Ah, so you’ve noticed all of the different specialties in dentistry! Have you ever wondered what they all actually mean? Lots of weird names. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand who does what in the world of dentistry:

General Dentists

Best known for: The “quarterbacks” of the dental profession. These are the folks you (hopefully) see at least every 6 months or so for a cleaning, exam, and general oral health check-ups. They’re the ones filling your cavities, making crowns, dentures, and partials, and keeping your teeth in tip-top shape. Some general dentists also don’t mind performing a few more specialized procedures such as root canals, pulling teeth, minor braces cases, etc.

Education: 4 years of dental school after college. Some continue on to 1-2 years of advanced general dental training, but it’s not required in most states.

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Pediatric Dentist

Best known for: Kid whisperers of the dental world. These dentists specialize in treating tiny humans—from babies all the way up to teenagers. They’re pros at making kids feel comfortable, managing tricky baby teeth, and guiding young ones through their dental milestones (those awkward buck teeth years). They’ll also teach parents how to keep their kids’ teeth healthy from day one.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 2-3 years of specialized training in children’s dentistry.

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Orthodontist

Best known for: Straightening teeth and perfecting smiles. Orthodontists are the ones behind braces, clear aligners (like Invisalign), and other gadgets that fix crooked teeth and misaligned bites. Whether it’s for kids or adults, these pros create the smiles of your dreams.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 2-3 years of orthodontic training.

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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (aka Oral Surgeon)

Best known for: The muscles of dentistry (😁). Oral surgeons tackle wisdom teeth and other tooth extractions, dental implants, jaw surgeries, TMJ treatment, pathology (cysts and tumors) and even facial trauma. Basically, if it’s a complicated or surgical issue, they’ve got it covered. Bonus: They’re also highly trained to administer anesthesia, so that’s why you probably don’t remember your wisdom teeth being removed.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 4 or 6 years of surgical residency (the longer one includes the core years of medical school – these are the docs with a dental and medical degree; DDS, MD or DMD, MD). Not only do they spend time as anesthesia residents, they also rotate all over the hospital – they’ve spent time as residents in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and more. After residency, some Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons will continue on to fellowships for things like head and neck cancer surgery and cosmetic surgery.

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Periodontist

Best known for: Gum health experts. These specialists focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating gum disease. They also perform advanced procedures like gum grafts and placing dental implants. If your gums need some extra TLC, these are your people.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 3 years of specialized periodontal training.

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Prosthodontist

Best known for: Smile architects. Prosthodontists are all about replacing missing teeth and restoring function to your smile. While they excel at making dentures, bridges, and highly customized crowns, they are the true masters of very complicated mouths.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 3 years of advanced prosthodontic training. Some also go on to further fellowships like Maxillofacial Prosthodontics for the crazy complicated shiz.

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Endodontist

Best known for: Root canal warriors. Endodontists save teeth by treating infections and issues inside the tooth. While some general dentists will do a basic root canal, these specialists tackle the trickiest cases.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 2-3 years of advanced endodontic training.

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Oral Pathologist

Best known for: Disease detectives. These specialists diagnose and study diseases that affect your mouth, jaw, and face. They often work at dental schools in the pathology lab where they also train dental students. If your oral surgeon does a biopsy of something in your mouth, they often send it to one of these docs to look at under the microscope.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 3 years of oral pathology training.

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Oral and Maxillofaical Radiologist

Best known for: Masters of dental imaging. These experts interpret X-rays, CT scans, and other imaging to diagnose problems in your teeth, jaw, and surrounding structures. If there’s something tricky going on beneath the surface, they’ll find it.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 2-3 years of radiology training.

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Oral Medicine and Orofacial Pain Specialist

Best known for: The problem-solvers for complex oral health issues. Oral medicine specialists deal with conditions that don’t quite fall into the other categories, like chronic pain in the mouth, oral infections, and autoimmune diseases that show up in the mouth. They often work closely with other medical and dental professionals to find solutions.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 2-3 years of specialized oral medicine training.

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Public Health Dentist

Best known for: The big-picture thinkers. These dentists focus on improving oral health for entire communities rather than individual patients. They work on things like public education, policy-making, and ensuring access to dental care for underserved populations.

Education: 4 years of dental school + advanced training in public health (varies).

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Dental Anesthesiologist

Best known for: A good knock-out. Dental anesthesiologists focus on making patients comfortable and pain-free during procedures. They often work in surgical centers or, in some regions, they travel to dental offices to administer anesthesia so the dentist or surgeon can perform procedures while the patient is snoozing.

Education: 4 years of dental school + 3 years of dental anesthesiology training.

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So there you have it! Dentistry isn’t just one-size-fits-all—there’s a specialist for pretty much everything. Hopefully, this guide helps you understand the dental dream team and who you might see depending on your needs.