Do You Have to See a Dental Specialist? (True Story)
Today, we’re going to address the question:
Do I have to see a dental specialist?
Many patients don’t like the idea of seeing a dental specialist because it means another dentist, appointment, bill, insurance claim, and so on.
It may even stress you out if you suffer from dental anxiety or fear.
That’s why you’ll be happy to know:
Most dentists perform the same procedures as dental specialists.
Continuing education and training expand a dentist’s knowledge and skills beyond dental school. This allows them to provide additional services, like restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
However, there are times when a dentist refers to a dental specialist, which is a decision made with your best interest in mind.
But generally speaking:
No, you don’t always need to see a dental specialist.
Want proof?
Read this real patient’s story below.
She wanted to fix multiple dental problems without having to go to multiple dental offices, and our Ballard dentist made it happen!
What she wanted to fix about her smile
This patient didn’t feel confident smiling.
She wanted to improve her smile’s appearance, health, and function:
- Her two front teeth were very dark and didn’t match the others
- She had multiple areas of tooth decay
- Her lower teeth were crooked
The only thing standing in the way was finding the perfect dentist.
Why she chose our dentist in Ballard, WA
This patient didn’t want to hop around from office to office to fix her smile.
Ideally, she wanted one dentist for all of her dental care, including regular preventative care like cleanings.
After searching around for the “best dentist in Seattle,” she found Smile Ballard.
Our office checked all her boxes and then some:
- Offer general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry all under one roof
- Also, offer Invisalign
- Award-winning dentist, Dr. Dominick Curalli
- Accept most dental insurance
- Always accepting new patients
After a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Curalli, she knew this was her new dental home.
How we fixed her smile
This patient received three different types of treatments at our Ballard dental office.
To make it fit within her budget, we strategically spread out treatments to maximize her dental insurance and save her the most money.
1. Metal-free fillings
Tooth decay (cavities) must be treated ASAP or else the disease will worsen and spread.
To fix this patient’s dental decay, we used metal-free fillings.
Also called tooth-colored fillings, this type of dental filling uses a composite material instead of metal (amalgam).
Patients love non-metal fillings because they’re:
- Natural-looking
- Biocompatible and safe
- Non-toxic
- Better at bonding with the tooth than metal fillings
2. Crowns
On the teeth that had severe tooth decay or needed a big cosmetic upgrade, like her two front teeth, we used dental crowns.
Crowns are tooth-shaped caps placed over your existing teeth with alterations to make the crown fit naturally.
Crowns are often recommended because they:
- Preserve the remaining healthy tooth structure instead of extracting the tooth
- Last for a long time with proper care
- Are durable and function like real teeth
- Are custom made to blend in seamlessly with surrounding teeth
3. Invisalign
Lastly, to straighten her teeth, she completed Invisalign.
This orthodontic treatment is widely popular because it’s:
- Discreet, hardly anyone will notice you’re wearing clear aligners
- Comfortable to wear
- Removeable to eat, drink, brush, and floss
- Effective for teens and adults of all ages
- Convenient, only requires appointments every 4 to 8 weeks
- Often faster than braces
Best of all:
She didn’t have to go to an orthodontist.
Dr. Curalli is an Invisalign provider in Ballard, WA!
Ready to see the result of all these treatments?
Check out her smile makeover
Her lower and upper teeth are straighter, making it easier to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
And her teeth fit together correctly when biting, preventing uneven wear, chips, and discomfort.
Want to improve your smile?
Schedule a consultation at Smile Ballard!
We know people don’t love having dental work done, which is why we go out of our way to make your experience convenient, comfortable, and rewarding.
Our Ballard dentist is exceptionally skilled in most areas of dentistry, allowing you to receive all your care in one convenient and familiar office.
Or contact us via:
- Phone: (206) 784-6310
- Email: info@smileballard.com
Our dental office is located in Ballard, WA… This text opens a new tab to our Google page…, and serves communities across Seattle, including Greenwood, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Fremont, Northgate, and Shoreline.
General dentist is, As your go-to provider, your general dentist manages your oral health and takes care of most your dental needs, which may include: dental exams, preventive care, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges and root canals. A specialist is a general dentist who has completed additional post-graduate training. Types of specialists include: Endodontists, pediatric specialists, Prosthodontists, oral surgeons, periodontists and orthodontists.