Whenever you think of the dentist, the image of a dentist chair with all its various drilling assortments comes to your mind. But you will be surprised to know that the field of dentistry is vast and contains many specializations. It doesn’t end with a general dentist filling your cavities.
There are many types of advanced dental specialties that all have the same common goal of helping you have a clean and healthy mouth. In this article, we discuss the various types of advanced dental specialties of NY.
The different advanced dental specialties of NY
Dental specialties are recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards and this body helps in protecting the public, nurturing the art and science of dentistry and improving the quality of dental care. We have listed the advanced dental specialties below:
- Pedodontist: A periodontist is a children’s dentist who specifically addresses the oral health of children and teens. They will guide children and teens during their formative years and utilize their training in infant oral exams to space management after the premature loss of primary teeth. They also offer services related to oral health care like special counseling on nutrition, advice on teeth grinding, discouragement of thumb sucking.
- Endodontist: If you are in need of a root canal then you are in the right hands with an endodontist. Endodontists are highly trained professionals who diagnose and treat normal functions, causes and effects of various dental diseases effectively. They also focus on the prevention and treatment of injuries or diseases of the dental pulp including pulpitis, pulp stones, or pulp exposure, all of which are painful and can often lead to dental abscesses if ignored.
- Orthodontist: This specialty deals with the diagnosis and treatment of misaligned teeth/jaws. These dentists help correct the misalignment of teeth, gaps, overbite, underbite, or other abnormalities of the jaw, teeth or bite, using non surgical methods. This specialty not only improves your smile but also increases the function and longevity of your teeth. There are a wide variety of dental treatments including wires, braces, retainers, invisalign or other corrective appliances.
- Periodontist: Periodontists are the gum specialists and they specialize in treating and preventing various gum diseases and oral inflammation. These dentists often treat problematic cases and have a wide range of treatments at their disposal including scaling, and root planning. They are also trained in the placement, maintenance, and repair of dental implants.
- Prosthodontist: A prosthodontist is certified in restoring and replacing broken or missing teeth. Popularly called the restoration dentists, they use bridges, crowns, or dentures to create effective replacements that will address the issues of oral function and the aesthetic appearance of the teeth. They also work in specialized fields of post oral cancer reconstruction, jaw joint problems, traumatic mouth injuries and snoring and sleeping disorders.
- Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon: They are orthopedic facial surgeons who treat a wide variety of dental issues, and their services range from removing impacted teeth, to dental implants and reconstructive facial surgery. They treat diseases and injuries of both hard and soft tissue in the mouth and maxillofacial (jaw and face) region. They are the only professionals in dentistry who administer all levels of sedation.
- Orofacial pain (OFP): Is that dentistry specialty that encompasses the diagnosis, management and effective treatment of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck.
- General Dentistry: A general dentist is your primary dental care provider. They have many responsibilities including the diagnosis, treatment, care and management of your general oral health. A general dentist provides many dental services including non-metal fillings, periodontal care, root canal surgeries, crowns, bridges, and preventive education among several others.
In the next section, let’s discuss if the advanced specialties are generally covered by the insurance plans.
Does my insurance plan cover all types of dentists?
So, now that you know about the different dentistry specialties, let’s talk about insurance plans pertaining to them, because when your general dentist refers you to a specialist, the first question that pops into your mind would be “ Is this procedure covered by my dental insurance?”
The answer to this question is not going to be straight and simple because dental insurance plans vary and you will find that some plans cover specialized treatments in full, while some plans cover them partly, and still some provide no coverage for specialty care.
If you already have a dental insurance plan contact your insurance provider to discuss the fine print of the plan, and get a list of dentists who are part of the dental network covered by your insurance.
If you are out to buy a new dental insurance plan take your needs into consideration and compare as many plans as possible in order to get the best coverage.
Conclusion
New York Dental Clinic is a highly sought after multi-specialty dental clinic where you can find multiple specialties operating under one roof. All our dentists are board certified and have many years of experience under their belt. Our oral surgeons have all the right qualifications to perform different kinds of oral surgeries.
We also have many dental plans at our clinic. You can go through these plans and opt for the best coverage regarding your dental treatment. We pride ourselves in providing the best dental treatment in the industry and if you want our expertise at your disposal then book your next appointment and schedule a consultation with us at the earliest.
