Visiting the dentist is an essential part of maintaining proper dental health and avoiding unnecessary pain in the long-run—not to mention potentially costly bills. Professionals recommend two annual visits for a general check-up and dental cleaning as a means of preventing gum disease or other dental problems.
However, when said problems actually arise, you might need to seek the help of a dental specialist such as when getting braces or treating periodontal disease. But what exactly is periodontal disease and how can you determine when you need to see a specialist versus your general dentist?