Personal fitness is crucial to living a long and happy life. A person’s overall fitness can be broken down into two parts: health and wellness. Consequently, there are many components that comprise these two, and they can be either internal or external. They are also likely to be influenced by outside factors.
One component of health that some individuals tend to neglect is oral or dental health. There are some individuals who are blessed by genetics to not need too much help with their oral care. Others, meanwhile, are not so fortunate and have to visit professionals regularly in order to keep their teeth, mouth, and gums healthy.
As many would know, these medical professionals are referred to as dentists. And like most careers, dentists can have specialisations. Their titles are often telling, but the equipment that they have in their clinics are indicators of their job descriptions, too. There are core apparatuses that are universal for all dentists, and there are also paraphernalia more essential to others, like X-ray machines and ceiling lights for conducting dental surgery.
Typically, patients meet with their general dentists for upkeep. This entails the usual cleaning and check-up for tooth health. Should they require further help that is outside their dentist’s scope, patients are then recommended to other dentists who are more adept with the services that they need.
Here are some of the dental specialists that patients might meet in their lifetime.
Endodontists
These specialists handle the morphology and physiology of dental pulps and periradicular tissues. They can identify causes, diagnose diseases and disorders, as well as treat and prevent anything that might affect the nerves of the teeth. Additionally, these health care providers are the ones who perform root canal procedures.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologists
In the oral health care field, radiologists are the ones who specialise in taking and interpreting all X-ray images. They provide the data to other dental professionals, who then use the information in diagnosing and managing diseases and disorders that affect the oral and maxillofacial region.
Oral Pathologists
Similar to other medical fields, oral pathologists are professionals who study the causes of the diseases that affect every aspect of the oral structure — from teeth to the jaws. They also examine the biopsy that other oral health care providers send to them.
Pedodontists
Pedodontists are in charge of the oral health care of patients in their childhood and early teen years. Like a general dentist, these paediatric dentists can detect and treat decaying, missing, crowded, or crooked teeth. If needed, they can refer patients to other specialists, as well.
Periodontists
They are the oral health care specialists in charge of diagnosing and treating diseases related to the soft tissues of the mouth and gums. They can perform both simple and deep pocket cleanings, soft tissue and bone grafting, crown procedures, soft and hard tissue recontouring, and implant placement.
Maintaining and improving oral hygiene contributes to the fitness of a person. While some can live the rest of their lives visiting only general dentists, others will need the help of these specialists.
