Dental Specialists

Dental Specialists

Dental specialists are dentists who have taken an additional 2-4 years of education.  Listed below are the types of treatments provided by specialists:

• Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities for young children, teens and adults. They use a variety of corrective appliances (including braces) to align teeth (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics) to align jaws for facial balance.
• Periodontists Periodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the maintenance of health and the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease, as well as the placement of dental implants.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons surgically repair fractures and soft tissue trauma to the face and mouth; extract wisdom teeth and other "difficult" teeth; repair cleft lips and palates; place implants.
• Endodontists have special training in diagnosing and treating problems associated with the pulp of the tooth. They perform routine as well as complex endodontic procedures, including re-treatment of previous root canals that have not healed completely, and endodontic surgery. Endodontists are also experienced at finding the cause of oral and facial pain, which is often difficult to diagnose. Endodontists can place implants. To become an endodontist an additional two or more years of advanced training in endodontics after graduating from dental school, is required.
• Prosthodontists restore damaged teeth with crowns and veneers; replace missing teeth with bridges and dentures; place implants.
• Pediatric dentists Pediatric dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence including those with special health care needs. To become a pediatric dental specialist, a dentist must complete a minimum of 24 months in an advanced education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the ADA or CDA.
• Oral medicine specialists diagnose and treat diseases of the mouth, including neuromuscular conditions such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and clicking.
• Oral pathologists diagnose oral tissue diseases and lesions and manage these diseases in consultation with the referring dentist.
• Oral radiologists prescribe, produce and interpret imaging techniques - usually radiographs (x-rays) – as an aid to the diagnosis of diseases of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures.

Generally speaking, a dental specialist will see patients only on referral from a general practitioner, although this is not necessarily always the case.

Who is the DSSBC?

The Dental Specialists Society of British Columbia (DSSBC) primarily exists to enhance the clinical and ethical standards of all dental specialty services rendered in BC and to unite its members in order that they may be officially represented in any deliberations or negotiations with any interested governmental or public bodies. 

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