Why is oral health important?
Oral health holds more importance in your lives than you think. The state of one's teeth and gums impacts overall bodily health. The mouth is the point of entry to our respiratory and digestive tracts. Thus, if you do not maintain oral hygiene, you might be exposed to the risk of allowing bacteria to enter your system. The entry of such bacteria can cause respiratory diseases like pneumonia. It can also cause endocarditis, an infection in the heart's inner lining.
Periodontitis, a gum disease, can cause pregnancy issues like premature birth and low birth weight. Bad oral health, like gum diseases, can transfer bacteria from your mouth to your bloodstream and cause inflammation in your blood vessels. Hence, maintaining oral hygiene is non-negotiable.
Role of a dentist in oral healthcare
A dentist is the first point of contact for all your dental issues. They can diagnose, treat, and manage your oral care needs expertly. They are skilled in correcting dental deformities and treating dental or facial injuries. They also educate the community on preventing and managing oral diseases and general oral hygiene practices. Some common oral conditions that dentists deal with are:
A dentist can address damaged and decaying teeth through gum care, root canals, cavities fillings, removal, and teeth cleaning. They also use equipment like braces, wires, bridges, and crowns to fix dental deformities.
How does one become a dentist in the United States?
The journey of students pursuing dentistry in the U.S. begins with a four-year undergraduate degree in health, biology, chemistry, or other related sciences. Once the students appear and clear the dental admissions test, they enter accredited dental schools and study for another four years to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. The graduate degree in dentistry involves two years of pre-clinical study followed by two years of clinical experience.
To obtain a dental license, aspirants must fulfill all the state-mandated requirements. This could include written and practical tests or more. Dentists can then obtain board certification by taking the National Board Dental Examination. Depending on their specialty, dentists may be required to complete a one to three-year postgraduate residency.
After completing a dentistry degree, several areas of specialization are available for post-graduation. These include endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pedodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral and maxillofacial radiology, and oral and maxillofacial pathology.
Specializations within dentistry
The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) recognizes dental specialties to ensure public safety, advance the field of dentistry, and improve patient care. Currently, twelve dental specialties are recognized.
Dental anesthesiology manages pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental, oral, maxillofacial, and supplementary surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the perioperative period.
Dental public health is a para-clinical branch that helps prevent dental disorders through organized community efforts. These dental specialists identify critical oral health issues and formulate effective strategies to overcome them.
Endodontics treats dental pulp disorders, including the nerves, blood supply, and other fibrous tissue of the tooth. A root canal is a common teeth-saving procedure practiced by endodontists.
Oral and maxillofacial pathology focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases impacting the mouth, teeth, and surrounding regions. This field involves studying these conditions' causes, mechanisms, and effects to understand and manage them better.
Oral and maxillofacial radiology focuses on using X-rays and other imaging techniques and scans to diagnose and manage oral disorders. This aids dentists in developing effective treatment plans for their patients.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery provides surgical interventions for mouth-related diseases and injuries. It especially emphasizes the treatment of oral cancer and other head and neck cancers.
Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics specialize in correcting dental and facial irregularities. This involves correcting misaligned teeth and jaws with orthotic devices such as braces, aligners, retainers, etc.
Periodontics treat diseases related to the gum tissues and the bone supporting the teeth. Often, cavities can erode the gums and cause bone loss, requiring the care of a periodontist.
Prosthodontics provides facilities for restoring natural teeth and oral structures with artificial devices like dentures or replacing missing teeth. This is especially useful in the geriatric population.
Pediatric dentistry focuses on preventing and treating oral health issues in children, including those with special medical needs, from infancy through adolescence.
Orofacial pain specialty focuses on diagnosing, managing, and treating pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face head, and neck.
Oral medicine focuses on providing oral health care for patients with complex medical conditions. It involves diagnosing and managing diseases that affect the oral and maxillofacial region.
Causes of dental issues
Our regular habits can cause serious dental issues. The causes can be as fundamental as drinking coffee regularly or overeating sugary foods like gummy candies, which can cause discoloration of teeth and tooth decay. It is no secret that food made with sugar, mainly containing sucrose, is terrible for the teeth. Thus, processed food and concentrated beverages can cause harm to your teeth. Sticky food, especially flavored chewing gums containing sugar, is bad for oral health, too. Starchy foods like bread and potato chips also harm your teeth to a great extent.
Habits like smoking and drinking wine are also hazardous to teeth. Negligent acts like chewing the back of a pencil or playing a sport without a mouth guard can harm teeth. One must also be mindful of taking medications that might reduce saliva secretion. Heartburn and acid refluxes can also affect the health of our teeth.
What is orthodontic treatment, and who needs it?
Orthodontic treatment primarily focuses on correcting malpositioned teeth, jaws, and bites. Aligning the teeth and jaws can enhance a patient's ability to chew and speak comfortably, as well as improve the overall appearance of their face, leading to increased self-confidence.
The main advantages of seeking orthodontic care are:
- Improved functioning of the mouth
- Reduced risk of oral problems such as dental caries and gum issues
- Decreased number of dental emergencies
- A healthy and beautiful smile
Common orthodontic problems in kids include pain and discomfort during chewing, losing milk teeth early or late, mouth breathing and cheek biting habits, and lack of alignment between teeth and jaws.
Orthodontists routinely use braces, archwires, aligners, elastics, mouthguards, orthodontic surgery, and retainers to fix teeth and jaws. Braces are brackets with slots fixed to the teeth and archwires threaded through them. Archwires help move the teeth in a more desirable direction. Elastics connect the upper and lower jaws so they move together.
Orthodontic treatment can also help adults correct specific problems such as bite issues (overbite, underbite, or open bite), crowded teeth, protruding teeth, long-lasting infections in the teeth and gums, and jaw pain.
What to expect at your first dental appointment?
During a typical dental routine checkup, your dentist will conduct a standard dental examination, which involves checking the oral cavity (teeth, jaws, gums) to detect issues within your dental structures or any potential problems. If you've never been to the dentist or are seeing one after a long period, you may feel uneasy, especially if you have dental phobia or anxiety. Talking to your dentist about your fears, discussing your treatment in detail, and asking questions can help ease your dental anxiety. Further, dentists offer many ways, including sedation options, to help new patients stay comfortable and relaxed during a checkup.
Your dentist will first want to understand some basic health information. This includes your medical history, any previous surgeries, tests, and medicines you are taking (including over-the-counter medications). Notify your dentist if you have any chronic medical disorders, like diabetes or heart disease.
Before your dentist examines your teeth, a dental hygienist will place a plastic cover or paper on your chest after you have been seated in a dental chair. Your dentist will then view the inside of your mouth and examine the teeth for any cavities, decay, or gaps between your teeth. Your dentist may also try to identify other oral problems, such as those within the supporting bone structures, gum disease, or tartar buildup. They may take an X-ray to examine your dental structures completely.
After examining your teeth, your dentist may perform a dental cleaning, which involves removing any tartar or plaque buildup. Depending on your specific needs, they conduct dental prophylaxis, a routine cleaning for people with healthy teeth and gums. In cases of severe buildup and hardened tartar, scaling and root planing is required. Your dentist may also perform certain preventive services during the first visit, such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments. Depending on your specific condition, you may need a referral to a specialist, such as an endodontist or orthodontist.
Going for a routine dental checkup can help determine your risk for oral conditions, especially if you have a family history of it. It also allows patients and families to learn proper oral hygiene habits—for example, brushing teeth and preventing cavities. Depending on your diagnosed oral condition, your dentist may ask you to schedule more frequent follow-up visits.
How do you keep your teeth healthy?
Most dentists recommend brushing the teeth twice a day. Opt for fluoride toothpaste for better results. It is best not to consume tobacco products and maintain a diet high in fiber, fat, and sugar. Another one of the best dental hygiene practices is to floss regularly. You must try and visit a dentist near you once every six months. You can get a professional cleaning done by a dental hygienist to clean out the plaque and tartar accumulated over time using a high-powered toothbrush, followed by professional flossing. Also, consider getting a fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth's enamel and make them immune from bacteria. Also, remember to shift from your old toothbrush to a new one every three months or when the bristles become worn out.
Including fruits and vegetables in your daily food consumption will increase your nutrition intake and benefit your oral health. You must also include dairy products like milk and yogurt in your diet, for they comprise calcium and phosphates that are good for your teeth. You can swap your regular chewing gum with an unsweetened one, and you may also switch your mug of coffee with a cup of black or green tea without sugar.
How do you find the best-rated dentist near you in Allen, Texas?
Choosing the right doctor can be a task. Knowing and deciding upon one which is nearby is essential. Other important factors are whether the doctor accepts particular insurance plans, their availability, and more. Even though this may seem overwhelming, you can find some of the best dentists in Allen, Texas, through Zocdoc within minutes.
All you need to do is register your account with Zocdoc for free. Zocdoc's user-friendly search engine lets you find the best dentists nearby. You can enter your symptoms or conditions through the search bar or specify the practice you are looking for. You can also choose the date and time of the appointment, location or zip code, and insurance carrier or plan.
If you have multiple insurance plans, you can include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and schedule appointments with one insurance plan at a time. You can specify your secondary carrier and plan for the provider in the notes section during the final step of the booking process. Moreover, if your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you may add secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For further insurance-related FAQs, refer to Zocdoc's patient help center.
Zocdoc will then provide a list of profiles of top-rated dentists from its extensive database who match your needs. Every Zocdoc provider profile is unique to the individual. You can view the complete professional profile of the dentists, like their years of practice, licenses, educational qualifications, and affiliations. You can also check the languages the provider speaks and whether they provide pediatric care. The profile also has verified patient reviews and ratings to enable you to make a trusted choice while selecting a dentist near you.
After you find your best match, you may make an online or an in-person appointment with the dentist you select. The best part is that all bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
Oral health statistics for Texas, United States
The World Health Organization, in their 2022 Global Oral Health Status Report, revealed that around 3.5 billion people suffer from oral diseases worldwide. Approximately 19% of the world's adult population experiences severe periodontal issues. Nearly 100% of adults have had at least one dental cavity. Around 30% of people in the 65 to 74 age group have no natural teeth. Oral cancer is the world's 13th most common cancer. Human papillomavirus infections are the primary leading cause of oral cancer among young people in North America.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, one in every four adults in the 20-64 age group suffers from cavities. Around 52% of children below eight have suffered from dental caries in their primary teeth. The World Health Organization, according to their latest estimates, also confirms that 1 billion people are affected by oro-dental trauma.
According to a 2019 Texas Department of State Health Services oral health report, nearly 14% of Texas adults reported losing teeth because of tooth decay or gum disease. The report also shows that almost 15% of females in the state lost their teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease, slightly higher than the 12% of affected males in this age group. Compared to non-smokers, current adult smokers in Texas had almost 1.6 times higher odds of dental visits in the past year. The adults aged 65 or above who were current smokers had nearly 3.3 times higher chances of losing teeth than non-smokers.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Mayo Clinic
Healthline
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The New York Times
Texas Department of State Health Services
WebMD[3]
American Association of Orthodontists[1]
American Association of Orthodontists[2]
American Association of Orthodontists[3]
WebMD[4]
MedlinePlus
Cleveland Clinic
Webster Dental
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