As is true with most professions, there are levels of specialization. In medicine you have cardiology specialists, internists and many more, in the dental profession you have the same; there are Orthodontists who apply corrective support to teeth, Peridontists who treat gum disease, Oral pathologists and many more specialties.
A Colorado Springs dentist may have a clinic where many the specialties are under one roof, in other cases the dentist may tend to generalize and if necessary, consult with other dentists on a specific patients needs, and if necessary, pass the patient to the specialist.
Dentistry actually covers many services; cosmetics, crowns and bridgework, implants, dentures, oral surgery, teeth cleaning and a host of other procedures; a Colorado Springs dentist is capable of doing all these procedures instead of just specializing in one area.
The education for a dentist is the same, regardless of whether the dentist moves to a general practice or a specialty. After a minimum of three years undergraduate studies with a bias towards Science, the dental student must spend four years in dental school. After graduation, the dentist must take a licensure examination prior to opening or joining a practice. A dentist can graduate either as a DMD or a DDS, a DMD is a Doctor of Dental Medicine where a DDS is a Doctor of Dental Surgery. As procedures and technology are dynamic, a dentist continues to participate in continuing education where they become aware of and skilled in new procedures, methods and materials.
A Colorado Springs dentist is, by nature of the general training undergone, capable of carrying out most dental treatments, especially restorative, orthodontics, dentures, root canals, gum treatment and extractions. The general dentist can also take and read X-Rays and make diagnosis based on oral examination and testing. As a DDS and a DMD are basically the same, all dentists are allowed to carry out oral surgery, so the implantation of titanium studs is often done as well.
Dental treatment today is nothing like it was as little as fifty years ago. Fifty years ago many dental drills were foot powered and local anesthetics were rarely used. Today, high pressure water jets are often used in lieu of drills, cleaning is done with sound waves instead of scraping and fillings are set with ultra violet light. The dentists themselves are far more caring, their “bedside manner” is very much improved and the offices are well lit, air conditioned and filled with soft soothing music. The dentist knows that history has given him a bad rap, but this is no longer true.
A leading Colorado Springs dentist is Dr. Marc Van Ness at Lehman Drive Dental. If you are looking for a full range of dental options in a pleasant and caring environment you are invited to make an appointment.
