A prosthodontist specializes in preparing crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. Prosthodontists can be especially helpful for complicated cases. Pedodontists only treat children and young adults. With their extra training and child-friendly office environment, they can help extremely fearful or difficult children. An oral pathologist is trained in diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions affecting the tissues of the oral cavity.
Most people associate oral surgeons with the extraction of wisdom teeth.
In fact, several oral surgery programs offer combined dental and medical degrees. An oral and maxillofacial radiologist is fequently encountered in hospital and university settings. Dental public health focuses on the prevention and control of dental diseases and promotion of dental health through community education and programs. In 1999, an attempt to create two other specialties, dental anesthesiology and oral medicine, did not pass in the House of Delegates for the Council on Dental Education. Perhaps, this will change in the future.