Services Of Dentist In New York City Does New York State license dentists in specialty areas of practice? No. New York licensed dentists are authorized by their State license to treat any condition of the mouth within their scope of practice. Some dentists, however, choose to specialize in a particular area of practice and complete additional studies in a dental specialty; these professionals may limit their practices to their specialties. Dental specialties may include these practitioners: Endodontists perform such procedures as root canals Oral and maxillofacial radiologists use imaging technologies to diagnose diseases in the head and neck Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat injuries and defects of the head, neck, face, and jaws (as long as the mouth is involved) Oral pathologists study the causes and effects of diseases of the mouth Orthodontists treat problems related to misaligned teeth Pediatric dentists specialize in treating children Periodontists diagnose and treat diseases of the gums Prosthodontists replace missing teeth with fixed or removable substitutes such as dentures Public health dentists control dental diseases and promote good dental health in the community Can dentists provide sedation and general anesthesia? New York licensed dentists must be specially certified to provide certain levels of sedation: conscious sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia. Questions about sedation should be discussed carefully with the dentist. What is a R.D.H.? What credentials do New York State licensed dental hygienists have? R.D.H. stands for Registered Dental Hygienist, the title commonly used by licensed dental hygienists. New York licensed dental hygienists have earned an associate or bachelor's degree from an approved dental hygiene program after earning a high school diploma. In addition, New York licensed dental hygienists have passed a State-approved licensing examination and are required to take continuing education courses.