Oral Surgeons: Only perform oral surgery, such as impacted wisdom teeth or complete removal of all your teeth for the placement of dentures or implants.

Periodontists: Focus mainly on severe conditions of the gums that may require complex therapy and/or gum surgery.

Endodontists: Root canal specialists. Even though most general dentists can perform most root canals, you may need to see an Endodontist when your general dentist feels the number of canals presented on the x-ray may prove to be a complex matter or the position of the roots complicate treatment.

Prosthodontists: Crowns, bridges and dentures. Few general dentists shy away from referring crown and bridge procedures since these are the “bread and butter” of most any general dentistry practice. However, some conditions of the mouth and jaw require the referral to a specialist.

Implants: More and more general dentists are expanding their practice to include offering implants, but due to the complexity of the procedure and the limited number of implants being performed, (due to pricing constraints), there are dentists that only provide implant services, whether used for removable dentures or for a more permanent tooth loss solution.

Orthodontists: Braces or straightening of the teeth. Traditional banding requires an orthodontist to perform this service. However, with the introduction of clear aligner trays such as Invisalign and Clear Correct, some general dentists are offering limited orthodontic options.