A dental specialist is a dentist who has chosen to specialize in a specific area of dentistry. Here, you’ll learn how our Abbotsford dental specialists differ from general dentists.
The dentists at Fraser Valley Dental Specialists are trained in a variety of dental specialties. Our patients often ask us how their training and credentials are different from those of a general dentist, so we’re hoping this blog post clears things up!
Qualifications & Training
There are 9 dental specialties recognized by the Canadian Dental Association and Fraser Valley Dental Specialists employs four of these, as well as a denturist.
Our dental specialists include an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, a Specialist in Periodontics, an Orthodontist, and an Endodontic Specialist. Meet Our Specialists ›
All dentists go to dental school, and many of them choose to go directly into practice from there. These dentists are general dentists.
Other dental students, such as your Fraser Valley Dental specialists, decide to continue their studies, and become specialists in one of the specific areas of dentistry designated by the Canadian Dental Association.
To qualify as a dental specialist in Canada, dental school graduates must continue their education and training by completing an accredited advanced education program in their specialization of choice.
To do this, they must complete and pass the following:
- An additional 2-6 years of post-graduate training in their chose field of dentistry; and
- An oral and written fellowship examination by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC).
They must hold this specialty designation from a Provincial Dental Regulatory Authority.