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Who is a dentist?

A dentist is a healthcare provider who is an expert in preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral health and diseases. They play a vital role in diagnosing oral cancer and other conditions that start in the mouth before spreading to different body parts. 

Besides detecting disorders, they can help you maintain good oral health, directly impacting your overall well-being. They also diagnose and treat conditions related to gums and teeth. They usually work with a team of professionals to ensure that people get quality dental care. The group consists of dental assistants, dental hygienists, and lab technicians led by the dentist.

What are the most common dental issues?

Most dentists recommend adopting certain dental hygiene practices such as brushing twice, flossing daily, eating a healthy diet, and having regular check-ups to prevent recurring dental issues. They also encourage spreading awareness about various dental conditions and their causative reasons, which can help avoid any possible health issue. Following are some common dental problems one must be aware of:

• Bad breath: Scientifically known as halitosis, it is an awkward oral issue. Most of the time, an underlying dental condition can cause smelly breath. It can be gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, or bacteria on the tongue. 
• Cavities or tooth decay: Cavities are the second most common health condition in the United States. It occurs when plaque combines with sugars and starches in your food. The resulting product produces acids that attack the tooth enamel. Dry mouth, aging, and normal enamel erosion can cause cavities.
• Periodontal disease: An infection in the gums of the teeth is known as periodontal or gum disease. It is a prominent cause of adult tooth loss. Diabetes, dry mouth, and smoking are significant risk factors. The symptoms include bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and chewing pain.
• Oral cancer is a severe and deadly disorder commonly occurring in people aged 40 and above, but it can occur in younger people, too. It is often curable if diagnosed and treated in earlier stages. Smoking or chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most prominent risk factors. Standard mouth or throat cancer symptoms include sores, lumps, or difficulty chewing or moving your tongue or jaw.
• Mouth sores: Mouth ulcers can be of many types and are very bothersome. Unless they last more than two weeks, they are not a significant cause of concern. Some common mouth sores include canker sores (triggered by varying causes), fever blisters or cold sores (caused by herpes simplex virus), and thrush (caused by yeast infection).
• Tooth erosion: This is caused by acid attacking the enamel, resulting in the loss of tooth structure.
• Tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity in teeth is a common issue that involves pain and discomfort from sweets, cold air, hot or cold beverages, and ice cream.
• Toothaches and dental emergencies include a broken or cracked tooth, an abscessed (pus) tooth, or accidental tooth loss.

Specializations in dentistry

Various subspecialties fall under dentistry, providing people with comprehensive oral care and rehabilitation. Mentioned below is a list of subspecialties approved by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialities and Certifying Boards:

• Dental anesthesiology: This specialty is the art and science of managing pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental, oral, maxillofacial, and supplementary surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the perioperative period.
• Dental public health: This field helps prevent dental disorders through organized community efforts.
• Endodontics: This specialization focuses on the health of dental pulp and root canals.
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology: This field of dentistry focuses on diseases of the mouth, teeth, and surrounding regions.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology: This field is concerned with producing and interpreting X-rays and other forms of imaging to diagnose and manage oral disorders.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Involves surgical intervention of mouth-related diseases and injuries.
• Oral medicine: This field involves the oral healthcare of medically complex patients. Dentists specializing in oral medicine diagnose and provide non-surgical management for conditions related to the oral and maxillofacial region.
• Orofacial pain: This includes diagnosing, managing, and treating pain disorders of the mouth, face, jaw, head, and neck. 
• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: This dental specialty includes correcting dental and facial irregularities.
• Pediatric dentistry: Deals with the oral healthcare needs of infants and children through adolescence.
• Periodontics: Specializes in detecting and treating problems affecting the supporting structures around the teeth, such as the gums and bones.
• Prosthodontics: This field facilitates restoring natural teeth and oral structures with artificial devices like dentures or replacing missing teeth.

What are the most common dental procedures? 

Dental anxiety is prevalent among patients of all ages and can cause symptoms such as sweating, heart palpitations, low blood pressure, crying spells, and even fainting. One way to alleviate this anxiety is knowing what to expect when you make an appointment with a dentist near you. Here are some of the most common dental procedures that you may encounter: 

• Teeth cleaning: This procedure is recommended by dentists at least once every 6-12 months as an essential part of oral hygiene. It removes the plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and is painless. 
• Fillings: Dental fillings are made of gold, silver amalgam, porcelain, or tooth-colored resin, the most popular material these days. Dentists use fillers to cover cavities after clearing out the decay and restore cracked or broken teeth. 
• Root canal: This procedure is usually done under anesthesia. It allows the dentist to clear the infected or abscessed pulp (tissues) in the tooth and seal the area with a filling. 
• Crowns: Crowns are tooth-shaped caps placed over severely decayed, broken, or weakened teeth to restore their function. Dental crowns are available in various materials, such as porcelain, metal, and resin. 
• Tooth extractions: The dentist may recommend a tooth extraction when the situation is beyond repairs, such as severe decay, fracture, or gum disease. They will pull out the tooth after numbing the region with anesthesia. 
• Dentures: These are customized, removable oral appliances for people with partial or complete tooth loss in the upper and lower jaws.

Here are additional tips for managing dental anxiety: 

• Do your research: The more you know about the procedures, the less anxious you will feel. 
• Talk to your dentist: Tell your dentist about your anxiety and ask them to explain the procedures in detail. 
• Ask for medication: If you are very anxious, your dentist may prescribe medicines to help you relax. 
• Bring a friend or family member with you: Having someone you trust can help you feel more comfortable.

What are the common surgical procedures for dental and oral problems?

Dental surgeries are often necessary to treat periodontal disease and to fix broken or missing teeth resulting from an accident. These surgeries can help restore your oral health, improve your dental function, and enhance the appearance of your smile. 

One such surgery is flap surgery, which involves lifting the gum tissue to remove tartar and bacteria from under the gums. The tissue is then stitched back around your teeth. 

Bone grafting is another procedure that replaces damaged bone surrounding the root of your tooth with a graft made from your own, synthetic, or donated bone.

In cases of receding gums, a soft tissue graft can be performed. This involves attaching donor tissue to missing areas of your gums or removing a small piece of tissue from your mouth to replace them. 

If a root canal or any other surgical intervention is insufficient to save your tooth, then tooth extraction may be required. Similarly, if there is not enough space in your jaw, wisdom teeth may cause pain, inflammation, or other issues and thus may also need to be extracted.

Dental implants commonly replace missing teeth lost due to an accident or disease. In this procedure, the implant is surgically placed into the jawbone, and the bones grow around it. After this process, an artificial tooth known as a crown is customized to match your other teeth and attached to the implant. If you're replacing more than one tooth, a bridge may be used to hold the artificial teeth in place. A bridge consists of two abutment crowns on either side of the gap, holding the artificial teeth in between.

Pregnancy and oral health

As a new-to-be mother, your rapidly changing body may bring many uncomfortable health issues to deal with throughout and even after your pregnancy. A critical aspect of health that should not be overlooked is your dental health. 

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes, which put you at high risk for gum disease, cavities, and other dental problems. Here are some conditions that may develop during pregnancy: 

• Caries and enamel erosion: These can be caused by an increase in snacking or cravings, an increase of gastric acid in the mouth due to morning sickness (frequent vomiting), dry mouth, or poor oral hygiene habits. 
• Pregnancy gingivitis: Changing hormonal levels may result in a different response to bacteria in the mouth. This can cause irritated, swollen, and bleeding gums and lead to pregnancy gingivitis. When left untreated, this can further lead to periodontitis (gum disease that also includes bone loss). The risk of gingivitis may increase during the third trimester. 
• Pyogenic granuloma: This is a round growth, usually connected to the gingivae by a thin cord of tissue, that may develop due to a heightened inflammatory response to bacteria and other oral pathogens. 

Going for routine dental visits helps prevent and detect oral issues. The American Dental Association (ADA), the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all encourage pregnant patients to visit their dentist. You must also tell your dentist as soon as you have confirmed pregnancy and inform them about how far along you are and your expected due date. You must also give your dentist a complete list of supplements, prescription medications, and vitamins you are taking and their changes in dosage, if any. 

Your dentist will plan your oral care during this period, check for signs of pregnancy-related issues in your mouth, schedule frequent cleanings during the second and third trimesters (for patients who have existing gum problems), and take care of only required dental treatments such as fillings, root canals, or emergency dental procedures before your new baby arrives. For pregnancies classified as high-risk, a dentist may postpone dental treatments. Elective dental treatments such as teeth whitening and cosmetic procedures will be performed after delivery. 

Note that X-rays, pain medicine, antibiotics, and the administration of local anesthesia (numbing medications like lidocaine) are generally considered safe for the baby and the mother. 

According to the ADA, radiographs taken during your dental exam are safe when using abdominal and thyroid shielding. The American College of Radiology also states that a single diagnostic X-ray does not have a significant amount of radiation dose to cause adverse effects in a developing fetus or embryo.

Exhaustion during pregnancy may make it harder for to-be moms to keep up with their oral hygiene habits. Pregnant women have a more sensitive gag reflex or tender gums, making brushing a little more uncomfortable. Seeing your dentist often will help you learn how to take care of your teeth by adopting the proper brushing and flossing habits and eating a low-sugar balanced diet (to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and tooth decay). This is also a good opportunity to learn to care for your newborn's teeth after birth. This includes understanding pacifier and feeding habits and what to feed your newborn to lower the risk of cavities and decay.

Finding the best dentist near you in Aurora, Illinois

Do you have a toothache that won't stop hurting and hinders your day-to-day activities? Do you feel a sharp pain or discomfort in your teeth when you consume anything hot or cold? Do you have a sore throat that doesn't seem to be healing? If so, visiting a dentist can be the best option for its diagnosis and treatment. However, finding an experienced dentist can be time-consuming. With Zocdoc, you can easily find a good dentist in Aurora, Illinois, who matches your needs and preferences.

Visit our website, Zocdoc.com, or use our application to access our carefully curated directory of experienced healthcare providers across the US! Enter your location as "Aurora, Illinois," choose the specialty you seek as "dentist," and your preferred appointment date. You can also search by condition or symptom if you need help with the specialty. An extensive list of medical and healthcare professionals will appear based on your search criteria. 

At Zocdoc, transparency is of utmost value. The Zocdoc provider profile includes a brief introduction, educational qualifications, practice location, visit reasons, and, most notably, patient reviews and ratings. The reviews and ratings are verified and regularly updated to help you make an informed decision. 

You can filter out the dentists who accept your insurance plan by using the Zocdoc insurance detector. Additionally, you can upload your insurance card securely and hassle-free. Zocdoc prioritizes your privacy and security and follows the industry's best practices to safeguard your information. You can read more about how Zocdoc handles data and privacy and check out Zocdoc's Patient Help Center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.

Furthermore, you can filter out your results by gender if you want a preferred gender dentist. Video appointments are also an option if you can not attend in person. You can book one by looking for a purple video icon on dentists' profiles or by filtering the video appointment selection. 

With Zocdoc, you can find the best and most reliable dentist near you who is accepting new patients. The best part? It is free and 100% secure!

Dental health statistics of Illinois, USA

A report by the American Cancer Society estimates that America may observe nearly 59,660 new cases of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer and about 12,770 deaths due to the same by 2025. In America, oral and pharyngeal cancer is the 14th most prevalent disease among all other types. Illinois is estimated to have almost 2,160 new oral and pharyngeal cancer cases and nearly 500 deaths. Becoming aware of the ailment and seeking available healthcare services may help reduce these numbers since it aids in the early diagnosis and prevention of possible cancers.

The data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in 2020, nearly 16% of adults aged 65 and above in Illinois reported losing all of their natural teeth due to tooth decay, and over 14.7% of them lost their teeth to gum disease. The data also shows that around 68% of adults in Illinois aged 18 years and above visited a dentist in 2020. In the same year, almost 33% of adults in Illinois aged between 25-44 years reported not visiting a dentist, similar to 34% of older adults (65+) who fall into the same category.

Sources

Healthline

American Cancer Society

American Dental Education Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Verywell Health

WebMD[1]

Crescent Heights Dental Clinic

Isaacson Gentle Dentistry

Better Health Channel

MouthHealthy[1]

MouthHealthy[2]

WebMD[2]

American Pregnancy Association

Oral Health Foundation

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American Academy of Pediatrics

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Cleveland Clinic

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.