Finding the right dentistry services for your needs is a vital part of your oral health care. Regular check-ups with your dentist will ensure any work needed is identified quickly.
But what kind of dentistry is available? We’ll explain the services available in the UK and walk you through what they entail, as well as the specialists you might encounter with referrals.
Not sure what kind of dental service you may require? Here’s is a quick breakdown of services available in the UK.
Rather than specialising in any one area, general dentists cover the overall health of your teeth, oral hygiene, and routine care. They are the most common dental practitioner and cover many procedures, including;
If you require more specialist help, referrals are available.
Family dentistry is similar to general dentistry as the focus is to offer a service to people of all ages.
Dental care and oral health needs will differ between babies, children, teens, adults, and seniors, with specialists available for different ages.
Pediatric dentistry is the treatment of infants right through to adolescence.
This is a critical stage in your dental development, from the primary dentition (the first set of teeth known as “baby teeth”) through to permanent dentition (the second set of teeth, also known as “permanent teeth”).
Restorative dentistry has a main focus on replacing missing or damaged teeth and repairing cavities to save teeth. It can also specialise in dental repairs due to injury or trauma as well.
Specialist dental professionals focus on one particular treatment to offer expert service. There are six individual patient care specialities which are carried out by;
Periodontists – Who focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of any diseases that may affect the periodontium.
Prosthodontists – Who focus on the restoration of missing and damaged oral tissue.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – The surgeons focus on the oral and maxillofacial region, and surgery treats functional or aesthetic issues caused by injury, disease and deformities, among other issues.
Endodontists – Focus on the blood vessels, nerves, and tissue around the tooth’s root and root canal work.
Orthodontics – The focus of the Orthodontist is on the position and realignment of a patients teeth and bite.
Pediatric Dentistry – Pediatric specialists focus on the growth and development and oral care of children’s teeth.
If teeth are not positioned correctly, this is known as a malocclusion. The orthodontist’s job is to treat this to realign teeth and correct issues like an underbite or overbite.
This is done using orthodontic treatments such as;
Cosmetic dentistry is a procedure of treatment that improves the patients smile and gives them greater confidence.
It is not necessary for your oral health but will provide a better aesthetic result.
Emergency dental care is when you require immediate treatment to prevent tooth or teeth loss, stop bleeding, or alleviate pain.
Private dentistry is an alternative to NHS dental services and can provide a wide choice of specialist treatments.
They will not be under pressure to meet targets so that they will be able to spend a bit more time with each patient
NHS dentistry offers a subsidised general service allowing patients cheaper and sometimes free dental services.
If you have follow-up work on an NHS dental treatment within 2 months, it would be included in the initial cost.
To find out what services are available at your dental practice, you will have to speak directly with them. Most dental clinics will offer an emergency dental service, and some may even offer home visits for patients that have difficulty leaving home.
If a dental service is not available at your nearby dental practices, patients can usually recieve referrals to speak with a specialist.
Missing an appointment will not only inconvenience a general dental practice, but it will also cost them money as other patients could be sat in the dental chair that has been reserved for your visit.
Some practices have started to charge for missed appointments to cover losses and encourage patients to contact
Unlike booking to see a nurse at your local GP practice, dental nurses support the dentists and patients during the appointments. Roles and responsibilities include;
If you are concerned about your oral health and are on the lookout for local general dental practitioners, all you need to do is find a local practice, give them a call to see if they would accept you as a patient, then book an appointment.
If you are looking for NHS dental care or a specialist for something specific, we can help. Our handy search tool can help you find a dentist near you quickly.
Just enter your location and category, and a few seconds later, we’ll give you a list of your local dental options. We will provide the contact number, address and map, and the option for you to leave a review to help other people make their decision.
Finding a dentist near you is that easy with The Dental Register.