Who are dentists?
Dentists study all illnesses and conditions affecting the orofacial (mouth and face) region. They prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases affecting the teeth, gums, and mouth. Proper care of teeth and gums lowers the chances of severe health conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Dentists use various equipment such as drills, lasers, X-ray machines, brushes, and scalpels to perform dental procedures. They can educate people about dental hygiene, administer anesthesia, fill cavities, repair or remove damaged teeth, and apply fillings or sealants. They can also remove the build-up of plaque and decay from teeth and check the growth of teeth and jawbones.
Further, dentists provide fluoride treatments or restorative treatments such as crowns, bridges, or dental implants. They are also well-equipped to perform root canals, tooth extractions, and treat knocked-out teeth.
Dentists often work with a team of dental assistants, lab technicians, and hygienists and may have private practices or offer their services in clinics and hospitals.Â
Education and training of dentists
The training process for becoming a dentist in the US consists of four years of an undergraduate degree and four years of graduate study in a dental school (this involves two years of pre-clinical training and two years of clinical experience). Upon completing the course, students earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree.
Some dentists pursue further specialization by completing a postgraduate residency program in various specialties of dentistry. Every state confers a dental license, which all dentists must acquire to practice dentistry.Â
Specialties within dentistry
The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) is an independent body sanctioned by the American Dental Association (ADA), whose role is to recognize and approve dental specialties. There are a total of twelve dental specialties recognized by this organization, which include:
- Dental anesthesiology combines dentistry and anesthesiology, focusing on managing pain and anxiety during dental procedures.Â
- Dental public health deals with preventing and controlling oral ailments. These dentists study and implement ways to educate communities on maintaining good oral hygiene.
- Endodontics deals with the health and diseases of the innermost portion of the teeth (the root, pulp, and periapical tissues).Â
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology involves investigating and identifying oral diseases with the help of clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical, and other diagnostic procedures.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology combines dentistry and radiology. This specialty produces and interprets the oral and maxillofacial region's X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, etc., for better diagnosing and managing oral problems.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery uses surgical interventions to control diseases and defects in the oral and maxillofacial region.
- Oral medicine aims to help people with severe medical illnesses with oral implications.
- Orofacial pain studies the cause of disorders leading to pain in the orofacial area and helps prevent and manage them.Â
- Orthodontics and orofacial orthopedics deal with preventing and treating all kinds of misalignments in the teeth and jaws with the help of braces, retainers, and other orofacial devices.
- Pediatric dentistry helps provide oral care to infants, children, and adolescents.
- Periodontics studies the diseases affecting the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth (gums and periodontal tissues).
- Prosthodontics helps treat and rehabilitate patients with missing teeth with the help of partial and complete dentures.Â
What are the most commonly faced dental problems?
The most common dental issue that affects close to 85% of people is halitosis or bad breath. The causes of bad breath include cavities, gum diseases, oral cancer, dry mouth, or the growth of bacteria on the tongue. The dental problem that comes a close second after halitosis is tooth decay or cavities. When plaque on the teeth combines with sugar or starch in our food, they release acids. These acids erode the teeth and lead to cavities. Rotten and decayed teeth can lead to sensitivity and toothache.
Gums and periodontal ligaments are the supporting structures of the teeth, and infections in these regions are the most common cause of teeth loss seen in adults. Another condition affecting the mouth's soft tissues is canker sores or aphthous ulcers. A deadly condition seen in oral cavities is oral cancer. Oral maxillofacial surgeons usually treat oral cancers.
A dental condition affecting the face's aesthetics is an unattractive smile, which happens due to many factors, namely crooked teeth, stained teeth, misaligned jaws, and issues with the gums.
Ways to maintain good oral hygiene
The journey to good oral hygiene begins with brushing your teeth twice daily, thoroughly, with fluoridated toothpaste. Always use fluoridated water to rinse your mouth and for drinking. Always supplement brushing with flossing daily to eliminate plaque build-up between the teeth.Â
Quit harmful habits such as smoking and consuming tobacco. Keep alcohol consumption to moderate levels. If you have diabetes, strictly monitor and control your blood sugar levels. Increased sugar levels in the blood lead to an increased risk of gum disease.
See a dentist near you immediately if you notice sudden changes in taste or smell. If you deal with dry mouth issues, talk to your dentist about lifestyle changes or medications for resolving them.
How does fluoride help keep teeth healthy?
Studies have proven that fluoride can prevent teeth from decaying by helping rebuild and strengthen the enamel (the top layer of the teeth). The enamel becomes weak due to bacteria eroding the teeth or excess sugar consumption.Â
The most effective way to maintain the fluoride levels in the body is through water fluoridation. Every time we drink water with optimal fluoride, the fluoride levels in the body and teeth are maintained and help prevent the formation of cavities.
When and why should you see a dentist?
You must visit a dentist near you every six months for a general check-up. Regular check-ups can help detect mouth cancer, dental decay, and gum issues early, preventing major problems in the future. Dentists can also often identify illnesses in other body parts because their symptoms are first visible in the mouth; this can help detect and treat severe diseases on time.Â
You should visit a dentist if you feel pain or discomfort in your mouth, gums, jaws, or teeth. Further, if you have swelling or pain in the face, mouth, or neck, a dentist can diagnose the problem quickly. They can also help if your gums are bleeding or you have trouble swallowing or chewing.Â
If you are a smoker, use tobacco, are pregnant, or have ongoing medical issues, you should visit a dentist more often. Also, if you have a history of gum disease in your family or a personal history of cavities, visiting a dentist more often would help. Check with your dentist about the time gap between two visits. The same is true if you already have had a dental procedure, as monitoring your oral health is essential.
How can you prepare for the visit to a dentist near you?
A trip to a dentist near you doesn't have to be scary. Dentists and their helpers want to make things easy for you. Before you go, plan extra time off from work or school so you're not in a hurry. When you call to schedule your visit, ask how long it usually takes. If it's been a while since you last went, your visit might take longer. Choosing an appointment at the end of the day is a good idea so you can go home immediately.
If you have dental insurance, check if your dentist accepts the plan. You might need to pay a bit when you're there, or they could send you a bill later. If you don't have insurance, ask beforehand how much you'll need to pay.
On the big day, show up early so you can fill out forms or turn them in if you did them online before. When you check in, carry your identity cards- an insurance card or your driver's license.
What should you expect during the first visit to a dentist?
You'll undergo a thorough check-up when visiting the dentist after a prolonged absence or for the first time. The dentist may take X-rays to view your teeth, gums, and bones comprehensively. The deep cleaning session with the hygienist involves the removal of hard tartar that accumulates due to extended gaps between visits. Dentists also provide options to ease any discomfort for sensitive teeth.
During the examination of your teeth and gums, you may experience slight pain or bleeding, but it's usually brief. If the dentist identifies issues, don't fret; addressing them with your dentist is a positive step toward resolution. If your mouth is sore, take over-the-counter pain relievers after the visit. Contacting the dentist between routine visits is advised in case of questions or emergencies.
Regular follow-up care is essential, involving a cleaning and exam every six months for a healthy mouth. Depending on your dental needs, the dentist will recommend a treatment plan, including fillings for cavities, crowns for severely damaged teeth, or cosmetic procedures like bonding, veneers, and shaping for aesthetic improvements. Gum problems can be addressed with scaling and root planing, accompanied by periodic X-rays to monitor progress.Â
The dentist near you may advise a root canal if infection or swelling in tooth roots is detected. They may also suggest replacing missing or damaged teeth with implants or bridges, with payment plans for complex procedures. Consistent good dental habits will facilitate easier routine follow-up visits.
Rare dental conditions that parents should be aware of
Anodontia is a rare genetic condition where some or all teeth never form. This can happen with baby teeth but is more common with permanent teeth. Complete anodontia means no adult teeth form at all. However, partial anodontia, where some teeth are missing but others are present, is more common. If six or more teeth are missing, it's called oligodontia, while hypodontia describes cases where only one to five teeth don't develop. Since these conditions are genetic, they cannot be reversed or cured. Dentists may recommend implants or dentures, and seeking early treatment is essential to support a child's oral health, including their ability to eat, speak, and maintain jaw and facial structure.
Talon cusps are cone-shaped growths that form on the back of a tooth. They can cause issues like:
- Misalignment or a "bad bite"
- Crowding that complicates other teeth's development
- Irritation to the gums, cheeks, and tongue
- Plaque buildup in the groove between the cusp and its tooth
Because talon cusps may or may not have tooth pulp, they require careful handling by a dentist. Most cases are managed by grinding down the cusp, but if it contains pulp, a root canal might be necessary. Adults can also develop talon cusps, so it's something to monitor in yourself as well.
Tooth gemination happens when two teeth grow from a single bud, creating a large or irregular tooth with two pulp chambers but only one root. This can lead to a misaligned bite, decay where the chambers join, or overcrowding. If the tooth isn't too large, dentists may suggest waiting to see if it sheds naturally. However, if it starts affecting the surrounding teeth, extraction may be recommended.
Finding the best dentist near you in Bowie, Maryland
Maintaining oral health is essential not just for eating and talking but also for aesthetic reasons. Regular dental check-ups and cleaning are highly crucial for good oral hygiene. Looking for dentists who excel at their job can be challenging when dealing with dental pain. But Zocdoc has your back with an extensive database of highly specialized practitioners nationwide.
Zocdoc helps you filter dentists based on location, issues, and dental insurance. Just type in a few key details in the search boxes, and the website will immediately direct you to a customized list of the best dentists near you.
Each practitioner on Zocdoc has a detailed profile that lists their educational background, including their specializations and certifications, place and hours of practice, years of work experience, and types of dental insurance they accept. If your insurance plan isn’t listed on Zocdoc, you can try uploading a photo of your medical insurance card (note: this option is only for medical, not vision or dental insurance). We’ll scan the card’s image and show you what your plan is likely to be. If you’re having trouble with the upload, feel free to reach out to our service team for help. For any other questions about insurance, you can check out Zocdoc's insurance page. The profiles also contain verified reviews from patients who have received dental treatments. All this information will help you make a confident and informed choice about the dentist.Â
Further, you can also find information such as the languages the dentists speak and whether they treat children. Once you have selected the best dentist for your needs and requirements, you can instantly book an online or in-person appointment as required. Just look for a purple icon on the profile of dentists who allow video consultations.
Booking appointments with dentists near you on Zocdoc is easy, free, and secure!
Statistics on dental issues in Maryland
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, 66.2% of people over 18 years old in Maryland visited a dental clinic or dentist. Among adults above 65, 26.8% lost six or more teeth, and 8.9% lost all teeth due to cavities or gum diseases.Â
In the article "Maryland Oral Health Plan (2018-2023)", published by the Maryland Department of Health, a dental health study screened 7,877 kids between the ages of six and nine years to assess their oral health status. About 41.3% of these kids had experience with cavities, 13.8% had untreated caries, and 41.4% had undergone treatment with dental sealants. Hence, parents need to know the pediatric dentists in their network.Â
Bowie is a city in Maryland that comes under Prince George's County (PGC). According to a report published in the PGC Health Zone, around 64.8% of kids living in Prince George's County visited the dentist in 2017. The same report stated that in 2018, about 61.4% of adults in Prince George's County visited a dentist. Adults and children require regular dental check-ups and procedures, creating a perennial need for dentists.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]Â
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying BoardsÂ
Verywell Health
American Cancer Society
Maryland Department of Health
Health Department Prince George's CountyÂ
Cleveland Clinic
Colgate
