Dr. Pejman Ghorbani of Shield Dental Care in Burke, VA is a general dentist, not a specialist. He provides a wide range of care in the office, including implants, gum treatment, extractions, braces and clear aligners. A specialist is the better choice when you want a dentist whose practice is limited to one area, such as an orthodontist for braces or a periodontist for gum surgery. This page explains the difference, lists the 12 recognized dental specialties, and shows how to check any dentist’s Virginia license.
What a general dentist is
A general dentist is your main dentist: the one who examines your teeth and gums, cleans them, finds problems and treats most of them. General dentists may also provide treatments that fall within a specialty, such as implants or orthodontics, when that care is within their own education, training and experience.
Virginia’s advertising rules make the difference visible. A general dentist who describes the practice by a type of treatment, or uses a specialty name, has to say with their name that the services are provided by a general dentist (18VAC60-21-80, Va. Code § 54.1-2718). That is why our treatment pages describe Dr. Ghorbani as a general dentist.
The 12 recognized dental specialties
A specialist is a dentist who has completed advanced education in one area of dentistry. The ADA’s National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards recognizes 12 specialties:
- Dental anesthesiology: managing pain, anxiety and overall health during dental treatment, including sedation and general anesthesia.
- Dental public health: preventing and controlling dental disease across communities.
- Endodontics: the dental pulp inside the tooth, including root canal treatment.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: identifying and managing diseases of the mouth, jaws and face.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: producing and reading images of the mouth, jaws and face.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: surgery for diseases, injuries and defects of the mouth, jaws and face.
- Oral medicine: oral health care for medically complex patients.
- Orofacial pain: pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck, including TMJ problems.
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: correcting misaligned teeth and jaws.
- Pediatric dentistry: preventive and treatment care for infants and children.
- Periodontics: diseases of the gums and the tissues that support the teeth.
- Prosthodontics: restoring and replacing teeth to bring back how the mouth works.
“Cosmetic dentistry” and “restorative dentistry” are not recognized specialties. They describe kinds of treatment that general dentists provide.
What Dr. Ghorbani treats at Shield Dental Care
As a general dentist, Dr. Ghorbani provides these treatments in our Burke office. The full list of services links to a page for each one.
- Preventive care: exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride, sealants and oral cancer screening
- Restorative care: fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals and dentures
- Dental implants, from a single tooth to a full arch
- Gum disease treatment: scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance and gum surgery
- Tooth extractions, including wisdom teeth
- Braces and clear aligners
- Cosmetic treatment: veneers, whitening and smile makeovers
- Treatment for grinding, clenching and jaw pain, including night guards and Botox
- Emergency visits for pain, swelling and broken teeth
- Sedation: ask the office which levels are offered
Whether a particular case is one he treats here depends on what the exam and x-rays show. At your visit, ask whether your treatment is something he provides in the office or something he would refer to a specialist, and why.
When a specialist is the better choice
Shield Dental Care may not be the right fit if:
- You want your treatment from a dentist whose practice is limited to that area, such as an orthodontist for braces, a periodontist for gum surgery or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for surgery of the jaw.
- Your case is one Dr. Ghorbani tells you is better treated by a specialist after your exam.
- You need an appointment on a Sunday. The office is open Monday to Thursday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and Friday and Saturday, 8 AM to 2 PM.
Some dental insurance plans have their own rules about specialist care. Check your plan before you book with a specialist.
How to check a dentist’s license
The Virginia Department of Health Professions runs a free License Lookup. Search by the dentist’s name or license number with the occupation set to Dentist, and check that the status reads Current Active. Sedation permits are listed under their own occupations, such as Conscious/Moderate Sedation.
Dr. Ghorbani’s Virginia license (0401413261) shows Current Active, first licensed on 21 June 2011. For the rest of what to check before you book, read How to choose a dentist in Burke, VA.
Next steps
If a general dentist sounds right for you, see what happens at your first visit. Not sure who you need? Ask us or call (703) 250-5072, and tell the team what you are hoping to have done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Ghorbani an orthodontist?+
No. Dr. Ghorbani is a general dentist. Braces and clear aligners at Shield Dental Care are provided by him as a general dentist. If you would rather be treated by an orthodontist, a specialist in this area, ask at your visit or look for an orthodontic practice.
Can a general dentist place dental implants?+
Yes. General dentists may provide treatment in areas that also have specialists, such as implants, within their own education, training and experience. Dr. Ghorbani performs implant treatment at our Burke office. Ask at your consultation whether your case is one he treats here.
Do I need a referral to see a specialist?+
It depends on your dental insurance plan. Some plans have rules about specialist care, so check with your plan before you book.
How can I check a dentist’s license in Virginia?+
Use the free License Lookup from the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Search by name or license number and check that the status reads Current Active.