When looking at the difference between these two roles, you can compare procedures performed by an oral surgeon vs. a dentist. Some dental procedures require oral surgery that a dentist isn’t qualified to perform. Hiring a physician to administer anesthesia allows your dental professional to concentrate on the surgery. Sleep Guardian provides qualified anesthesia specialists for dental procedures in Virginia.
Oral Surgeon vs. Dentist
With scientific advances happening every day, today’s patients have a wider range of choices than ever before. However, you may have a hard time deciding between a dentist and an oral surgeon if you don’t know what each one of these roles entails. Learn the difference between an oral surgeon vs. a dentist so that you can make an informed decision if you ever need oral surgery.
Educational Requirements
General dentists and oral surgeons both go to dental school after completing a bachelor’s degree. Dental school usually takes about four years to finish and includes coursework in physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and oral surgery. To get their degree, dental students also complete hours in a clinical setting. This gives them hands-on training treating dental problems.
After completing their coursework, dental students earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. They must also pass the appropriate exams to get their license. Oral surgeons go on to complete a surgical residency lasting from four to six years, depending on their area of concentration. Following their residency, oral surgeons also have to pass a certification exam.
What Does a Dentist Do?
Dentists usually open a private practice or join other dentists to share office expenses. They work to keep your teeth and mouth in good health.
The responsibilities of a general dentist include the following:
- Perform check-ups
- Extract teeth
- Supervise technicians
- Treat gum and mouth issues
- Install crowns, bridges, root canals, and fillings
- Develop treatment plans
- Educate patients on dental care
What Does an Oral Surgeon Do?
A general dentist sometimes refers patients to an oral surgeon for complicated procedures. Oral surgeons perform complicated surgeries involving the jaw, mouth, and face. Additionally, oral surgeons treat accident victims and cancer patients and work with medical professionals to provide comprehensive patient care.
Duties of an oral surgeon include the following:
- Perform complicated extractions such as wisdom teeth
- Installing and adjusting dental implants
- Removing soft tissue, cysts, and oral tumors
- Repair jawbone
- Perform reconstructive surgery
- Administer anesthesia
Anesthesia in Oral Surgery
Sleep Guardian hires physician anesthesiologists with expertise in emergency management and general anesthesia. We partner with dental professionals to administer anesthesia and ensure the safety of clients during oral surgery and other dental procedures. To make things easy for dental professionals, we send our specialists to the dental office or clinic.
This makes it easy for the patient to come to a familiar space and takes less time than having the patient and dentist go to another location. Our physician anesthesiologists provide hospital-level attention and ensure the safety and comfort of dental patients. Dental procedures supported by Sleep Guardian include the following:
- Full mouth extraction
- Wisdom teeth extraction
- Composite filling
- Implant
- Crown
- Bridge
- Root canal
- Cleaning
- Cracked teeth
- Restorative work
Sedation Dentistry
Some dental offices offer sedation dentistry with nitrous, general anesthetic, and anti-anxiety medication. Having a physician anesthesiologist handle sedation allows the dentist and oral surgeons to concentrate on the procedure.
There are three kinds of anesthetic used in sedation dentistry, including the following:
- Inhaled gases
- Injected medication
- Oral pills
Anesthesia Connections Dental in Virginia
We provide general anesthesia for sedation dentistry and oral surgery so your dentist or oral surgeon can fully focus on the procedure you have scheduled. For more information on an oral surgeon vs. a dentist, feel free to reach out to us. We have patient dental FAQs that can answer many of your questions, or you can contact us at (866) 256-1146 for more information on our services.
