Who is a dentist?
Dentists specialize in diagnosing, managing, preventing, and treating oral diseases and conditions. They monitor the development and growth of the jaws and teeth and can treat various conditions affecting gums, teeth, and jaws. They promote and teach good dental hygiene and offer treatments in emergency dental care and preventive and restorative dentistry.
Education and training of dentists
Since dentists are doctors, they must complete an educational path similar to that of a medical doctor. The first stage is to get a bachelor of science degree by completing an undergraduate program in a related field. After that, they take a dental admissions test to apply to dental schools.
The training procedure entails the following steps:
- Two years of biomedical science courses followed by two years of clinical practice
- Obtaining a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS) or doctorate in dental medicine (DDM)
- Passing written and practical tests to earn a dental license
Dentists can then get certified by qualifying for the National Board Dental Examination. Depending on their specialization area, dentists may be required to undergo a one—to three-year postgraduate residency.
Different sub-specializations in dentistry
Dentists can choose to specialize in the following fields:
- Pedodontics: Also known as pediatric dentistry, providers specializing in pedodontics treat children, adolescents, and teenagers.
- Orthodontics: This specialty focuses on bite correction and teeth straightening for maximum health and function. Orthodontists provide braces, clear aligners, retainers, and other customized treatment structures.
- Endodontics: These dentists specialize in root canal therapy. Many general dentists also conduct root canals. In more complex cases, a dentist may refer you to an endodontist.
- Prosthodontics: These professionals provide natural-looking dental restorations such as bridges, crowns, and dentures.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Oral surgeons diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases, abnormalities, and injuries of the jaws and other orofacial (mouth and face) structures. They typically remove wisdom teeth but also provide a variety of different procedures.
When should you see a dentist near you?
A crucial step toward self-care is making the time to visit the dentist. There may be a history of gum disease in your family. Therefore, you must consult a dentist accepting new patients to manage potential long-term risk factors. You should see them if your gums bleed and become swollen when brushing or flossing. Visit them frequently if you have fillings, dental implants, crowns, or dentures to ensure everything functions correctly. If you have a chronic sour mouth taste or are uneasy about how your smile looks, you should visit them.
Additionally, if your jaw pops or hurts when you close and open it, chew, or when you first wake up, your mouth feels or looks off, or if a sore persists for a week or more, you should visit them. Even if you are symptom-free, getting routine checkups is essential as they can treat symptoms before they worsen.
You should schedule appointments at the dentist's recommended intervals for routine treatment, such as dental exams and cleanings. Regular at-home dental hygiene and professional cleanings every six months can maintain optimal oral health. However, you may benefit from more frequent checkups if you have a history of cavities or gum disease. Inquire with your dentist about the cleaning schedule best suited for you.
What treatments and procedures do dentists perform?
Dentists have the necessary training in the procedures required to diagnose and treat oral diseases. Depending on the conditions, they may perform one or more of the following treatments and procedures:
- Fluoride treatment is easy and quick to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. A dentist provides fluoride treatments such as gel or foam, mouth rinses, fluoride supplements, and varnish.
- Root canal treatment prevents tooth infection from happening again, eliminates bacteria from the infected root canal, and saves the natural tooth. A dentist removes the infected, inflamed pulp and then thoroughly cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth.
- Dental bridges are a lasting solution to missing teeth. It can help people speak and eat effectively.
- Veneers are customized, wafer-thin shells of tooth-colored material covering the teeth' front surface. A dentist uses it for cosmetic improvements, such as chipped teeth.
- Crowns help when the tooth has experienced a lot of decay. It covers the tooth and fixes its shape, strength, and size while improving its appearance.
- Pulpotomy is a dental process in which a dentist extracts a tooth's pulp from the crown. The pulp in the root canal remains intact.
How should you prepare for a dental appointment?
If you feel overwhelmed before dental appointments, you're not alone. Most patients face some level of dental anxiety. One of the ways you can feel relaxed and have a positive experience is by preparing well for the consultation. Here are four tips you can follow before your next dental visit:
- Write down your concerns: Whether you have toothache, bleeding gums, or tooth sensitivity, list all the dental issues you want to discuss with your dentist. You can also record details such as when your symptoms began, what makes them better or worse, and whether you have tried previous treatments. If you have any specific questions about your oral health, write them down, too. A few common ones include: What are the best oral hygiene products? How often should I visit for a routine dental checkup? Can you share insights on teeth whitening?
- Gather your medical records: You may need to share your general health information for your dentist's reference. It includes details of your medical conditions, allergies, medications, recent injuries, and past procedures. If you have recent dental X-rays, carry them along as well.
- Arrive with a clean mouth: On the day of your dental appointment, avoid foods and beverages that are sticky, sugary, strong-smelling, acidic, and caffeinated. Additionally, before you head to the dentist's office, brush and floss your teeth, scrape the tongue, and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
- Call the dental office: Finally, talk to the dentist's staff and confirm your appointment. If it's your first visit, you can also ask what documents are needed for paperwork, what payment method they accept, and how to reach the office.
How do you maintain your oral health?
Eating well and enjoying delicious cuisine is simpler when you have healthy teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene as you age might help keep your teeth strong.
Your teeth continuously produce dental plaque, a microscopic film of bacteria. Acids produced by plaque bacteria can erode enamel and result in tooth cavities. Therefore, you should brush and floss twice daily to avoid tooth decay. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste every time you brush to prevent tooth decay will be best.
Additionally, remember to change your toothbrush every three to four months. You should also use pre-threaded, water, or dental flossers to clean the spaces between your teeth. These techniques can remove food particles and plaque, which a toothbrush cannot. Remineralize your teeth with mouthwash and clean areas of the mouth that a toothbrush cannot reach, like the gum line.
Fresh, crunchy food is the finest option for healthy teeth because it has more beneficial fiber. Always be careful about consuming acidic foods and beverages because they could harm tooth enamel. Limit your diet to sugar-free and avoid soft drinks. The acid in soda erodes teeth. When acid destroys the enamel, it erodes the tooth's inner structure, leads to cavities, and leaves stains on its surface.
How do you find the best dentist near you in Bellevue, WA?
An excellent oral hygiene regimen helps maintain clean teeth, healthy gums, a clean tongue, neutral breath, and strong teeth. Therefore, visiting a dentist is necessary as they help you keep your dental health. However, finding a dentist that matches your medical needs can be challenging. Dentists often may be overbooked and cannot accommodate your bookings. If you are wondering how to find a dentist accepting new patients, Zocdoc is your answer!
Using Zocdoc, you may look for providers based on your symptoms, preferred time and location, condition, doctor's specialty, and insurance plan. Additionally, you may narrow your search and locate them using built-in filters—gender, language, hospital affiliations, and whether or not they treat children.
If you do not have dental coverage, specify "I'm paying for myself" in the insurance drop-down in the search bar. This way, Zocdoc will match you with dentists accepting patients without an insurance plan. Do you have any more related queries? View our compilation of insurance FAQs on our patient help center page.
Each provider's profile includes education qualifications, hospital affiliations, certifications, experience, areas of specialization, and licensure. Additionally, the profile contains ratings and reviews from actual patients.
On Zocdoc, you may quickly make appointments with providers online and in person. You may locate providers who offer video consultations by applying a filter to determine video availability. Look for the purple video button on the provider's profile. Thus, the platform makes it convenient to find dentists near you accepting new patients.
Moreover, Zocdoc makes all appointment bookings simple, safe, and cost-free.
Dental health statistics in Washington, USA
In 2021, there were approximately 2,410 dentists in Washington, according to data from the May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Based on 2020 America's Health Rankings findings, around 69.3% of adults in Washington saw a dentist or visited a dental clinic within the previous year. More females(72.2%) visited the dentist than men(66.4%).
The Washington Department of Health reported that the rate of dental caries (fillings, past or present cavities, or missing teeth from tooth decay) among third graders in Washington State was nearly 53% in 2015. Also, around 54% of Washington State 3rd-grade students surveyed had dental sealants, far exceeding the Healthy People 2020 goal of almost 28% for children aged 6 to 9.
According to the SmileSurvey 2015-2016 by the Washington Department of Health, rates of untreated decay in kindergarten, second, and third grades were around 12% for all age groups. Over half of all third graders (53%) and nearly four in ten kindergarteners (38%) had tooth decay.
Sources
MouthHealthy[1]
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National Institute on Aging
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Verywell Health[2]
Verywell Health[3]
American Association of Endodontists
America's Health Rankings
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
MedlinePlus
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Smile Perfection
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Dental Concepts
