What is a dentist?
Dentists are certified doctors who specialize in dental and oral health. They can diagnose oral diseases and establish a treatment plan to restore or maintain a patient's dental hygiene.
Apart from treating the teeth and gums, dentists also examine the head, neck, and jaw muscles, salivary glands, the tongue, and the head and neck nervous system. During a detailed dental examination, they also check for swellings, lumps, ulcers, discolorations, and any other abnormalities in the oral cavity. They can also perform appropriate diagnostic procedures like oral cancer screening tests, biopsies, salivary gland functions, and diagnostic tests for infectious or chronic health issues.
Dentists can even detect early symptoms in the mouth that indicate a health condition in a different body part. They can effectively recognize health cases that need immediate dental specialists' referral for optimum patient care and treatment. If you are looking for a dentist for your child, you can find pediatric dentists near you who specialize in treating children.
Importance of dental and oral health
Poor oral health and hygiene don't just cause gum disease and dental cavities but are also directly linked to various health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Proper dental hygiene practices include:
- Brushing and flossing with fluoride toothpaste.
- Avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
- Eating a diet of vegetables and fruits.
- Regular dental visits.
- Reducing sugar consumption can help keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy.
It also helps to prevent expensive dental procedures and other health issues.
What education and training do dentists receive?
Becoming a dentist involves a structured educational journey similar to that of a medical doctor. It begins with completing an undergraduate program in biology, chemistry, health sciences, or mathematics, ultimately leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Subsequently, aspiring dentists embark on a path that involves rigorous training and examinations.
The educational trajectory comprises the following stages:
- Preliminary studies: This phase begins with two years of intensive biomedical science coursework, providing students with the foundational knowledge essential for dental practice. This stage serves as the cornerstone of their dental education.
- Clinical training: Students progress to two years of hands-on clinical practice after the initial academic phase. This immersive experience provides them with essential skills for professional growth.
- Professional degrees: After completing their academic and clinical training, aspiring dentists earn either a degree in Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM), signifying their readiness to embark on a career in dentistry.
- Licensure: Candidates must obtain a dental license to practice dentistry officially. This process involves successfully passing comprehensive written and practical examinations, validating their aptitude and competence in dental care.
Furthermore, dentists may enhance their qualifications and expertise by pursuing certification through the National Board Dental Examination. Specializing in particular areas within dentistry may necessitate the completion of postgraduate residencies lasting anywhere from one to three years. Dentists refine their technical skills during this extended training period and deepen their knowledge in their chosen dental disciplines.
Specialties within dentistry
Dentistry encompasses a variety of specialized fields, with 12 recognized dental specialties that ensure comprehensive care for patients:
- Dental public health: Dentists focus on preventing and controlling dental diseases at the community level, engaging in public education, research, and group dental care initiatives.
- Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentists treat newborns, kids, and teenagers with vital dental care, especially those with specialized medical needs. They emphasize preventive care and treatments.
- Periodontics: Periodontists prevent, diagnose, and treat gum diseases and issues related to the supporting tissues of the teeth.
- Prosthodontics: Prosthodontists restore and replace missing or defective teeth and oral tissues using biocompatible materials to improve function and appearance.
- Endodontics: Endodontists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions linked with the dental pulp and periradicular tissues, focusing on the inner parts of the teeth.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Dentists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions using clinical, radiographic, and microscopic methods.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Surgeons address functional and aesthetic issues through surgical treatments for injuries, diseases, and defects in the oral and maxillofacial areas.
- Oral medicine: Dentists diagnose and manage oral conditions related to medical complexities, addressing the oral health needs of patients with underlying medical conditions.
- Dental anesthesiology: Specialists manage pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental procedures, ensuring comfort and safety for routine and complex treatments.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: Dental radiologists produce and interpret images to diagnose conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions using various radiant energy modalities.
- Orofacial pain: Specialists diagnose and treat pain disorders in the jaw, mouth, face, head, and neck using evidence-based approaches.
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: Orthodontists correct malocclusions and skeletal abnormalities by aligning teeth and jaws, improving function and appearance.
Each dental specialty plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive specialized and effective treatment for their oral health needs.
Causes of dental and oral problems
Our mouth naturally contains different types of bacteria, which are harmless in small quantities. However, continuous higher intake of sugar-rich foods and poor dental hygiene increases the number of acid-producing bacteria inside the mouth that feed on the sugar and plaque deposits on the teeth, resulting in plaque formation. The acid produced by these bacteria eats up and permanently damages the tooth enamel or the outer layer of the tooth, causing small holes or erosions called dental cavities. If left untreated, the acid reaches the inner softer tooth layer called the dentin layer, resulting in severe dental complications.
The plaque that settles and hardens near the gumline and over the tooth can inflame the gums, causing gum disease or gingivitis. If the inflammation increases, the gum becomes swollen and separates from the tooth, forming pus pockets in the empty spaces. This stage of gum disease is called periodontitis. Other factors contributing to periodontitis and gingivitis include:
- Poor brushing practices
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- A diet rich in sugar and carbohydrates
- Genetics or family history
- Hormonal changes in women
- Frequent vomiting due to acidity
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Infections such as aids or HIV
Why should one visit a dentist?
Routine dental exams, usually planned every six months, are essential to preserving oral health for adults and children. You can easily use Zocdoc to find qualified pediatric dentists near you who can treat your children regularly. These routine visits encompass various essential aspects:
- Preventive care: Dentists play a pivotal role in early detection and prevention. During your checkup, they meticulously examine your oral cavity, identifying potential issues such as mouth cancer, gum disease, and dental decay. Timely detection and intervention are critical for preventing more severe problems in the future.
- Plaque and tartar removal: Dental hygienists complement these checkups by thoroughly cleaning teeth and removing plaque and tartar buildup. This meticulous cleaning procedure significantly contributes to your dental well-being.
- Professional guidance: When collaborating with your dentist and hygienist, you receive personalized advice on maintaining optimal oral hygiene at home. These insights empower you to implement effective dental care practices, ensuring the longevity of your dental health.
Proper dental hygiene and regular dental appointments can help prevent most dental issues, enabling you to lead a good quality of life. So, if you're wondering how to find a qualified and experienced dentist who suits your lifestyle and oral health needs, the answer is simple: Log in to Zocdoc.
Finding the best dentist near you in Jonesboro, Arkansas
With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best and most experienced board-certified dentists in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The website has a detailed list of qualified dentists.
The process is simple: Create a free account on Zocdoc. Next, choose your specialty or condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list of doctors based on your search criteria will appear. If you do not have an insurance plan or do not want to use it to book your appointment, you can mention that you are paying for yourself in the search bar. For more information on health insurance, read the FAQs on the Zocdoc patient help center page.
Zocdoc has partnered with qualified, experienced dentists in Jonesboro, Arkansas, who provide comprehensive patient advice and treatment. You can even use the Zocdoc insurance detector if you need clarification on your insurance plan. Each dentist on Zocdoc has a personalized profile that includes a brief introduction, education qualifications, practice location, patient reviews, and visit reasons. Therefore, you get to know everything you need about a particular dentist near you on a single platform.
After completing an appointment, Zocdoc asks the patient to leave a review. Therefore, the best way to find the most trusted dentist in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is to read updated patient reviews on Zocdoc. You can filter the results by gender if you're specifically looking for female or non-binary dentists.
You can also book video appointments on Zocdoc before an in-person visit to better understand your dentist. Look for a purple video icon on dentists' profiles or filter the video appointment selection.
On Zocdoc, you can book appointments with dentists near you who accept your insurance plan in real time. It is simple, secure, and free!
Statistics on dentists, dental visits, teeth extraction, and preventive dental visits, Arkansas, USA
As of 2023, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that Arkansas has approximately 870 general practice dentists and about 1,830 dental hygienists, with location quotients of 0.85 and 1.03, respectively.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2024, nearly 57 million Americans reside in areas classified as dental health professional shortage zones. Alarmingly, about 67% of these shortage areas are found in rural communities, underscoring a significant access issue for dental care.
Analysis of dental care trends from 2016 to 2021 also indicates a concerning 10% decline in the proportion of low-income children and adolescents (aged 1–17) having preventive dental care visits within the past year.
Data from 2022, as reported by America's Health Rankings, shows that around 55.6% of adults in Arkansas visited a dental clinic or dentist within the past year, which is lower than the national average of approximately 66%. There was also a notable gender disparity in the estimated figures, with about 59.9% of females in Arkansas reporting visiting a dentist clinic or seeing a dentist within the past year, as compared to only 51.1% of males.
Furthermore, a closer examination of dental health among the 65 and older demographic reveals that about 21.9% of adults in this age group in Arkansas have reported having all their teeth extracted due to gum disease or decay. This percentage significantly exceeds the U.S. average of 12.1%. Breaking this down further by gender, close to 19.4% of females and 25% of males aged 65 and older in Arkansas have experienced such extractions, surpassing national averages of 11.6% and 12.8%, respectively.
Lastly, according to data from 2022-2023, approximately 78.3% of Arkansas children aged 1 to 17 had at least one visit for preventive dental care in the past year. Although this figure is slightly lower than the national average of around 79.2%, it still reflects the ongoing efforts to improve dental health among younger populations in the state.
Sources
WebMD
Mayo Clinic
Medical News Today
National Center for Biotechnology Information
America’s Health Rankings[1]
America’s Health Rankings[2]
America’s Health Rankings[3]
America’s Health Rankings[4]
America’s Health Rankings[5]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards
