If your family dentist has referred you to a specialist, or if you have been wondering whether a specialist is the right choice for a particular dental concern, you are not alone. Many patients are unclear on the distinction between a general dentist and a dental specialist, what additional training is involved, and why it matters for the quality and safety of their care. This guide answers those questions directly, and explains what the specialist team at Uxbridge Dental Specialists brings to every patient encounter that goes well beyond what a general dental practice can offer.
The Difference Between a General Dentist and a Dental Specialist
A general dentist is trained to diagnose, treat, and manage a broad range of oral health needs across the lifespan. They are the foundation of your dental care, and a good family dentist is an invaluable partner in maintaining your long-term oral health. General dentists complete a four-year dental degree following their undergraduate education, and many go on to develop particular areas of interest or skill within general practice.
A dental specialist is something different. After completing dental school, a specialist pursues an additional multi-year residency program dedicated entirely to a single discipline within dentistry. This residency involves intensive supervised clinical training, academic study, and in most cases, successful completion of written and oral board examinations that result in formal certification by a recognized body such as the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
The result is a practitioner whose depth of knowledge and clinical experience in their specific field is simply not replicable through general practice alone, regardless of how skilled or experienced that general dentist may be.
What Specialties Are Represented at Uxbridge Dental Specialists?
Our practice brings together certified specialists across five distinct dental disciplines, each requiring years of additional training beyond dental school.
Dental Anaesthesiology
This is the specialty that makes our practice genuinely unique. Two of our dentists hold certification as specialists in dental anaesthesiology from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, a designation held by only approximately 50 dentists in all of Canada. A general dentist who offers sedation has typically completed a short certificate course permitting minimal to moderate sedation. A certified dental anaesthesiology specialist has completed a multi-year residency, thousands of hours of supervised hands-on training, and rigorous board examinations. They are legally authorized and clinically qualified to administer any level of anaesthesia, from mild conscious sedation to complete general anaesthesia, and to manage the full range of medical situations that can arise during anaesthetic care.
This is not a difference of degree. It is a difference of category.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Our oral surgery specialist, Dr. Behnam Bohluli, is considered internationally as a leader in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Over a career spanning more than 20 years, he has performed more than 4,000 major, complex oral and facial surgeries. He holds certification from three prestigious North American boards, including the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Canadian Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and taught at the University of Toronto for seven years. His published contributions to the field include 44 peer-reviewed journal articles and 40 book chapters.
A general dentist can perform routine extractions. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon of Dr. Bohluli’s calibre handles the cases that require a fundamentally different level of surgical expertise, complex impactions, difficult anatomical situations, patients with significant medical complexity, and cases where the margin for error is narrow.
Endodontics
Our endodontic specialist, Dr. Hengameh Bakhtiar, brings nearly 20 years of dedicated endodontic experience to every root canal procedure she performs. She was exclusively selected for the University of Toronto’s Dental Specialty Assessment and Training Program in Endodontics, a program that accepts only one foreign-trained endodontist per year, and holds a current instructor position at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry. Her research focus on regenerative endodontics represents an advanced and emerging area of the field that most patients will never have heard of from a general practice.
General dentists perform root canals, and many do so very competently for straightforward cases. An endodontic specialist brings a depth of diagnostic capability, precision instrumentation, and clinical experience specifically dedicated to pulp and root pathology that becomes particularly important in complex, unusual, or previously treated cases.
Periodontics
Our periodontal specialist focuses entirely on the health of the supporting structures of the teeth, including the gums, ligaments, and bone. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and its management at an advanced stage requires a level of specialist expertise and technique that extends beyond the scope of general practice. Our periodontal specialist diagnoses and treats gum disease at every stage, from early gingivitis through advanced periodontitis, performs deep scaling and root planing procedures, and carries out crown lengthening in preparation for restorative work.
Pediatric Dentistry
Our pediatric dental specialist, Dr. Alex Rabalski, completed her residency at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital, one of the most respected children’s hospitals in the world, and her specialty training at the University of Toronto. Children have distinct anatomical, developmental, and psychological needs that require a specific skill set and approach. A pediatric dental specialist is trained to manage the full range of those needs, including the complex cases that general practice is not equipped to handle.
What Can a Dental Specialist Do That a General Dentist Cannot?
The differences are practical, not just credential-based.
More complex procedures, managed more safely
Dental specialists handle the cases that fall outside the scope of general practice, not because general dentists lack dedication, but because some procedures genuinely require the depth of training and focused experience that only a specialty residency provides. Impacted wisdom teeth in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve, root canals with unusual or calcified canal systems, advanced periodontal disease with significant bone loss, and pediatric cases involving medically complex children are all examples of situations where specialist care produces meaningfully better outcomes.
The full spectrum of anaesthetic options
A general dentist is typically limited to local anaesthetic with or without nitrous oxide or mild oral sedation. At Uxbridge Dental Specialists, every procedure can be performed with any level of anaesthesia, from no sedation to complete general anaesthesia, managed by two of Canada’s approximately 50 certified dental anaesthesiology specialists. This means patients who have historically been unable to receive dental care comfortably, due to anxiety, a gag reflex, inability to get numb, or medical complexity, have a genuine solution available to them.
Coordinated multi-specialty care under one roof
When a patient needs treatment across multiple specialties, the standard pathway involves referrals to multiple practices across the region, repeated consultations, and treatment spread across many months. At Uxbridge Dental Specialists, a patient can receive oral surgery, endodontic treatment, periodontal care, and anaesthetic management in a single coordinated visit. Our specialists communicate directly and plan treatment collaboratively, producing better outcomes more efficiently than a fragmented referral pathway can.
Completion of extensive treatment in a single appointment
Because every procedure at our practice can be performed under sedation or general anaesthesia, treatment plans that would typically require numerous appointments can often be completed in one session. For patients with significant dental needs, this single-appointment model reduces the overall cost of care, eliminates the burden of repeated visits, and allows them to move forward with their treatment without the cumulative anxiety of multiple procedures.
When Should You See a Dental Specialist?
Your family dentist will typically refer you to a specialist when a procedure or situation falls outside the scope of what they can safely and optimally manage in a general practice setting. Common reasons for specialist referral include wisdom tooth removal, particularly when teeth are impacted, root canal treatment on a complex or previously treated tooth, diagnosis and management of gum disease beyond the early stages, placement of dental implants, pediatric cases requiring sedation or more involved treatment, and any situation where the patient’s anxiety, medical history, or treatment complexity makes specialist-level anaesthetic management appropriate.
You do not always need a referral to see a specialist. At Uxbridge Dental Specialists, we welcome self-referred patients who are seeking specialist care independently. If you have a concern you believe warrants specialist attention, or if you have been unable to find a comfortable solution for your dental needs within general practice, we would be pleased to see you for a consultation.
Why This Matters for Patients in Durham Region and York Region
For patients across Uxbridge, Port Perry, Whitby, Ajax, Stouffville, and the surrounding communities, the significance of having this depth and breadth of specialist expertise available in a single, conveniently located practice is difficult to overstate.
The alternative, being referred to multiple specialists across the Greater Toronto Area, involves multiple consultations, multiple travel commitments, and treatment coordinated across practices that do not communicate directly with one another. It is time-consuming, expensive, and for many patients with dental anxiety, genuinely exhausting.
At Uxbridge Dental Specialists, everything is under one roof. One team, one location, one coordinated plan, and every level of anaesthetic support available for every procedure. You do not need to travel to the city to access this standard of care. It is available right here, close to home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and this is one of the most distinctive advantages of choosing Uxbridge Dental Specialists. Our team covers dental anaesthesiology, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, and pediatric dentistry under one roof, meaning most patients can receive comprehensive specialist care without being referred to multiple practices across the region.
Specialist fees typically reflect the additional training, expertise, and equipment involved. Our practice follows the specialist fee guide set out by the Ontario Dental Association. We accept nearly all insurance plans and are happy to help you understand and maximize your coverage before your appointment.
Yes. We communicate proactively with referring dentists throughout the treatment process, and return patients to their family dentist’s care with complete treatment records and clear follow-up recommendations.
Your family dentist is usually the right person to make this assessment and will refer you when they believe specialist care is appropriate. If you have a complex situation, a previous treatment that did not go as expected, significant anxiety, or a condition requiring careful anaesthetic management, a specialist consultation is worthwhile even without a formal referral.
No. While many of our patients come to us following a referral, we welcome self-referred patients warmly. If you are seeking specialist care independently, simply contact our office to schedule a consultation.
The Right Care, From the Right Team, Close to Home
Choosing a dental specialist is not about finding fault with your family dentist. It is about ensuring that the treatment you receive reflects the full depth of expertise available for your specific situation. At Uxbridge Dental Specialists, that expertise spans five distinct specialties, is backed by credentials that are genuinely rare in Canada, and is delivered in a single, welcoming, conveniently located practice just a short drive from communities across Durham Region and York Region.
Serving patients from Uxbridge, Port Perry, Whitby, Ajax, Stouffville, Pickering, and across Durham Region and York Region.
(905) 852-2122 | info@uxbridgeds.com | 49 Main St S, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1J4
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm