Like general dentistry family dentistry too is a field many practitioners prefer, because it allows you to guide patients on a routine basis and to advise them on good preventive methods in oral care. Unlike highly specialized fields such as orthodontics, the family dentists get to really know their patients and interact with them, like a good friend. This article explores how one can move into this interesting branch of dentistry.

The first step for any aspiring family dentist, or any type of dentist for that matter, is to earn the relevant undergraduate degree and to pass the Dental Admission Test (DAT). All students that get through in this way will have to finish a dental school program that goes on for three to five years. This course will give them the education that every dentist should have: the basics and general matters. Just like medical school, dental school is a high demanding program that requires a lot of commitment and intensive preparation. Its exhaustive curriculum will put all the prospective dentists to the test. In order to get the license to practice as a registered dentist, the students should get through the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE), before graduating from this program. Then they will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), terms which are used interchangeably for the same degree program.

After passing this rigorous program, many prefer to move on to practice right away, as a general or family dentist. If one wants to specialize in a certain sub-area, post graduate training should be pursued. There are nine specialty fields as recognized by the American Dental Association or the ADA and these are:

€ Dental Public Health
€ Endodontics (for the health of the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth)
€ Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology
€ Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology
€ Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
€ Orthodontics (teeth straightening)
€ Pedodontics (treatment for babies and toddlers)
€ Periodontics (for supporting structures of teeth and diseases, and conditions that affect them)
€ Prosthodontics (for complicated crowns or implants)

Each of these nine fields requires different amounts of additional work and different time periods. For instance, an endodontist,, needs to get an extra two to three years of training but an oral surgeon needs to train for a longer period, maybe an extra four to six years.

Family dentists or general dentists are responsible for preventive dentistry but many of these experts continue on for more training so that they can undertake additional services, as such restorative processes, like treatment with porcelain veneers and teeth whiteners. When a family doctor provides cosmetic procedures for patients, he can be called a family and cosmetic dentist. Still, he can recommend orthodontists or dental surgeons, if he feels that they can provide a better service for a patient.

If you need to find a dentist in Tyler that specializes in any of the above fields check your local listings and go to the dental office website to familiarize yourself with their services or facilities. If you are searching for a family dentist, it will help to select an expert who is not practicing too far away from your home because regular visits are in order. You also need someone with a lot of experience. Training and an impressive CV are important but experience adds much more, so don't limit your search to professional qualifications. Ask your friends or neighbours about whom they would recommend before making your decision. Finding the right dentist will save you a lot of time and trouble.