Trouble with your Dentist?
As a member of the Michigan Dental Association, your dentist is committed to uphold the ethical standards of the profession. However, we all know that on occasion you may have a concern with your dentist, or with the treatment that you received. Many times the issue is due to a misunderstanding or breakdown in communication. On rare occasions you may not have received the proper oral health care. The Michigan Dental Association, through its professional peer review system, stands ready to help you straighten out and solve any dilemmas between you and your dentist. We believe that it is our responsibility to safeguard the public's oral health through our unique Peer Review system. For further information please see the following link: http://smilemichigan.rtrk.com/?scid=412493&kw=3778148
What are the Dental Specialties?
Most of the time, the word "dentist" is the only one you need to know in reference to your oral health. Every once in a while, though, you need a specialist. Ever wonder what that terminology your dentist rattles off means? Here's the lowdown.
Note: All of the below are recognized dental specialties. Any other terminologies including but not limited to cosmetic dentistry, family dentistry and implantology are not recognized specialties by the MDA and ADA. The use of these terms does not necessarily imply any additional training, experience or expertise on the part of the provider.
Endodontist:
An endodontist takes care of you when you need a root canal. But that's not all endondontists do - they also deal with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of other diseases and injuries to the pulp, which is the internal soft tissue of the tooth.
http://www.aae.org/
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology:
This type of specialist helps to diagnose a wide variety of diseases in the head and neck through the use of X-rays, computed tomographic investigations (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and other imaging technologies.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon:
This one's an easy one. An oral surgeon diagnoses and operates on disease, injuries and defects in the mouth, jaw and face, generally through surgical extraction and reconstruction.
http://www.aaoms.org/
Oral Pathologist:
An oral pathologist deals with the identification and management of diseases that affect your mouth and face. These specialists rely on clinical, radiographic, microscopic and biochemical examinations for diagnosis.
Orthodontist:
If your dentist says you need to see an orthodontist, it means you have some irregular dental development, missing teeth or other developmental abnormalities that are in need of correction. Chances are you'll be fitted for braces, a frequently relied upon treatment designed to establish normal function and appearance of your teeth and jaws.
http://www.braces.org/
Pediatric Dentist:
A pediatric dentist specializes in providing comprehensive dental treatment to children, adolescents and young adults.
Periodontist:
If your dentist thinks you have a disease that could seriously damage your gums, bone or other tissues that support your teeth, she'll send you to a periodontist for diagnosis and treatment.
http://www.perio.org/
Prosthodontist:
If you need to have a missing tooth or other oral structure replaced, your dentist will refer you to a prosthodontist.
http://www.prosthodontics.org/
Other Helpful Links
Detroit District Dental Society
http://www.detroitdentalsociety.com/
Oakland District Dental Society
http://www.oaklandcountydentalsociety.com/
Macomb District Dental Society
http://www.macombdental.org/
Michigan Dental Association
http://www.smilemichigan.com/
American Dental Association
http://www.ada.org/
Academy of General Dentistry
http://www.agd.org/
Food and Drug Administration - Dental Amalgam Fillings
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm