Are you looking for a dentist for the upkeep of your oral health and hygiene but need clarification on whether you should choose a dentist or a general dentist? Instead of confusing yourself with different dentistry terms, it helps if you research various fields of dentistry to determine who can serve your needs as best as possible.
Dentistry has various fields, each dedicated to providing excellent dental and oral hygiene tips and attention to patients. Whether you visit a dentist or a general dentist, you see a professional with specific qualifications in this specialty who can provide the care and attention you need to manage dental situations without confronting significant challenges. The straightforward explanation of the difference between a dentist and a general dentist is merely general and none other.
Whether offering services as dentists or general dentists, the professionals study for four years in dental school before they begin practicing without indulging in specialty education. Dentistry has various fields, including orthodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, et cetera. Dentists and general dentists do not specialize in the fields mentioned after completing dental school. Instead, they begin practicing soon after graduating but continue receiving ongoing education by attending webinars, education programs, et cetera. Therefore a dentist is your first line of defense against any dental problem, regardless of the specialty it might fall under. All specialists are dentists, but not all dentists are specialists.
If you are looking for a new dentist, you might wonder whether you should search for a dentist or a general dentist. It helps if you understand both professionals offer the same services, except some may have additional experience in one of the above specialties from ongoing education or experience.
What Are General Dentists or Family Dentists?
General dentists and family dentists are similar professionals who receive extensive training and attend dental school before they start seeing patients. As a result, the services offered by these professionals are the same. However, family dentists deal with dental problems of patients of all ages, while general dentists may restrict themselves to adults and the elderly.
If you have a family, you find it beneficial to consult a family dentist offering different types of services that you, your spouse, kids, and elderly members need in one dental practice where they maintain your records to ensure you receive excellent continuity of services. Needless to say, general dentistry professionals also offer services to entire families to help make dental visits convenient and comfortable.
Whether you need a dentist near you or yourself as an individual or have a family, you can expect to receive most treatments for dental issues that routinely bother people or need attention for routine maintenance. The terms dentist and general dentist are interchangeable, with no difference in the services offered by the professionals.
What Are the Most Common General Dental Treatments?
All dentists receive comprehensive education before they acquire a license to practice in the state. Dentists offer various routine dental treatments with the primary aim of helping you maintain a healthy smile. However, dentists, as mentioned earlier, might restrict themselves to seeing some patients below 16 because specialists better treat them in pediatrics. On the other hand, family dentists also offer therapies to children in general dentistry after gaining education from other sources on how to manage children appropriately during dental visits.
If you need general dentistry in Cypress, TX, rest assured the practice offers most dental services that you might need. Besides giving you routine exams and cleanings to help you maintain your dental hygiene optimally, the dental office also helps with issues impacting your smile or causing severe problems with your teeth.
Some examples of the therapies offered by the dentistry in Cypress, TX, include orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, endodontic therapy for infected teeth with root canals, tooth extraction, dental crowns for damaged teeth, dental veneers, dentures for missing teeth, dental bonding for minor imperfections with teeth, tooth restorations with dental fillings, et cetera.
If you need a specialized dental process like replacing missing teeth with solutions like implants, dentists work with specialists qualifying in periodontics or oral and maxillofacial surgeons to ensure you receive a permanent solution for your missing teeth. Therefore whether you see a dentist or a specialist, you are visiting a professional with qualifications in dentistry, with some specializing in specific fields and offering limited treatment in their particular areas. Therefore your first point of contact is always a dentist before you move over or receive a referral to a specialist for the treatment needed.
Mirabella Smiles — Cypress, TX, provides dental services to all patients, including families with children and the elderly. Kindly consult this practice to receive any dental services you need before you consider heading to a specialist seeking specific services.