Board Certified Dental Specialists
Serving Dallas, Arlington, Mesquite, Grapevine & Fort Worth
One of the features that makes Bear Creek Family Dentistry a dental office of choice for so many people in Dallas and Tarrant Counties is the presence of the strong team of Bear Creek Family Dentistry specialists.
What is a Dental Specialist?
In dentistry, a specialist is a dentist who, after completing a four-year dental school and receiving a dental license, applies for admission and is accepted into an accredited dental school specialty residency program. These full-time residency programs generally last at least two years, and provide the resident with advanced training and experience in one area of dentistry. Upon successful completion, the graduate is awarded a specialty certificate in their field.
Pediatric (Children's) Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the oral health of young people. After completing a four-year dental school curriculum, two or three additional years of rigorous training are required to become a pediatric dentist. This specialized program of study and hands-on experience prepares pediatric dentists to meet the needs of infants, children and adolescents, including persons with special health care needs.
Orthodontics (Braces for Adolescents and Adults)
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that specializes in treating patients with improper positioning of teeth when the mouth is closed, which results in an improper bite. An orthodontics specialist is called an orthodontist. Orthodontists are fully qualified dentists who have completed a minimum of two years training in an accredited orthodontic residency program.
Orthodontists are uniquely qualified in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of orthodontic problems. They dedicate their professional lives to creating healthy, beautiful smiles in children, teens, and adults. Well aligned teeth are more than attractive: they make it possible to bite, chew, and speak effectively.
Oral Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only dental specialists recognized by the American Dental Association who are surgically trained in a hospital based residency training program for a minimum of four years. They train alongside medical residents in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology, and spend time in otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat), plastic surgery, emergency medicine, and other specialty areas. This training focuses almost completely on the bone, skin, and muscle of the face, mouth, and jaw. Oral and facial surgeons have knowledge and expertise that uniquely qualifies them to diagnose and treat a number of functional and esthetic conditions in this anatomical area. An oral surgeon performs surgery on the mouth and jaw. This can be done to repair birth defects, facial reconstruction, dental implants, removal of benign cysts and tumors, jaw surgery, and removal of teeth.
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontists are experts in the restoration and replacement of teeth - they make smiles look beautiful and function the way they should. After completing four years of dental school, prosthodontists receive an extra three years of specialized training in an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited graduate program.
Prosthodontists have also received advanced training in implant dentistry, TMD-jaw joint problems, traumatic injuries to the mouth's structures, congenital or birth anomalies to teeth, snoring, sleep disorders, and oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care. Prosthodontists are masters of complete oral rehabilitation.
Many like to think of prosthodontists as the "quarterback" of a dental treatment plan. They regularly lead teams of general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions for your dental needs.
Board Certified Specialists
A dentist who graduates from a specialist program may become board certified through a voluntary examination process. Bear Creek is fortunate to have multiple specialists who have gone through this voluntary process to become board certified. Our dentists have put that same time and dedication into their patients. We are fortunate to have a team of specialists who are able to bounce ideas off of each other and give our patients the best treatment plan possible.
Involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the specialist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence. They go through a rigorous examination process and must validate their knowledge, skill, and experience to provide the public assurance that they can deliver the highest quality patient care.