Top Dentists

Here are 205 of the region's top dental professionals in 8 specialties.

By Dana Black McGrath

When was the last time you visited the dentist? If you go for regular checkups and screenings - good for you! You will be rewarded with a dazzling smile and good oral health.

But not everyone is so diligent about his or her dental health. All too often, people wait until they have a problem or are in great pain before seeking treatment. Before you end up with an aching tooth in the middle of the night with no one to call, spend some time to find a dentist who is right for you and your family.

A good place to start is to find a family or general dentist: a doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) or doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.). The difference between the two designations, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), is a matter of semantics. Most dental schools award the D.D.S. degree while some award a D.M.D. degree, but the education is the same.

The ADA offers the following suggestions for finding a dentist:

• Ask family, friends, neighbors or co-workers for recommendations.
• Ask your family physician or local pharmacist.
• If you're moving, your current dentist may be able to make a recommendation.
• Call or write your local or state dental society.
• Use the ADA Membership Directory available at its Web site (ADA.org) to search for dentists in your area.

Another good place to start your search is the "Top Dentists" list prepared for Pittsburgh magazine by topDentists, Inc., as part of a national database. These dentists and specialists have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of dental professionals from across the nation confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of medical talent that calls Pittsburgh home.

The nomination pool consisted of all dentists and specialists who were current members of the ADA and local dental societies. General dentists voted only on nominees listed as specialists. Specialists voted only on nominees listed as general dentists. Voting practitioners also were given an opportunity to offer more-detailed comments on nominees and to provide additional nominations.

Criteria for selection of the "Top Dentists" list included years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients and physical results. All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality. For more information, visit usatopdentists.com.

The ADA advises that you keep the following points in mind before making a decision:

• Is the appointment schedule convenient for you?
• Is the office easy to get to from your home or job?
• Does the office appear to be clean, neat and orderly?
• Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed into a permanent file?
• Is dental-health instruction provided?
• Are special arrangements made for handling emergencies after office hours? (Most dentists make arrangements with a colleague or emergency-referral service if they are unable to tend to emergencies.)
• Is information provided about fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled?
• Is your dentist a member of the ADA? All ADA-member dentists voluntarily agree to abide by the high ethical standards reflected in the ADA's Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct as a condition of their membership.

General and family dentists can usually provide most of the services and procedures a patient may need, including checkups and cleanings, screenings and treatment for gum disease, fillings and extractions, and even root canals, crowns, bridges and dentures. Some also offer cosmetic procedures.

While it is important to establish a relationship with a qualified family dentist, there are times when your dental needs may require the advanced training of a specialist. Specialty dentists complete an extra two to six years of education in a specific area of dentistry.

Types of specialty dentists include: endodontists, who care for the inner portion of the teeth, performing root canals and treating diseases of the pulp and nerves inside the tooth; oral and maxillofacial surgeons, who treat injuries and defects of the mouth and jaw and also handle complex tooth extractions; oral pathologists who examine, identify, diagnose and treat diseases of the mouth; orthodontists, who design and apply braces to realign crooked teeth; periodontists, who treat diseases of the gums and bone that surround and support teeth; and prosthodontists who design, construct and fit replacement teeth including dentures, bridges and implants. There also are dentists who specialize in pediatric dentistry.

Before you choose your provider, you may want to check with your dental-insurance carrier, if you have a dental plan, to see which providers participate with the plan. If you do not have dental insurance, ask about treatment costs and financial arrangements.