Who is a dentist?
Dentists specialize in oral care, diagnose oral diseases, and treat disorders in the teeth, gums, and other mouth parts. They provide instructions and create treatment plans for filling, repairing, or removing damaged teeth. They work with various devices and technologies, including lasers, digital scanners, X-ray machines, probes, drills, and other tools.
Some dentists may perform surgical procedures on the mouth's bones, teeth, or soft tissues. They also perform other tasks such as reading and interpreting X-rays and other diagnostic tests and administering pre-procedure anesthetics to prevent pain. Some of their treatment plans include prescribing antibiotics and other medicines depending on the underlying causes.
What are the different dental specialties?
The different specialists within dentistry include the following:
- Pediatric dentists (pedodontists) have expertise in addressing the oral healthcare needs of infants, children, and teenagers. They can identify the initial signs of tooth decay, falling teeth, crowding or crooked teeth, and other oral disorders in children. In addition, they oversee dental development from infancy through teenage years.
- Oral medicine specialists focus on the oral health needs of medically complex patients. They diagnose, treat, and manage oral and maxillofacial issues arising from medical treatments.
- Orthodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, managing, and treating malocclusion or crooked teeth. They also deal with skeletal and neuromuscular abnormalities in mature or developing oral structures. Orthodontists use braces, retainers, and other corrective dental appliances to improve teeth alignment and bite.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathologists combine their dentistry and pathology expertise to investigate the causes, effects, and processes of diseases affecting the mouth, face, and jaws.
- Endodontists specialize in addressing issues related to the dental pulp, which includes nerve tissues and blood vessels. Endodontists are skilled in performing procedures such as root canals and endodontic surgery to treat and manage these specific dental concerns.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiologists combine dentistry and radiology expertise to interpret data and images for diagnosing and treating disorders affecting the oral and maxillofacial region (mouth, jaws, and face).
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons specialize in surgeries to address defects, injuries, and diseases involving the hard and soft tissues in the mouth and maxillofacial region, which encompasses the mouth, face, and jaw. Their scope of practice also includes removing masses, cysts, and tumors within the jaw area.
- Dental public health specialists focus on preventing and controlling dental diseases and enhancing dental health through research and dental care.
- Prosthodontists are experts in diagnosing, treating, and managing issues related to deficient or missing teeth and oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible appliances. They can replace missing teeth and repair natural teeth in patients. They use crowns or dentures as permanent replacements for extracted or missing teeth.
- Dental anesthesiologists combine their knowledge of dentistry and anesthesiology to effectively address patient anxiety and pain while enhancing safety during oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgical or diagnostic procedures.
- Periodontists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases affecting the gums and the supporting bone structures of the teeth. They also treat gingivitis and periodontitis (bone and gum disease).
- Orofacial pain specialists diagnose, treat, and manage various pain disorders affecting the face, mouth, neck, head, and jaws.
Benefits of regular dental visits
Commonly, people push dental visits lower and lower on their to-do lists. Routine dentist appointments, though necessary, are made infrequently. However, such should not be the case. Read on to discover the benefits of regularly visiting your dentist and how that can help maintain your oral health.
- Saves your teeth—The dentist may recommend extraction if your teeth become decayed and rotten. Because you only have one adult set of teeth, losing any of them might damage your overall dental health. When you lose teeth, multiple things might happen in your mouth, including teeth shifting independently. This could cause significant discomfort and radically alter your smile. Saving your teeth is one of the essential advantages of routine dental appointments since it prevents irreversible damage.
- Prevents future troubles - You may believe that a dentist near you only works on your teeth. However, it is essential to remember that dental health has other aspects. Many cases of plaque and gum disease go undiagnosed because people ignore these issues and do not seek treatment. Dentists can evaluate for signs of mouth cancer or other severe problems. The benefits of routine dental visits are that the dentist can detect issues before they become more significant. For example, if they discover a little cavity developing or notice that your gums are not in good shape, they can treat you immediately.
- Helps with related problems - Apart from pains, other ancillary oral health concerns can occur. These include difficulty sleeping or headaches caused by teeth grinding. If a dentist periodically screens your teeth, these can be identified, targeted, and treated promptly. If needed, a dentist may also refer you to a proper specialist.
- Enables dental hygiene education - Many people may not know the proper methods for maintaining their oral hygiene. The majority of Americans clean their teeth once a day and never floss. It may not appear to be a big matter at first, but it can lead to bigger problems in the long run. Cultivating habits such as brushing your teeth after food and flossing at least once daily can help battle bacteria in your mouth and encourage healthier teeth. If you require a personalized dental hygiene routine, you must maintain your dental checkups so that specialists can monitor your oral health.
- Curbs bad breath—Chronic foul breath from the mouth is more than just morning breath or a result of consuming too many onions. Poor oral hygiene habits can cause a condition known as halitosis or bad breath. You must pay attention to this and try to solve it independently.
Please visit a dentist to determine the cause of the foul odor and treat it. It may be a medical emergency needing immediate attention.
A few dental conditions a dentist treats include:
- Toothache - A toothache is often a sign that something's wrong beneath the surface. Until you can see a dentist near you, try rinsing with warm water, gently flossing to clear out trapped food, and taking over-the-counter pain medication. If swelling, pus, or fever, it might be an abscess — a more serious issue requiring prompt treatment and possibly antibiotics.
- Tooth discoloration - Stains on teeth can result from diet, smoking, medication, or trauma. Whitening options include in-office treatments with bleaching agents and lights, at-home kits with trays and gels, or basic whitening toothpaste and rinses that help remove surface stains.
- Tooth decay (cavities) - Cavities form when plaque — a sticky bacterial film — breaks down tooth enamel. Adults may experience decay around fillings or near the gums. Preventative steps involve brushing twice daily using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, using fluoride mouthwash, limiting sugary snacks, and getting regular dental checkups. Sealants may also help.
- Chipped teeth - Chipping is a common dental injury from trauma or biting hard foods. Depending on the size of the chip, dentists might recommend a crown, bonding, or, if the damage reaches the pulp, a root canal followed by a crown or veneer.
- Impacted teeth - An impacted tooth fails to emerge properly, often due to crowding or obstruction. If it's not causing discomfort, treatment may not be necessary. Painful or problematic impacted teeth often require removal by an oral surgeon.
- Cracked teeth - A cracked tooth may result from trauma, grinding, or biting hard objects. Crowns often protect such teeth. If there's sensitivity or pain, you might need a root canal. Cracks extending below the gum line may require the tooth to be extracted.
- Cold sensitivity - If cold foods cause discomfort, the cause might be cavities, enamel erosion, gum recession, or cracks. Treatment could involve fillings, gum therapy, root canals, or switching to desensitizing toothpaste or fluoride gel.
- Extra teeth (hyperdontia) - Some individuals have more than the usual number of teeth, a condition called hyperdontia. It's linked to genetic conditions like cleft palate or Gardner's Syndrome. Treatment typically involves removing the extra teeth and possibly orthodontic correction.
- Crooked teeth - Misaligned teeth can affect more than appearance; they may cause jaw pain and hygiene issues. Orthodontic treatments like braces, aligners, or retainers help straighten teeth and improve oral health.
- Tooth gaps - A gap between teeth, especially front teeth, is harmless for many, but some choose to close it for aesthetic reasons. Solutions include orthodontics, bonding, or veneers.
- Gum disease - Gum issues such as bleeding, tenderness, or recession may indicate gingivitis or periodontitis caused by plaque buildup. If untreated, this can even cause tooth loss. Proper oral hygiene and regular cleanings are key to prevention and management.
- Bruxism - Grinding or clenching teeth, often due to stress or alignment issues, can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. A night guard can help; stress-reducing practices may be helpful during the day.
- Wisdom tooth - Third molars or wisdom teeth often prove problematic by becoming impacted or crowding other teeth. Regular dental monitoring is necessary. If complications arise, extraction is usually recommended.
- Tight spaces between teeth - If flossing is difficult due to tight spacing, switching to waxed or ultra-thin floss or using floss picks or interdental brushes can help. Daily flossing remains essential for maintaining healthy gums and teeth.
What to expect at a dental visit?
After finding a dentist near you, the next step is to schedule a checkup before any problems arise.
During your first visit to the dentist, they will take a complete health history. If your health status has changed by subsequent visits, inform them.
Most dental visits are checkups. Regular checkups (ideally every six months) help keep teeth cleaner and healthier and prevent painful problems from developing.
A comprehensive checkup typically includes a thorough dentist or dental hygienist cleaning. Using special instruments, the hygienist scrapes below the gumline to remove built-up plaque and tartar, leading to bad breath, cavities, gum diseases, and other oral health issues. Additionally, your dentist or hygienist may polish and floss your teeth during the cleaning.
During a dental checkup, the dentist will also examine your gums, teeth, and mouth to detect any signs of disease or other issues. The main objective is to maintain oral health and address problems early to prevent them from becoming more serious.
Based on your age, disease risks, and symptoms, your dentist may suggest X-rays to diagnose issues that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as jawbone damage, impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts or tumors, and decay between the teeth. If you are pregnant, you must inform your dentist, as X-rays should only be taken in emergencies during pregnancy. Your dentist may also request a panoramic X-ray, or panorex, to provide a comprehensive view of your lower and upper jaw in a single image, which helps understand your bite and teeth alignment.
If your teeth and gums are healthy, you may not need to schedule another appointment with a dentist for three to six months. If additional treatment is required, such as filling a cavity, extracting a wisdom tooth, or fixing a broken crown, it's best to make an appointment before leaving the office. Also, remember to ask your dentist any questions; this is your opportunity to get the answers you need.
How can you find the best dentist in Lake Jackson, TX?
Are you experiencing toothache or decay and want to see a dentist? Are you still trying to figure out how to find a qualified and experienced dentist near you among the endless online profiles, websites, and directories? The answer is simple: register with Zocdoc.
Zocdoc makes finding a top-rated dentist to meet your oral care needs in Lake Jackson, Texas, easy. You can begin the search by creating a free account on Zocdoc. Subsequently, you must select the specialty you are looking for or enter the details of your state, location, dates, and insurance plan. Zocdoc will display a comprehensive list of doctors based on your search.
If you have insurance, enter the name of your insurance company, and the website will show you the best dentists that accept your plan. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and book appointments using one insurance plan at a time. If you have multiple insurance plans, you can share details about your secondary carrier and plan in the notes for the provider during the final step of the booking process. If your provider utilizes Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you can input your secondary insurance information while completing the forms online. If you have more insurance-related queries, you can visit Zocdoc’s patient help center.
At Zocdoc, we believe in long-lasting and trusting patient-physician relationships. By browsing through the list of practitioners, you can learn about their teaching credentials, board certifications, clinical interests, expertise, experience, and languages.
Verified patient reviews and user ratings can help you make an informed choice before visiting the dentist. If you are looking for a female or male dentist near you, you can filter your search results by gender. Before your visit, you can book a video appointment on Zocdoc to get to know your dentist better. Look for the purple video icon in the dentist's profile or filter selected video appointments.
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Statistics on dental disorders in Texas, U.S.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were roughly 121,640 dentists employed in the United States in May 2023. The report also revealed that Texas was among the top states with the highest dentist employment levels, with nearly 10,910 dentists employed.
According to the Texas Health Institute Report 2018, about 11.6% of adults and 7.5% of children nationwide had fair or poor dental health. The report also details that Texas ranks 39th out of 41 reported states for children with dental caries (tooth decay) and 35th for untreated dental caries despite many children visiting the dentist yearly.
According to America's Health Rankings, in 2022, around 57.4% of male adults and 58.3% of female adults in Texas reported visiting the dentist.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Fermelia Dental
America's Health Rankings
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Texas Health Institute
Webster Dental
Colgate
