Unless you grew up in the dentistry industry, you may be puzzled about all the different credentials that dentists can have. One of the most perplexing questions for many patients is what makes an oral surgeon unique from a general dentist. If you have often wondered about this topic, this article on these two dental types near Dallas, TX, should clear up your confusion.
A Basic Understanding of Dentistry School
It makes sense to start this discussion by explaining that all practicing dentists in the United States go through a systematic training and credentialing process. After receiving a four-year undergraduate degree, students must apply for admission at one of the several accredited dental schools across the country such as the University of Texas School of Dentistry – Houston and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Upon acceptance, students spend the next four years earning a dentistry degree. At this point, they can practice as dentists. However, some students want to pursue a specialty. This requires more training—particularly for those interested in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Becoming an Oral Surgeon
To become oral surgeons, dentists must spend up to six more years studying and undergoing in-depth residency experiences. As you might imagine, this requires a serious commitment of both time and energy. Residencies allow future oral surgeons to hone their crafts and explore dentistry beyond what general dentists learn.
Once dentists become oral surgeons, they are medical doctors who are well-suited to handle more complex dental cases. For instance, many people who are considering replacing their missing teeth with dental implants prefer to work with oral surgeons. They know that oral surgeons bring more expertise and knowledge to each case. Similarly, individuals who require wisdom tooth extraction may be referred to oral surgeons since wisdom tooth removal can be more complicated than other kinds of tooth extractions.
Do You Need an Oral Surgeon Near Dallas, TX?
Finding an oral surgeon you like and trust does not have to be difficult. At the Texas Center for Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, oral surgeons Dr. Tamir D. Anver and Dr. Aaron Vickers welcome the chance to work with new patients.
Dr. Anver regularly performs all kinds of extractions, places dental implants, and handles bone grafting and corrective jaw surgery procedures. He appreciates being able to make patients feel like family.
Dr. Vickers has a special interest in placement of dental implants and implementation of bone grafting processes. Whenever possible, he likes to apply minimally invasive techniques to speed patient healing and shorten treatment timeframe expectations.
To make an appointment with either Dr. Anver or Dr. Vickers, please call our Denton office at (940) 387-7717 or our Flower Mound location at (972) 436-1513. Contact us to schedule your consultation today!