Who are dentists?
To practice as a general dentist or dental surgeon, a medical professional must have a dental degree, such as a DDS or DMD. Once they earn a license, they can open a private clinic (or join an existing dental team) to provide professional cleaning, prostheses, check-ups, or imaging (like X-ray or CT) services. However, about 20% of dentists pursue additional training in two- to three-year residency programs in a specialty (such as prosthodontics or oral and maxillofacial surgery) to become licensed specialists.
All dentists aim to enhance their patients' oral health regardless of their degree or specialization. Contrary to popular belief, a specific diagnosis is unnecessary for visiting a dentist. You should see one at least once between every six months and a year to ensure there are no cavities or asymptomatic gum or tooth disease. For instance, many gum diseases, such as gingivitis, may begin with mild or no symptoms (such as reddening or recession of gums). This may be due to factors like genes and lifestyle choices (smoking and drinking, etc.) or a predisposition to developing them due to other chronic heart and systemic diseases (such as hypertension or diabetes).
While the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends seeing a dentist near you at least once a year, you must also adopt a good oral care routine at home. This ideally includes brushing twice a day and cleaning between the teeth (called 'inter-dental cleaning') at least once daily. This is because toothbrush bristles may fail to reach hidden or hard-to-reach areas (especially if you have crooked teeth that are hard to clean). Over time, this leads to the accumulation of plaque, which may, in turn, lead to tartar or gum disease. Dentists can also help with sensitivity, which is when people develop sensitive teeth as the dentin (a part of the tooth) becomes exposed to hot and cold fluid items when the gums recess (i.e., get pulled away from the teeth).
Techniques and procedures used by dentists
Dentists employ various techniques, undertake diverse procedures, and use specific equipment to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health issues. These include:
- Dental fillings: These are materials used to repair teeth damaged by cavities. After removing decayed portions, dentists fill the holes created by cavities with substances like amalgam, composite resin, or porcelain. Fillings can restore the tooth's structure, prevent further decay, and enable normal tooth function while blending with its natural color.
- Root canal treatment: It entails removing the infected or inflamed pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the insides of the tooth, and finally sealing it to prevent further infection. After the procedure, the dentist restores the tooth with a filling or crown. Root canals help alleviate pain and preserve the tooth's function.
- Tooth extraction: It entails the removal of a tooth, like wisdom teeth, due to concerns like severe damage, decay, crowding, or infection. During the procedure, the dentists numb the area using sedation or general anesthesia, loosen the tooth with tools, and extract it using professional tools. Post-extraction care includes controlling bleeding and following instructions for proper healing to prevent complications and promote recovery.
- Dentures: Also called false teeth, these are removable prosthetic devices that dentists can expertly fit. They replace missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Dentures restore oral function, improve aesthetics, and support facial structure for individuals who have lost some or all of their natural teeth.
- Mouthguards: These are protective devices worn over the teeth to shield against injuries during sports. They cushion against impact, reducing the risk of chipped, broken, or lost teeth in contact sports.
- Dental implants: These are artificial teeth roots usually made of titanium. They are fitted into the jawbone using surgical methods to support newly attached replacement teeth. They offer a durable, natural-looking solution for missing teeth, restoring function and aesthetics. Implant procedures involve multiple stages, including healing periods, to ensure successful integration and long-term stability of the fittings within the mouth.
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics are National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) -recognized specialties in the USA. This body must formally acknowledge an area of dentistry for it to be deemed a specialty.
Orthodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and correcting malocclusion and neuromuscular and skeletal abnormalities. Orthodontic treatment entails changing jaw bones or soft tissue using gentle but controlled forces. For this purpose, orthodontists often rely on appliances such as aligners, power chains, braces, or temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Together, these interventions ensure you have a 'good bite' and can easily chew and speak.
A general dentist can also address some of these concerns. However, you may want to consider seeing an orthodontist if your child displays any of the following features, according to the American Association of Orthodontists:
- Breathing through the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or biting (or biting the cheeks or roof of the mouth)
- Underbite or overbite
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Shifting of the jaws or sounds from the jaw
What subspecialties can dentists pursue?
In addition to orthodontics, there are 12 other specialties recognized by the National Commission. These are:
- Dental anesthesiology: Dental anesthesiologists collaborate with other dentists to oversee pain management during surgery. They work with patients, helping reduce their pain and anxiety through advanced sedation, general anesthesia, and local anesthesia.
- Endodontics: Endodontists focus on conditions affecting your tooth pulp. They specialize in diagnosing complex reasons for tooth pain and treating them to relieve pain while preserving your natural tooth. Common reasons to see an endodontist include tooth decay, abscessed teeth, and tooth injuries.
- Dental public health: Dental public health specialists assess dental health needs and how dental healthcare practice meets those needs. They also offer guidance and leadership in areas like disease prevention, population-based dentistry, and the promotion of dental health.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Dentists specializing in oral and maxillofacial pathology examine the causes and effects of diseases impacting your oral and maxillofacial regions, make diagnoses using clinical, microscopic, biochemical, radiographic, and other examination methods, and manage patients.
- Oral medicine: Oral medicine specialists perform procedures like small excisions, therapeutic injections, and diagnostic biopsies. Since oral medicine is primarily a non-surgical specialty, dentists pursuing it typically manage conditions using systemic and topical medications. They treat and manage various conditions, including orofacial pain, oral complications from cancer treatment, and salivary gland diseases.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: Having received advanced training in radiation physics, biology, safety, and hygiene, oral and maxillofacial radiologists take and interpret conventional and digital images to diagnose and treat oral-facial conditions.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgical procedures to treat conditions affecting your mouth, face, jaws, and neck. These procedures include tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, cleft lip and palate repair, jaw surgery, and maxillectomy.
- Orofacial pain: Orofacial pain specialists diagnose and treat conditions that cause pain in your head, face, neck, and jaws. They also focus on identifying what causes the pain. In addition, they treat diseases like insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome.
- Pediatric dentistry: Pediatric dentists diagnose, treat, and manage dental conditions in infants, children, and teenagers. They focus on the unique problems that can develop in children's teeth, jaw, and gums as their bodies grow and develop.
- Periodontics: Periodontists specialize in treating conditions that impact the tissues supporting your teeth, such as your gums and jawbone. Additionally, they perform procedures like scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance, and surgery (gum grafts, gingival flap surgery, frenectomy, etc.).
- Prosthodontics: Prosthodontists specialize in making dental prosthetics (artificial teeth). Your dentist might recommend you to a prosthodontist for reasons like missing or damaged teeth, facial pain, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Taking care of one's teeth
Healthy teeth are essential to daily activities like chewing or talking. However, many other reasons exist to take good care of your teeth. For instance, many people believe that their smile is an integral part of their personality, and tooth or gum disease can affect people's self-confidence, especially if it leads to tooth decay or loss.
Remembering that oral health is vital to overall health is also crucial. While research has not reached any conclusive results, there may be a connection between periodontal (gum) disease and other systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, or even stress. Many systemic or infectious diseases may also have oral symptoms.
Another reason is the benefit of timely intervention. For instance, gum disease often begins with symptoms like bleeding or tender gums and is treatable. At this early stage (known as gingivitis), the dentist can undertake a professional cleaning to remove tartar. As long as the patient brushes and flosses as recommended, gingivitis can be eliminated, and the damage is reversible. However, if the periodontal disease goes unnoticed or untreated, pockets may form under the gums, accumulating bacteria and plaque. Over time, this leads to loss of bone and tissue, enwrapping the teeth and holding them in place. At first, the teeth may loosen and move around, but eventually, they may start falling out. This advanced and more aggressive stage of periodontal disease is called periodontitis, and it is more challenging to treat.
ADA also recommends consuming a balanced diet and going for regular check-ups for prevention (and early treatment) of gum, tooth disease, or oral cancer.
Finding the right dentist near you in Las Vegas, Nevada
Choosing the right dentist is essential for two reasons. Firstly, many patients can have an intense fear of the dental chair or may have had negative experiences at a clinic. In such a case, finding someone who is friendly and professional and would build a positive and trust-based relationship with the patient can be necessary. Zocdoc can help you achieve this. With Zocdoc, you can review verified patient reviews for each provider before booking an appointment.
Our algorithms can help you find the best high-rated dentists in your neighborhood, and you can easily choose one based on the following criteria:
- Availability
- Insurance or network benefits accepted
- Specialization and experience
- Degrees and board memberships
- Patient reviews and ratings
Using Zocdoc’s insurance detector, you can quickly identify in-network providers near you. While you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account, you can only search for and schedule an appointment with one insurance plan at a time. In case you have multiple plans, you can mention your secondary insurance plan and carrier in your notes for the provider in the last step of the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc’s intake forms, you can add details about your secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.
Remember, the hassle of finding a dentist should not keep you from availing the oral healthcare you deserve. Search for your specific concern or preferred insurance on Zocdoc now to find the best dentist near you. Booking is easy, secure, and free!
Oral health statistics in Nevada
A 2015 American Dental Association (ADA) Health Policy Institute report paints a similar picture. Self-report data from adults in Nevada states that around 11% of low-income and middle-income groups respond "very often" if asked whether life, in general, is less satisfying due to the state of their teeth and mouth. Less than half (~4%) of high-income respondents answered similarly.
Similarly, there were sharp differences across income groups when asked about the impact the appearance of their mouth and teeth has on the ability to interview for a job: significantly higher low-income respondents (~30%) answered "yes" in comparison to middle-income (20%) or high-income (18%) respondents. Such differences across socioeconomic lines were found for various dental conditions, including dry mouth, difficulty biting or chewing, experiencing pain, avoiding smiling, problem sleeping, difficulty with speech, or even taking days off.
Overall, the ADA Health Policy Institute found that approximately 1 in 4 Nevada adults avoid smiling due to the condition of their teeth. About 22% of adults "feel embarrassment," and around 23% "feel anxiety" for similar reasons. You can check out the infographic here.
Sources
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The Royal College of Pathologists
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American Academy of Periodontology
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AAP Gum Graft Surgery
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