A dentist is a specialist who works to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health  problems. Your dentist has completed at least eight years of schooling, and  received either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree, or a DMD (Doctor of  Dental Medicine) degree. Other specializations include:

•  Pedodontist (Young Children)
  
•  Endodontics (Root Canals)
  
•  Oral and maxillofacial (including pathology, radiology, and surgery)
  
•  Orthodontics and Dento-facial orthopedics
  
•  Periodontics (gum disease)
  
•  Prosthodontics (implants)

 Dentistry is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions, disorders,  and diseases of the teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw. Often considered necessary for  complete oral health, dentistry can have an impact on the health of your entire  body.

 Visiting the dentist regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth  healthy, but  will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Dental care is  important because it:

•  Helps prevent tooth decay
•  Protects against periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth and bone loss
  
• Prevents bad breath – brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist regularly will help  reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath
  
• Gives you a more attractive smile and increases your self-confidence
  
• Helps keep teeth looking bright by preventing them from becoming stained by food, drinks, and tobacco
  
• Strengthens your teeth so that you can enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles for the rest of your life!