According to a recent national oral health report card, over 90% of Australians have suffered tooth decay. Dental caries is the second-most expensive diet-related disease, with an estimated 11 million new decayed teeth appearing each year. And, as per the Australian Dental Association (ADA), what makes this particularly troubling is that 90 per cent of dental disorders can be avoided.
The kind of dentist an individual wants to see is determined by how old they are and the state of their oral health. Moreover, being a prominent city area in Sydney, in Paddington, Dentistry has various specialisations for different treatments and individuals based on the age and severity of the problem. So, read about the various types of dentistry and the treatments the dentists provide to help you get the best care possible:
General Dentist
A general dentist’s responsibilities and competencies as your main dental care provider include treating, diagnosing, and managing your total oral health. Among the services provided by a general dentist are root canal procedures, non-metal fillings, crowns, bridges, periodontal (gum) care and preventive education.
Periodontist
A qualified periodontist is responsible for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the gums and the surrounding structures (bones) of the teeth, both natural or artificial. These dental professionals analyse and treat gingivitis and periodontitis.
Endodontist
An endodontist is a specialist who diagnoses, treats, and prevents infections and lesions in the dental pulp, also known as the tooth’s nerve. This dentist can perform various root canal procedures, along with other root-related operations, from simple to sophisticated.
Orthodontist
Malocclusions, often known as “bad bites,” of the teeth and supporting structures are diagnosed, intercepted, and treated by this dental care specialist. Orthodontists can turn an unappealing smile into one that glows. In the meantime, crowded teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth, and misaligned jaws can all cause malocclusions. And, the job description of an orthodontist is to straighten teeth using wires, specialised bands, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances such as braces, retainers, and Invisalign.
Prosthodontist
Unlike a conventional dentist, a prosthodontist focuses on the repair of the tooth structure and the substitution of missing teeth on a bigger scale. This dental care specialist uses prosthetic teeth or crowns (caps) as permanent replacements for lost or removed teeth. Furthermore, some prosthodontists treat and rehabilitate the head and neck abnormalities, using artificial alternatives to replace any missing elements of the face and jaw.
Pedodontist or Pediatric Dentist
A pedodontist is a dentist who specialises in identifying and treating children’s dental problems. This dentist can spot decay, crookedness, crowding, falling teeth, and other dental health issues early on and treat them. And, according to paediatric dentists, parents should arrange their child’s first appointment with the dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts.
Oral Surgeons
Wisdom tooth extractions are the most common procedure oral surgeons perform, especially when the wisdom teeth are affected. Oral surgeons also do more difficult oral procedures, such as correcting misaligned jaws, dental implants, face injuries from an accident, TMD surgeries, bone transplants, and oral biopsies to check for oral cancer, along with these extractions. Furthermore, these dental professionals frequently collaborate with ENT doctors.
So, how do you determine which one will deliver the dental work you require with so many different oral specialists? The greatest place to begin is by visiting a general dentist regularly. In Paddington, Dentistry helps you learn when potential problems in your teeth are occurring, and the dentists will send you to a specialist if necessary. Also, your primary care physician may recommend you to a dental specialist in some instances.