, disease, and infection. If the tooth’s pulp becomes infected or the interior of your tooth becomes damaged or diseased, your general dentist will refer you to an endodontist for a root canal. Inside our teeth, there are canals that contain sensitive pulp, blood vessels and nerves. When infected, the endodontist will remove the damaged/infected nerve, seal the canals, and send you back to your general dentist to have a crown placed onto the tooth. The tooth will be good as new from that point on! Endodontists attend 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, and complete 2-3 years of a post-graduate residency program. They then take an exam to become certified by the American Board of Endodontics.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: O.S.

This specialty treats problems related to the hard and soft tissue of your face, mouth, and jaw. Oral surgeons handle procedures such as tooth extractions, dental implants, orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery), treat facial trauma, alleviate problems associated with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint), remove complex tumors (Oncologic surgery) and facial reconstructive surgery. Oral surgeons attend 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years of dental school, and then complete 4-6 years in a hospital-based residency program. Oral surgeons then take an exam to become certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Periodontist: Gum Specialist

Known as “The gum disease experts of dentistry”, a periodontist is a dentist that specializes in the focus of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums, the structure that supports the teeth. Periodontists diagnose and treat the many stages of gum disease. Their main goal is to catch periodontal disease before it gets out of hand. They perform surgeries ranging from minor surgeries like gum grafts and pocket reduction procedures to major surgeries such as resolving severe gum disease. They also perform cosmetic surgeries such as crown lengthening that can improve the appearance of your smile. Periodontists attend 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years dental school, and then complete 3 years in a residency program. They then take an exam to become certified by the American Board of Periodontology.

At Smile Sarasota, we refer our patients to the absolute best specialists in town! Our dental specialists will communicate with Dr. Still along the way to ensure your dental treatment is seamless. Our patients are always incredibly pleased with the work completed by our specialists. Working together on all different levels of dental care offers the best outcome for beautiful smiles.