There Are Important Differences Between Your Dentist And An Oral Surgeon
When you need extensive work done to your mouth, your dentist may recommend you go to an oral surgeon. The surgeon will be able to do the work on your mouth that your dentist suggested and get your mouth back to where it should be. You may wonder why your dentist is sending you to an oral surgeon instead of doing it themselves and the differences between the dentist and the oral surgeon.
Anesthesia
One difference, and a big reason why your dentist may send you to an oral surgeon, is that the oral surgeon will have access to more and better anesthesia than your dentist. If the work on your mouth includes a lot of extractions, it can be painful and take some time to complete the whole process. If the oral surgeon needs to do anything like chip away at bone to get the tooth entirely out, it can make the procedure take longer. It can also be disconcerting to you to deal with that process with just a local anesthetic. An oral surgeon can give you enough sedation to knock you out so that you aren't aware of what is going on, and there is no risk of you hurting during the procedure. This isn't something that your general dentist can offer you.
Primary Oral Care
Your dentist is going to be the person who gives you primary oral care. If your teeth need to be cleaned, you have a toothache, or you need a cavity filled, your dentist is the person you need to call. They will also diagnose any problems you may have going on. If you need more work, your dentist will recommend seeing an oral surgeon. The two doctors may work together to create a treatment plan for you and work together to get you better.
Training
Becoming a dentist isn't a fast process. Your dentist will have spent many years learning their job. They will also keep up on continuing education so that they stay sharp. However, they have less training than an oral surgeon because the oral surgeon had to go through a few more years of training so they can specialize in surgery. That needs its own level of training.
If you are having a lot of problems with your mouth, your dentist may send you to an oral surgeon to get the issues fixed. There are differences between the oral surgeon and your dentist that will make the surgeon the right person to go to.
