Considering a dentist near the BART can be easy to do, but you may be wondering the differences between all of the dentists that you see listed in front of you. Which one should you call? General dentists are the most common dentist to call for primary dental care for anyone, of any age. Unlike pediatric dentists, cosmetic dentists or oral surgeons; they are able to provide preventative and overall oral care for the whole family. Seeing a dentist is crucial to your overall well being. General dentists are responsible for treatment, diagnosis and the overall services needed to meet any of the oral care that you require. If there are specialized services that you need, your general dentist may work with other downtown Oakland dentists for the care.
Where Do They Practice?
There are more than 140,000 general dentists practicing throughout the US and Canada. They are able to open their own practice in their town of choice or work with a group of associates together to make up one practice. There are even downtown Oakland dentists that work within government health clinics, research facilities, with higher education establishments and within the military.
What Do They Provide?
Mostly all general dentists have higher education levels and are trained in all the different dental procedures, instead of just being specialized in one area of dentistry. They are then able to provide a wide assortment of different services to their patients. Some of these services include, but are not limited to:
- Dental implants
- Home care instructions
- Full and partial dentures
- Cosmetic procedures
- Crowns and bridges
- Gum disease treatment
- Consulting on nutrition
- Mouth guards
- Orthodontics
- Oral surgery
- Sealants
- Tobacco cessation
- Restorative care
- Preventative services
- Root canal therapy
Their Education
Three or more years of undergraduate college is required – the degree is usually in a background of science. Four additional years of dental school is then required. An exam to become licensed is also required once school is complete. This license is so the downtown Oakland dentist is able to practice within their specific state.
DMD and DDS – The Difference
The one letter seems to be the only difference. This is because both types of downtown Oakland dentists go through the same schooling and education requirements. DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery, while DMD is Doctor of Dental Medicine. So there is no significant difference between the two besides the one letter.
