Who Does Complete Dental Care in Portland, Oregon?

Okay so you hear the term "general dentist" ... but what does that mean?

Patients will often ask "well, are you a cosmetic dentist?" or "are you a family dentist, do you see kids?"

We get it. It is confusing. Let's talk about it.

Dental offices are named a bunch of different things from your generic "dental office", to a dentist's name, to things like "cosmetic dentist" or "implant dentist". The nomenclature is confusing, not only for patients, but also for dentists.

Dentistry is comprised of two types of dentists:

1. General Dentists
   1. 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of dental school
   2. Optional 1-2 years of a general practice or AEGD residency
2. Specialists
   1. 4 years of undergraduate studies, 4 years of dental school
   2. 2-6 years of residency for a specific specialty
   3. Endodontists, Orthodontists, Periodontists, Oral Surgeons, etc.

According to the American Dental Association, "A dental specialty is an area of dentistry that has been formally recognized by the National Commission based on compliance with the Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties. Currently there are 12 dental specialties recognized by the National Commission."

If you want to see the list of recognized specialties - click here.  

The reason I defined the above terms is because I want people to understand what general dentists do. Dr. Crofts and I are both general dentist who completed an optional residency after dental school. In this residency we expanded our skill set and improved the quality of our dentistry.

So what does a general dentist do?

This is where it gets tough. General dentists can do basically all facets of dentistry if they are properly trained to do so.

...meaning your dentist can do root canals, extractions, invisalign - things that are "specialty procedures".  We learn how to do all of these procedures in dental school, it just depends on your dentist's interests and comfort levels.

If I see a patient that needs a root canal and is in pain...I am comfortable performing the root canal or if a patient needs an extraction and implant; I am comfortable performing the tooth removal and implant placement. That doesn't mean all general dentists will perform these procedures, it just depends again on 1) your dentist's comfort level and 2) your dentist's skillset.

Caveat: sometimes procedures are more complex and out of our scope and that is where we lean on specialists with referrals. That is where specialists come into play.

An example of this would be an extremely complicated root canal that requires an endodontist or a severe bite issue that requires an orthodontist. General dentists like Dr. Crofts and I, that perform advanced procedures, are aware of our limitations and have great relationships with local specialists. Specialists are exactly what the name implies - dentists that have undergone significant training in a specific avenue of dentistry to take care of advanced cases.

So, the answer to "what does a general dentist do?"....everything...no but really. But, let's break down what we offer at my practice...Uptown Family Dental.

What does Uptown Family Dental offer?

We love generational dentistry. Your parents were patients here and now you are and now your little kiddos are patients. We thrive off building relationships with our patients. With that being said, what procedures do we offer?

Here is a list of some common procedures and procedures patients often ask about.

1. Cleanings
2. Exams
3. Crowns
4. Veneers
5. Invisalign
6. Cavity Fillings
7. Extractions
8. Implants
9. Teeth Whitening

...just to name few.

We are what you would call comprehensive or complete care dentists. We are able to provide you with routine maintenance via cleanings and exams, but are also able to offer complete smile makeovers and comprehensive cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Wiley, Dr. Parker, and I have the experience to make your dental dreams a reality...no really...we would love to help you love your smile!

I hope this was helpful! Reach out with any questions!

-Dr. Mike Moody