 Specialty
Areas
Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of
dental needs. Other dentists practice in any of nine specialty areas.
Orthodontists, the largest group of specialists, straighten teeth by
applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers. The next
largest group, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, operates on the mouth
and jaws.
The remainder may
specialize as pediatric dentists (focusing on dentistry for children);
periodontists (treating gums and bone supporting the teeth);
prosthodontists (replacing missing teeth with permanent fixtures, such
as crowns and bridges, or with removable fixtures such as dentures);
endodontists (performing root canal therapy); public health dentists
(promoting good dental health and preventing dental diseases within the
community); oral pathologists (studying oral diseases); or oral and
maxillofacial radiologists (diagnosing diseases in the head and neck
through the use of imaging technologies).
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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