Can any dentist really pull wisdom teeth? It’s an interesting question because, technically, the answer is yes. When we graduate from dental school, technically we are able to practice all scopes of dentistry.
So what’s the deal with specialists? Why are there so many different offices that only do certain things? That’s also a great question. There are well over ten different specialties in dentistry, ranging from endodontists who just do root canals and root canal surgery, to orthodontists who move teeth and do braces, to periodontists who do gum surgery and place implants, to prosthodontists who specialize in replacing and restoring missing and broken-down teeth.
What Specialists Do
Sounds a little vague, but basically what it means is if you have teeth that need to be replaced, repaired, and fixed—whether through crowns and bridges, implants, dentures, or full reconstruction—that was kind of my passion. I did a three-year residency after dental school to really focus on those specific areas of dentistry. So I don’t actually pull teeth. My associate, though—she’s phenomenal. She’s had extra training to do that. And there are plenty of amazing general dentists who are able to do all scopes of dentistry.
General Dentists vs Specialists
There are some wonderful general dentists out there, and I would say the majority of them can do amazing things. In our practice, I love doing dentures, removable prostheses, implants, and crown and bridgework—that’s something I do every day. The big advantage of seeing a specialist for your individualized care is that they are focused on that problem and do it every single day. General dentists are certainly capable of handling everything across the spectrum, but they might not get the chance to do three root canals every day, or build five dentures every day, or perform a full-mouth reconstruction every day. Their work is a little bit more sporadic because they’re handling so many different topics. Whereas in our practice, as a prosthodontist, I’m solely focused on prosthodontics. I’m able to give the attention, and having done this for twenty years, I’ve gained experience and exposure to lots of issues that can come up. I can troubleshoot and fix things to make sure you get the outcome you’re looking for.
Respect for General Dentists
I don’t want anyone to misconstrue—I love general dentists. They’re amazing, talented, and just as important as specialists. But in our practice, if we have someone who needs a root canal, we prefer to send them to an endodontist. And if they have someone that needs something prosthodontic, obviously I’m going to take care of that for their prosthodontic needs.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s your mouth and you should be in control of who takes care of you. We’re here to help you make that decision and get you to the right person that can take care of your dental needs.
I’m Dr. Brett Langston, owner at Dental Implant Specialists here in Brookhaven, Georgia, and I’m here to help you. Watch your mouth.
English 
Spanish