Why Advanced Dental Care Under a Specialist is Sometimes Recommended

We’re a family dentist that offers comprehensive dental care to keep your teeth healthy and beautiful. We do it all — cleanings and other preventive care, root canals, emergency dental care, and cosmetic dentistry. Yet there are occasions when we’ll refer you to a specialist.

Because sometimes dental issues are especially sensitive or complicated, they require someone with advanced training who has the right tools and expertise. When we refer to a specialist, we know you are in the best hands to care for your specific situation.

Some of the most common dental specialists include:

• Periodontists — these specialists focus on gum health and supporting bone tissue. We may recommend a periodontist for advanced cases of gum disease, bone or gum loss, tissue grafts, difficult tooth extractions (such as a tooth broken off at the gumline), or for intensive cleaning (scaling and root planning — also called SRP),
• Endodontists — these are root canal specialists who focus on treating the nerves or pulp within the tooth. While we regularly perform root canals, certain instances may require a specialist — say, a tooth in a hard-to-reach area, implant surgery, complex dental injuries, or an infection deep within the pulp.
• Orthodontists — these specialists help align teeth, address the growth of the face and jaw, and correct malocclusions with braces and retainers or trays. They can also improve significant overbite or underbite cases with orthodontic surgery to lengthen or shorten the jaw.
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons — the most common reason to see a dental surgeon is to remove impacted wisdom teeth. They also treat tumors, cysts, and cancers of the head and neck, TMJ disorders, dental implants, facial pain, and injuries.
• Pedodontist — baby teeth are important placeholders for adult teeth, and any problems with a child’s mouth or jaw can make a huge impact on speech or the ability to eat. These specialists are more acquainted with conditions that affect growing teeth and jaws and are trained to treat children with special health care or psychiatric needs.
• Digital Scans — sometimes a more in-depth look is needed to address the structures of the teeth, jaws, and face. A CBCT scan takes extremely detailed 3D images to precisely target dental infections, spot tooth cracks or hidden decay, or calcified canals. They can also help diagnose conditions like TMJ, address airway abnormalities, and can be used in planning dental implants.

We’re happy to recommend specialists we trust, or you can choose your own specialist. Once you’ve selected a doctor, we typically send your referral, along with accompanying information (such as x-rays and dental notes), to their office either digitally or by fax. You can rest assured that your health information is important to us, and we comply with all privacy laws regarding patient data.

Many people worry about the cost involved with seeing a specialist. Some costs may be covered by your dental or medical insurance plan, and most plans will cover some major oral surgery procedures. Your insurance provider may also bill certain dental procedures as medically related or necessary, such as difficult wisdom tooth extractions, cancer-related treatment, dental accidents, or infections.

We’re Here for You

Visiting a specialist doesn’t have to feel intimidating. While you may require a follow-up appointment with your specialist, we are also happy to provide any additional treatment that you may need. We are always here to answer your questions and are ready to support you every step of the way.