You probably or hopefully visit your general dentist regularly. For most people, their general dentist is the only dental professional they are likely to need, but are you aware of other dental specialties? Currently, the American Dental Association recognizes 12 dental specialties. One of these is an oral surgeon.

If you are facing oral health problems, perhaps you have wondered whether you should see a dental specialist, and if so, which one?

In this article, we explain the difference between a general dentist and an oral surgeon and examine the differences in their training. We also discuss the services each offers and when you might need them.

General Dentists

Your general dentist or family dentist is your primary dental care provider. They offer a wide range of general dental services to prevent oral disease, restore teeth, and optimize dental health.

Most people need to see their general dentist twice yearly. During these appointments, you can receive a complete dental exam, plus periodic dental x-rays. You should also see a hygienist at the practice. Regular dental cleanings are an essential part of any preventive dental care plan, and it’s quick and easy to complete your checkup and cleaning in a single visit.

What Treatments Does a General Dentist Provide?

The treatments provided by general dentists are outlined below.

Preventive Dentistry

When you see your dentist regularly, they can monitor your dental health and ensure any problems are detected quickly. The sooner these problems can be treated, the better the outcome and the less likelihood you will suffer a dental emergency.

Your general dentist provides treatments that help keep your teeth, gums, oral tissues, and tongue in optimal health. They provide routine dental examinations and oral cancer screenings.

An oral cancer screening is extremely important, and general dentists are specially trained to carry out this quick, painless, and non-invasive screening.

Restorative Dentistry

If you develop a problem with your teeth, your general dentist can perform restorative treatments to repair the damage and eliminate infection.

Typical treatments include fillings to remove tooth decay and restore the tooth to full health. Your general dentist can provide root canal therapy to eliminate infection deep inside the tooth.

They provide restorative treatments like crowns and bridges as well as dentures.

Oral Health Education

Oral health education is often a major part of general dental practices. Dentists and their entire team are great educators and can encourage patients to care for their teeth correctly. Your dentist can demonstrate how to brush your teeth properly. They can also provide helpful advice on flossing correctly, an important task many patients struggle to perform regularly.

What Are the Benefits of Seeing a General Dentist?

There are various benefits to seeing your general dentist regularly, outlined below.

Maintaining Oral Health More Easily

Your general dentist can help you maintain oral health more easily with regular checkups and dental cleanings. It’s an easy way to gain and maintain an optimal oral health level and avoid more extensive problems.

Get Rid of Dental Anxiety and Fears

Dental anxiety is common, and unfortunately, many people will avoid seeing a dentist regularly because of it. However, visiting a general dentist regularly for checkups can help conquer these feelings.

A good general dentist will provide gentle dental care in a way that is easy for nervous patients to cope with, and every positive experience helps to get rid of dental anxiety. Knowing that you are looking after your teeth correctly and are unlikely to have any significant problems can help ensure you keep up with regular dental checkups.

Emergency Dentistry

Even if you look after your teeth, you may still experience a dental emergency, such as a blow to the mouth. Knowing you have a dental practice you can contact immediately and who will take care of you is reassuring.

Your general dentist will quickly ensure you get the best, most appropriate care.

Oral Surgeons

An oral surgeon, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is a highly trained dental professional. They receive four to six years of additional training compared with a general dentist and complete hospital-based residencies where they learn how to treat problems affecting the hard and soft tissues of your jaws and face. Once they complete their residency, oral surgeons must pass another exam to become board-certified.

To sum up, an oral surgeon has the training and education provided to a general dentist plus another 4 to 6 years of far more specialized training.

Which Treatments Are Provided by an Oral Surgeon?

Treatments provided by an oral surgeon include:

  • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating problems affecting your facial bones. If you are unlucky enough to be in an accident, then they are the people who can reconstruct your facial bones and tissues with reconstructive surgery.
  • You may need oral surgery if you have problems affecting your jaw joints, which are called temporomandibular joints. Usually, this is only recommended after your general dentist has tried other treatments to alleviate the problem.
  • Oral surgeons carry out other procedures like complex wisdom tooth removals.
  • They can plan and place dental implants.
  • They are trained in dental anesthesia, so they can provide sedation dentistry, ensuring your treatment is more comfortable and relaxed.
  • An oral surgeon can treat cleft lips and palates.
  • They can perform lip and tongue tie surgeries.
  • Some oral surgeons may provide treatment for breathing issues like sleep apnea.
  • Oral surgeons can treat head and neck cancers. If your general dentist detects anything wrong during a routine oral cancer screening, they may refer you to an oral surgeon for further tests.

When to See Each

As you can see, there is some overlap between the services offered, but you will generally only ever need to see an oral surgeon for more complex treatments. Some people may never need to see an oral maxillofacial surgeon during their lifetime.

If your dentist feels that he will benefit from a referral to an oral surgeon, there is nothing to be concerned about. Your general dentist simply wants to ensure you receive the best dental care. They can liaise closely with your oral surgeon during your treatment. Once the treatment is complete, you will return to your general dentist for more routine dental care.