Can a specialist practice general dentistry?

[debyeh77]

I'm a pre-dental student and I was wondering if y'all would be able to answer this question for me. I've seen many specialists, like endodontists, who practice only what they are specialized in. However, I know some other specialists who practice what they are specialized in in addition to general dentistry. How do you explain this? Are specialists allowed to perform procedures of a general dentist?

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[wigglytooth]

if a specialist advertises as a specialist and/or is board certified then they cannot practice general dentistry. there is nothing stopping someone who did specialty training from practicing general dentistry if they are not putting themselves out there as a specialist. a good portion of people who are in specialty programs will practice general dentistry while doing their residency then afterward stick to their specialty.
that being said, it's odd to do.. especially after taking time and money to invest in more training. however, we are all trained as general dentists first and getting the training wouldn't stop someone from doing general procedures per se, much like you can't really stop a general dentist from doing molar endo, osseous surgery, or surgical extractions.

 

[txaggie03]

there is nothing stopping someone who did specialty training from practicing general dentistry if they are not putting themselves out there as a specialist.

This. It is all how you advertise yourself.

 

[Ostracized]

I think it obviously depends on where you are. I haven't heard of any such rule in Canada. Of course, just practically speaking you won't get many referrals from GPs if you are competing with them.

 

[debyeh77]

thanks! this was really helpful.
so if a specialist, say a periodontist, advertises as a general dentist, would he/she be able to take all of the perio cases, or would he/she have to refer to a periodontist that's advertising as a periodontist?

sorry if this question seems dumb...

 

[Najma Rubi]

I'm a pre-dental student and I was wondering if y'all would be able to answer this question for me. I've seen many specialists, like endodontists, who practice only what they are specialized in. However, I know some other specialists who practice what they are specialized in in addition to general dentistry. How do you explain this? Are specialists allowed to perform procedures of a general dentist?

why not, I think if they want its possible...............

 

[doc toothache]

if a specialist advertises as a specialist and/or is board certified then they cannot practice general dentistry. there is nothing stopping someone who did specialty training from practicing general dentistry if they are not putting themselves out there as a specialist. a good portion of people who are in specialty programs will practice general dentistry while doing their residency then afterward stick to their specialty.
that being said, it's odd to do.. especially after taking time and money to invest in more training. however, we are all trained as general dentists first and getting the training wouldn't stop someone from doing general procedures per se, much like you can't really stop a general dentist from doing molar endo, osseous surgery, or surgical extractions.

The first sentence is somewhat of an overstatement. Most, if not all the State Board of Dental Examiners will have a Rule/Regulation defining the requirements for a valid claim for a specialty, but it is unlikely that, as you have suggested, there are any regulations limiting practitioners from performing a particular procedure(s).

 

[djeffreyt]

thanks! this was really helpful.
so if a specialist, say a periodontist, advertises as a general dentist, would he/she be able to take all of the perio cases, or would he/she have to refer to a periodontist that's advertising as a periodontist?

sorry if this question seems dumb...

General dentist = do everything you want. No rules saying you have to refer anything. You want to do a crown, do it. You want to place an implant, sure. You want to do a cleft palate closure, 5 rooted 3rd molar endo, orthodontics, sinus lift, botox, sure. Just remember, you are liable for all you do whether you are fully trained or just think you are.

Specialist trained dentist who chooses not to advertaise as a specialist = do everything you want. No rules saying you have to refer anything. You want to do a crown, do it. You want to place an implant, sure. You want to do a cleft palate closure, 5 rooted 3rd molar endo, orthodontics, sinus lift, botox, sure. Just remember, you are liable for all you do whether you are fully trained or just think you are.

Specialist who advertises as a specialist = do what is confined to your specialty and not supposed to do general dentistry that does not pertain to their specialty.

There is no rule in dentistry that you must refer anything except that ethically we are bound not to do what we really have no training to do.

 

[mixoma]

this depends on the state you are practicing in. In my state your licenses is as a specialist or a general dentist specialist cant do limited general dentist procedures with there licensed as it is considered out of there scope of practice as they are trained as a specialist. General dentists can do whatever they just cant say they are a specialist and are held to the same standard as a specialist when they do work outside of there scope (specialist work).

 

[debyeh77]

General dentist = do everything you want. No rules saying you have to refer anything. You want to do a crown, do it. You want to place an implant, sure. You want to do a cleft palate closure, 5 rooted 3rd molar endo, orthodontics, sinus lift, botox, sure. Just remember, you are liable for all you do whether you are fully trained or just think you are.

Specialist trained dentist who chooses not to advertaise as a specialist = do everything you want. No rules saying you have to refer anything. You want to do a crown, do it. You want to place an implant, sure. You want to do a cleft palate closure, 5 rooted 3rd molar endo, orthodontics, sinus lift, botox, sure. Just remember, you are liable for all you do whether you are fully trained or just think you are.

Specialist who advertises as a specialist = do what is confined to your specialty and not supposed to do general dentistry that does not pertain to their specialty.

There is no rule in dentistry that you must refer anything except that ethically we are bound not to do what we really have no training to do.

thankss so much!!! this is really helpful

 

[yourzhwp]

learned a lot

 

[Concepcion10]

What if in one office you advertise as the specialist you have received training in and in another location you work part time as a GP with another GP working in that office when you're not there?

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

What if in one office you advertise as the specialist you have received training in and in another location you work part time as a GP with another GP working in that office when you're not there?

You can do whatever you want.

Just don't be surprised if you will get less referrals from GPs when they find out you practice as a GP elsewhere. Dentistry is a small field and word gets out quick.

I know of a prosthodontist who opened a hygiene division and ended up losing a big chunk of referrals. He decided the extra money in hygiene wasn't worth it and shut it down. It's a fight for patients, and if the GPs have a feeling you might steal their patients after referring to you, they will just refer them to someone else.

 

[steiner2]

this depends on the state you are practicing in. In my state your licenses is as a specialist or a general dentist specialist cant do limited general dentist procedures with there licensed as it is considered out of there scope of practice as they are trained as a specialist. General dentists can do whatever they just cant say they are a specialist and are held to the same standard as a specialist when they do work outside of there scope (specialist work).

Good point. I was wondering about this recently too.

 

[alpha2716]

Anybody still on this forum I have some questions.