Who is a dentist?
Dentists are gums and teeth specialists. They help diagnose and treat dental problems and any issues in your oral cavity, jaw, and neck. They also help promote good dental hygiene by advising on preventing cavities and tooth decay. That's not all; they can detect problems with other body systems, which may show preliminary signs in the gums, teeth, and mouth. That is why visiting a dentist every six months can help prevent illnesses or problems in the mouth and other organ systems.
A dentist generally works with a team that includes dental assistants, lab technicians, and hygienists when treating patients. Dentists can fill cavities, repair and remove damaged teeth, remove decay or buildup from teeth, and put fillings or sealants. They use lasers, X-ray machines, brushes, drills, scalpels, and other instruments to perform procedures. They can also track the growth of jawbones and teeth, administer anesthesia, and review CT scans and other diagnostic tests.
What kind of education and training do dentists receive?
To become a dentist, a student must first get a bachelor's degree in either biology, math, chemistry, or life sciences. After this, they must take a Dental Admission Test (DAT) held by the American Dental Association. Once they clear the test, they get admitted to a dental school where they will learn biomedical science for two years. This is followed by another two years of clinical training, after which they will earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. After acquiring the degree, they must pass a theory and practical exam to get a license to practice dentistry.
Dentists can also take the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) to get certified. If they want to specialize further in a particular field of dentistry, they enroll in a postgraduate residency. The number of years they study here will depend on the area of specialization. They can specialize in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial radiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, dental public health, periodontics, or pediatric dentistry.
What are the different specialties in dentistry?
Following graduation from dental school, a dentist may choose from among the following specialties:
- Endodontics: This caters to providing oral health services related to the dental pulp, the soft core of the teeth. An endodontist specializes in performing root canals. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 26 months after completion of dental school.
- Periodontics: This specialty treats diseases concerning gum tissues and bones supporting the tooth. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 35 months after completion of dental school.
- Pediatric dentistry: This involves providing oral health care services to infants and children through adolescence. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 25 months after completion of dental school.
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: In this type of practice, the focus is on correcting dental and facial irregularities. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 30 months after completion of dental school.
- Dental public health: This discipline of dentistry focuses on preventing dental diseases through organized community efforts. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 15 months after completion of dental school.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: This domain of dentistry involves the surgical treatment of oral diseases and injuries to the mouth. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 54 months to 72 months after completion of dental school.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: This branch of dentistry involves treating diseases of the mouth, teeth, and surrounding areas. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 37 months after completion of dental school.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: In this area of dentistry, experts perform X-rays and analyze other imaging forms to diagnose and manage oral diseases and disorders. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 30 months after completion of dental school.
- Prosthodontics: This field focuses on restoring natural teeth or using prosthetics like dentures to replace missing teeth and oral structures. The typical duration of schooling is approximately 32 months after completion of dental school.
What conditions do dentists treat?
Depending on their specialty, a dentist near you can treat several oral health issues. Some commonly diagnosed dental problems include the following:
- Tooth decay: Cavity formation can lead to tooth decay. Cavities, the most common ailment in the United States, result from plaque that eats away at the hard surface of the teeth (enamel), causing holes in the teeth. Anyone, even babies, can get cavities at any age. Going for regular dental checkups, limiting sugary foods, and incorporating healthier foods in your diet can quickly help prevent cavities and tooth decay.
- Gum disease or gingivitis: This mild form of gum disease results from poor dental hygiene, mainly lousy brushing and flossing habits. It causes plaque (a sticky material made of bacteria, mucus, and food debris) to build up on the teeth. Gingivitis results in inflammation and infection of the gums, bone, and periodontal ligaments.
- Oral cancer: A dentist can help prevent mouth and throat cancers by screening patients during regular checkups. People who have poor nutrition, drink alcohol, or smoke excessively are at high risk of oral cancers. Extended sun exposure also increases the risk of lip cancer. During a standard oral cancer screening, your dentist will look inside your mouth and search for red or white patches as well as sores in the mouth. Since not all sores are cancerous, your dentist will most likely recommend additional tests like rinsing the mouth with an oral cancer screening dye.
- Malocclusion or a misaligned jaw: Typically, in a normal jaw, the upper teeth fit correctly over the lower teeth, i.e., the points of molars fit the opposite molar grooves. Malocclusion causes an underbite, overbite, or even crowding of the teeth. Treatment of a malocclusion involves surgery, braces or aligners, or removal of teeth if required.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): TMJ disorders affect the jaw, causing discomfort and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for smooth movement of the jaw. Dentists address TMJ through methods like pain medications, physical therapy exercises, custom oral appliances to reduce pressure, dental adjustments, stress management, and, occasionally, surgical options for severe cases.
What procedures do dentists carry out?
Periodic dental visits are vital to maintaining your oral health. Dentists cater to all your dental needs, from basic teeth cleaning to advanced surgical procedures. Here are a few dental procedures they perform:
Regular teeth cleaning helps remove two harmful substances from your teeth: plaque and tartar. While plaque forms as a sticky combination of food, bacteria, and saliva, tartar develops when plaque remains on your teeth too long.
Dentists use dental X-rays to check your oral health thoroughly. Modern dental offices use digital X-ray machines, which produce less radiation than traditional equipment. These images help identify issues like decay, gum disease, and infections early on.
Dentists often use tooth-colored fillings made from composite resin when decay or injury damages teeth. This mixture of glass and plastic perfectly matches the natural tooth color, making the restoration virtually invisible.
Dental bonding offers a quick solution if your teeth have chips, cracks, or gaps. Your dentist can apply tooth-colored resin to fix these issues, adjust tooth shape, or extend tooth length. This procedure can typically be carried out in just one visit.
- Crowns, Bridges, and Veneers
These three restorative options serve different purposes. A crown caps your entire tooth above the gum line, restoring its strength and appearance. Bridges help replace missing teeth by anchoring artificial teeth to crowns on either side of the gap. Veneers, thin porcelain or resin shells, attach to your front teeth to improve their appearance, fixing issues like discoloration, chips, or gaps.
When you lose a tooth, dental implants offer a permanent solution. These titanium posts integrate with your jawbone and support artificial teeth, restoring your smile's completeness and functionality. Sometimes, severely damaged or decayed teeth require extraction. Your provider will remove the tooth from its socket and thoroughly clean it. The complexity of this procedure depends on your tooth's condition and location.
When should you see a dentist?
Besides a regular checkup every six months, there may be several reasons to visit a dentist near you. For example, you should see a dentist if you have any pain, swelling, bleeding, discomfort in your teeth, gums, jaws, or neck, or trouble swallowing or chewing. Dentists can also detect oral cancer during your visit and monitor the progress of a previous dental procedure.
Another common reason to visit a dentist is to fix misaligned teeth. Poorly positioned teeth can lead to tongue bites, cosmetic issues, jaw strain, temporomandibular joint disorder, chronic headaches, and speech difficulties. Not only the teeth but, many times, even the jaw needs repositioning. In such instances, it's imperative to have your teeth checked by a dentist.
What to expect when visiting the dentist?
At a dentist's appointment, your doctor will initially ask questions to understand your problem better. They will inquire about your current issues and past medical history. Along with that, they will ask about any ongoing medications or therapies. Once a basic medical history is taken, the specialist will examine your oral cavity.
The dentist will wear gloves and a mask and check the mouth for cavities and other concerns. They will use instruments such as a mirror to see hidden areas or a tooth scraper to remove plaque. Plaque is a sticky biofilm that is formed on the teeth containing bacteria and may obscure cavities.
A dentist may use X-rays to check for deep cavities, root canals, or other problems beneath the gums. When treating cavities, the dentist will give an anesthetic injection before removing the decayed part from the tooth and filling the hole with fillings.
Your specialist may prescribe fluoride drops (or tablets) to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. They will apply a fluoride gel to the teeth, after which patients should not eat or drink for 30 minutes.
Additionally, they will check if the bite is proper (if the upper and lower teeth are correctly aligned) or if the patient needs braces to correct the shape of the teeth.
How do you find a good dentist near you in Hoboken, NJ?
Often, adults think it is only necessary to visit a dentist when there is a problem with the teeth. However, regular dental visits are essential to maintain strong, healthy teeth. If you are looking for a good specialist nearby, Zocdoc will help you with your search.
Visit the Zocdoc website to peruse the collection of dentist profiles our staff has meticulously compiled. You can filter your healthcare provider search based on your preferred date, gender, location, and specialization. You can also search for medical professionals based on your symptoms. Additionally, you can also check if the dentist accepts your insurance policy.
When you choose an in-network doctor, you can trust Zocdoc to keep your health insurance information safe per the industry's best practices. For any insurance-related queries, reach out to Zocdoc's patient help center.
Each dentist's profile mentions their education, training, credentials, experience, licensure, affiliations, and awards. You can also check the languages they speak or whether they treat children. Zocdoc provides verified patient reviews and ratings that further aid your search.
You can book offline appointments or virtual consultations with a dentist near you as required, even after office hours or during weekends, at a time convenient for you and your provider on Zocdoc. All appointments made through Zocdoc are quick, safe, and entirely free.
Statistics on dental health in New Jersey
New Jersey was declared the 10th best state in terms of dental health in 2021 by the WalletHub study. The study compared fifty states and the District of Columbia based on 26 key metrics. According to the survey, the state stood eighth for the percentage of adults who consulted a dentist in the past year and 16th where dentists per capita were concerned. The state stood fifth, with the lowest percentage of adults with fair or poor oral conditions. It was placed 10th for the percentage of adults who had experienced oral pain in the past year. New Jersey also stood fifth for states where adults had low life satisfaction due to oral conditions.
Based on a study conducted by the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data, in 2018, around 898 male and 405 female New Jersey citizens received oral and pharyngeal cancer diagnoses. The tongue, floor of the mouth, gums, lip, tonsil, or lower pharynx are the most distinct locations for oral cavity and pharynx malignancies. The most frequent causes of oral cavity cancer are excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco use, including smoking, chewing, and smokeless tobacco.
The study also found that males experienced an average of 15.9 oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer per 100,000 people between 1990 and 2018. At the same time, the age-adjusted rate of pharynx cancer and oral cavity in females was approximately 6.3 per 100,000 people. It was also found that the lifetime risk of acquiring pharyngeal and oral cancer for men is one in 60, and for women, it is one in around 141.
Sources
WebMD
Nemours Kids Health
InsiderNJ
WalletHub
Healthline[1]
Verywell Health
Healthline[2]
MedlinePlus
Mayo Clinic
Red Oak Family Dentistry of McKinney
Cielo Dental & Orthodontics
New Jersey State Health Assessment Data
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