Oral Surgeon vs Dentist: Do you know the difference Charlotte NC?
As is the case in the medical profession, there are different kinds of oral professionals. Some specialize in braces and cosmetic procedures, some perform general dentistry, and then there are oral surgeons. Each of these individuals may offer some overlap, but in general, they specialize in particular areas of oral care.
When looking for someone offering standard oral care and checkups, you’ll want a general dentist, but when you need something more serious, such as dental surgery, you’ll need an oral surgeon.
What exactly is the difference between the two, though? Here is what you need to know about an oral surgeon vs dentist.
What Does A Dentist Do?
A dentist is going to provide you with general care for your mouth and teeth. They will:
- Perform regular cleanings
- Recommend methods for improving your dental care
- Work in catching problems early on, in hopes of reducing the chances of you needing the services of an oral surgeon.
When looking at an oral surgeon vs dentist, you’ll find many dentists also provide some services beyond cleaning and analysis. The will offer some necessary procedures, including whitening, fillings, sealants, and some may even offer veneers, crowns, and bridges. These are minor cosmetic procedures, although you will rarely need to be put under anything more than basic anesthesia.
What does An Oral Surgeon Do?
An oral surgeon will be recommended when you require more advanced medical services. For example, you may need to have an impacted tooth removed. This can involve not only the removal of a current tooth but cutting into the gums to reach the impacted tooth. An oral surgeon does this.
If there is cancer or tumor cells around the jaw, tongue, or around the mouth, they will likely be the individuals performing the removal. In some cases, it may be a medical doctor, but typically, when it comes to oral surgeries, the oral surgeon performs the surgery.
There are several other surgeries an oral surgeon is needed for. This can include:
- Bone grafting around the jaw
- Wisdom teeth removal
- Reconstruction surgeries for the mouth
- Oral or even face biopsy or salivary gland disorders
These are conditions that move past general dental needs. So they do not provide specific services for cleaning teeth or minor cosmetic improvements. They called in when a true form of surgery is needed.
The Difference In Education
As you might guess, there is a difference in the training an oral surgeon vs dentist will receive. Early on, both will start with the same type of training. They will attend undergraduate school for four years and then go to dental school and obtain either their DMD or DDS. DMD is Doctor of Dental Medicine, and the other is Doctor of Dental Surgery. Both are the same. It just depends on the dental school attended.
At this point, the dentist will stop and either join a practice or start his or her own. For an oral surgeon, there is additional education required. The oral surgeon will continue with another four to eight years of specialty training. Different oral surgeons will provide various kinds of surgeries.
Some specialize in wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, and other similar surgeries. Others might focus on cancer surgeries and conditions of this nature. This is similar to the medical world, where some doctors will specialize in cancer treatment and removal, while others will specialize in cosmetic surgeries or skin grafts.
Dentist Before Oral Surgeon
Typically, you will see a dentist before going to see an oral surgeon. This is because a dentist will identify a problem that is above their level of expertise, and so they will send you to the oral surgeon. This might be a direct recommendation, or they may give you a handful of oral surgeons in the area to contact. Who you visit may come down to the dental or medical insurance you use, as depending on which kind of surgery you need, it might instead fall under your regular medical insurance instead of dental.
There are some cases where you will already know you need an oral surgeon, and so you don’t visit the dentist first. Perhaps you are looking for an implant, and you locate an oral surgeon who specializes in this kind of work. The tooth is already missing, so you skip over the dentist and contact an oral surgeon. Generally speaking, it is recommended to visit a dentist first as there may be other dental work that needs to be done before seeing the surgeon. You may also be directed to an oral surgeon from your primary care physician instead of your dentist. During a routine annual physical, they might spot something in your throat and want you to check it out with an ear, nose, and throat cancer specialist.
Call The Oral Surgeon
If you’re not sure who you should visit, but you believe you need oral surgery, you can always contact an oral surgeon and ask. They will likely not tell you over the phone, as offering a diagnosis via a phone conversation is not typical. However, if it sounds like something they might treat, they will tell you to either make an appointment or, if it is something a dentist can address, they’ll direct you to contact your dental service provider.
Finding The Right Oral Professionals
Typically, you will see a dentist, and the dentist will then recommend you to an oral surgeon. However, if you already know you need oral surgery, such as a root canal or wisdom teeth removal, you’ll want to look for an oral surgeon yourself. As is the case with finding a primary dentist, you’ll want to perform the same research in locating such a professional. By doing this, you’ll improve your chances of hiring the right oral surgeon for your needs. If you ever have any questions regarding what someone specializes in, all you need to do is call the practice and ask.
