The job of a dental assistant is to help the dentist and the dental hygienist with several tasks. It’s a hands-on job that focuses on the patient and requires skill, education, and care.
But did you know that dental assistants can be trained in different types of dental care for people of different ages and backgrounds? If you’re thinking about becoming a dental assistant, check out these other areas of the job to learn more.
What is a Speciality in dentistry?
A dental speciality is an area of dentistry and oral health that focuses on one thing. Most require more training and knowledge after you finish dental school. That could be like a residency or a master’s, or a doctoral degree. Some states let general dentists do the same things that specialists do.
Endodontist
You will be sent to an endodontist if you need a root canal. A person with special training in root canal therapy is called an endodontist. They do more than just root canal treatments, though. This part of dentistry looks at the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the dental pulp and periradicular tissues and the prevention & treatment of diseases and injuries that affect the pulp and the tissues around a tooth.
Endodontics is the study and practice of the clinical sciences, such as the biology, aetiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries that affect the pulp and tissues around the roots of the teeth.
Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeon
These people are called orthopaedic facial surgeons. They treat many dental problems, such as removing impacted teeth and reconstructive facial surgery. This branch of dentistry also includes diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and issues with how the hard and soft tissues of the mouth and face work and look. These surgeons are also trained to put in dental implants, remove facial tumours, and do reconstructive and cosmetic surgery on the face in case of a severe accident.
Orthodontist
Dentists who do this type of dentistry are experts at making, preventing, and fixing malocclusions, which are problems with how the teeth, jaws, and bite fit together. Malocclusions are caused by teeth that are too close together, missing teeth, extra teeth, or jaws that aren’t in the right place. An orthodontist uses bands, braces, wires, and other removable or permanent devices to reposition teeth into their proper alignment. Your general dentist will send you to an orthodontist if you want to fix any problems with your face or jaw or if you want to improve the way you bite.
Periodontist
Most of the time, you will be sent to a periodontist for diseases of the gums, guided bone regeneration, and dental implants. Periodontists look after the health of the gums and bones around the tooth. They find, treat, and try to stop diseases of the soft tissues and structures that hold the teeth in place. They are also instructed to treat gingivitis and do deep pocket cleaning, crown lengthening procedures, gentle tissue removal or reshaping, and gingival or flap procedures.
Paediatric Dentist
They used to be called “pedodontics,” and they focus on giving dental care to children and teens. They have been trained to find and fix cavities, missing teeth, crowded teeth, and crooked teeth. Their extra training in medical school gives them the skills to diagnose, treat, and manage a child’s developing teeth, their physical growth and development and the unique needs of child dentistry. They are also trained in child behaviour, so they know how important it is to calm down kids who are scared and talk to them in a way they can understand.
Prosthodontist
This branch does a lot more than a general dentist when it comes to fixing natural teeth and replacing missing ones. This part of dentistry focuses on understanding how the smile works, replacing missing teeth with crowns, bridges, partial dentures, and dentures, and keeping the mouth healthy. Dentures, gold crowns, ceramic crowns, or implants replace missing teeth. Because of their training, they are experts at putting together mouths damaged by trauma, jaw joint problems, and sleeping disorders.
Oral Pathologist
Oral pathologists study the causes of diseases that change or hurt the teeth, jaws, lips, cheeks, and other parts of the face and neck. Suppose your general dentist thinks something more serious is happening in your mouth. In that case, they will send the radiographs and biopsy of the suspected tissue or lesion to an oral pathologist, who will look at it and diagnose it. Make sure you see your dentist regularly. So, if there are deeper problems with oral health, your dentist can catch them early and send you to the right dental specialist.
Think about why you want to work in dentistry. Some people want to do good things for others, so they work in dental public health. Others might like to be periodontists and help people with their teeth and gums.
