Advanced care for complex dental needs
The Department of Dental Specialties at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, provides expert, compassionate care for people with complex dental and medical needs. This includes hospital-based services for those who cannot be treated safely in a typical dental office.
Services include evaluation and diagnosis, as well as surgical and restorative dental treatment. Dental specialists work closely with other Mayo Clinic experts in areas such as oncology, surgery, pediatrics and sleep medicine to make sure all aspects of your care are coordinated.
Dental specialists offer expertise in:
- Dental sleep medicine.
- Hospital-based pediatric dentistry.
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
- Periodontics and dental hygiene.
- Prosthodontics.
- Maxillofacial prosthetics and dental oncology.
Because the Department of Dental Specialties treats many people with serious or complex medical needs, a referral from your healthcare professional is required. This helps your dental and medical teams work together to plan treatment and reduce the risk of complications.
Is dental specialties right for me?
You may benefit from a referral to the Department of Dental Specialties if you:
- Need dental services before, during or after medical care, such as cancer treatment, surgery or organ transplant.
- Require dental treatment in a hospital setting due to a serious condition or need for general anesthesia.
- Have a condition affecting the teeth, jaw or face, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, facial injury, or head and neck cancer.
- Need treatment for obstructive sleep apnea using an oral appliance.
Team-based care designed around your needs
Your care team is based on your needs and may include:
- Orthodontists.
- Periodontists.
- Prosthodontists.
- Pediatric dentists.
- Dental sleep medicine specialists.
- Dental hygienists.
Dental specialists work closely with other Mayo Clinic experts when needed, including specialists in oral and maxillofacial surgery, oncology, otolaryngology (ENT)/head and neck surgery, pediatrics, plastic surgery, sleep medicine and speech pathology.
This team approach helps make sure your dental and medical care work together, lowers the risk of complications, and supports your overall health.
Getting the right fit
The Department of Dental Specialties uses advanced technology and techniques to provide quality care.
Types of dental care offered
Dental specialists care for complex dental and oral health needs, including hospital-based treatment that is closely coordinated with your other medical care. You may receive care from one or more of the following specialty areas.
Dental sleep medicine
Specialists evaluate and treat obstructive sleep apnea. They work closely with Mayo Clinic's Center for Sleep Medicine.
Services include:
- Dental exams and X-rays.
- Custom mouth devices, also called oral appliances, to keep the airway open during sleep.
Note: Insurance coverage typically requires a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Hospital-based pediatric dentistry
Pediatric dentists provide dental care for children in the hospital setting.
Services include:
- Preventive dental care, such as cleanings and fluoride treatments, and X-rays.
- Dental care, under general anesthesia when needed, including fillings, crowns and tooth removal.
Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics
Orthodontists evaluate and treat conditions affecting the teeth, jaw and face, such as issues with alignment, bite, and jaw and tooth development.
Services include:
- Craniofacial and specialty orthodontics for cleft lip and cleft palate, including nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in infants and care through adulthood.
- Surgical orthodontics for TMJ disorders or jaw surgery.
- Treatment of facial trauma and head and neck cancer.
- Orthodontic treatment to prepare for custom dental devices in complex cases.
- Orthodontic care as part of treatment for facial injuries and head and neck cancer.
- Orthopedic devices to guide tooth and jaw development.
Care is available for children and adults.
Periodontics and dental hygiene
Periodontists evaluate and treat gum disease and gum and bone loss around teeth. Dental hygienists provide preventive and ongoing care to keep gums healthy and support dental implants.
Services include:
- Dental exams and guidance on oral health.
- Treatment to manage gum disease around teeth and dental implants, such as gingivitis, periodontitis and peri-implantitis.
- Dental implant surgery to replace missing teeth.
- Treatment for gum loss around teeth and dental implants.
- Procedures to rebuild lost gum and bone tissue to prepare for dental implants, including guided tissue regeneration and bone and tissue grafts.
Prosthodontics
Prosthodontists restore and replace missing or damaged teeth to improve how your teeth look and function.
Services include:
- Fixed or removable implant restorations.
- Crowns and veneers.
- Partial or complete dentures.
Maxillofacial prosthetics and dental oncology
Specialists in maxillofacial prosthetics restore or replace parts of the mouth and face affected by injury, surgery, disease or birth conditions.
Dental oncologists focus on oral health needs during cancer care. Your care team works closely with head and neck surgeons and oncology to plan and coordinate your care before, during and after cancer treatment.
Dental specialists use advanced digital tools to plan surgery and prosthetics.
Services include:
- Procedures to restore the appearance and function of the mouth.
- Procedures to restore the appearance and function of the face, including areas such as the ears, nose or eyes.
- Oral cancer screening.
Contact