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Who is a dentist?

A dentist is a healthcare practitioner who helps prevent, diagnose, and treat disorders of the oral cavity. The parts that dentists manage include gums, teeth, palate conditions, and other mouth-related issues. Additionally, they help maintain good oral health and hygiene, impacting the overall well-being of an individual. Dentists also play a significant role in diagnosing oral cancer and other bodily ailments that first manifest in the oral cavity before progressing to other body parts.

Dentists follow a team approach to provide the best dental care to their patients. They lead a team of dental assistants, dental hygienists, and lab technicians. This team approach works out smoothly in dentistry as it promotes comprehensive, convenient, cost-effective, and efficient continuity of care. 

What does a dentist do?

Dentists have various roles and responsibilities to ensure they provide their patients with the best care and treatment. These include the following:

1. Diagnosis of oral diseases
2. Designing treatment plans to maintain or restore a patient's oral health
3. Interpretation of diagnostic tests & X-rays
4. Monitoring the development and growth of the jaws & teeth
5. Safe administration of anesthetics
6. Performing surgical procedures on the oral cavity's bone, teeth, and soft tissues
7. Management of oral trauma and other emergencies related to it

What are the specializations within dentistry?

Various subspecialties within dentistry provide patients with the best care and rehabilitation. Mentioned below is a list of subspecialties recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialities and Certifying Boards:

• Dental anesthesiology - manages pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental, oral, maxillofacial, and supplementary surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the perioperative period.

• Dental public health - a para-clinical branch that helps prevent dental disorders through organized community efforts. These dental specialists identify critical oral health issues and formulate effective strategies to overcome them.

• Endodontics - treats dental pulp disorders; it includes the nerves, blood supply, and other fibrous tissue of the tooth. A root canal is a common teeth-saving procedure performed by endodontists.

• Oral and maxillofacial pathology - Based on histopathology, this branch diagnoses diseases of the mouth, teeth, and surrounding regions.

• Oral and maxillofacial radiology - focuses on performing X-rays and other imaging techniques and scans to diagnose and manage oral disorders. It aids dentists in developing effective treatment plans for their patients.

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery - provides surgical interventions for mouth-related diseases and injuries. It especially emphasizes the treatment of oral cancer and other head and neck cancers.

• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics - corrects dental and facial irregularities. It involves correcting misaligned teeth and jaws with the help of orthotic devices such as braces, aligners, and retainers.

• Periodontics - treat diseases related to the gum tissues and the bone supporting the teeth. Often, cavities can erode the gums and cause bone loss, requiring the care of a periodontist.

• Prosthodontics - provides treatment options for restoring natural teeth and oral structures with artificial devices like dentures or replacing missing teeth. It is beneficial for the senior population. 

What are the most common dental issues?

Regular checkups, daily flossing, a nutritious diet, and twice-a-day brushing can help you avoid recurring dental problems. You can prevent cavities by learning about the dental problems and their causes. Among the most typical issues with dental hygiene are the following:

• Bad breath or halitosis is an awkward problem that affects many people. More often than not, an underlying dental condition is responsible for causing it. Halitosis can be a result of cavities, dry mouth, gum disease, oral cancer, or bacteria on the tongue.

• Cavities or tooth decay is the second most common dental problem in the United States. It occurs when plaque on the teeth combines with sugar, starch, and bacteria. The resulting product produces acids that attack the tooth enamel. Dry mouth, aging, and enamel erosion can cause cavities.

• Gum (gingivitis) or periodontal (periodontitis) disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss and occurs due to an infection of the gums. Its symptoms include bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and chewing pain. Diabetes, dry mouth, and smoking are significant risk factors for this condition.

• Oral cancer is a severe and deadly condition commonly occurring in people aged 40 and above. It is often curable if diagnosed and treated in the earlier stages. Smoking or chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are the most prominent risk factors. Standard mouth or throat cancer symptoms include sores, lumps, or difficulty chewing or moving your tongue or jaw.

• Mouth sores can be of many types and are very bothersome. Unless they last more than two weeks, they are not a significant cause of concern. Common mouth sores include canker sores (triggered by varying causes), fever blisters or cold sores (caused by Herpes simplex virus), and thrush (caused by yeast infection).

• Tooth erosion occurs when acid in the mouth attacks the enamel, resulting in the loss of tooth structure.

• Tooth sensitivity is another common issue that involves pain and discomfort from sweets, cold air, hot or cold beverages, and ice cream.

• Toothaches and dental emergencies can include a broken or cracked tooth, an abscessed (pus) tooth, or accidental tooth loss.

When should you visit a dentist? 

Routine dental checkups are essential and help in the early detection of oral diseases. However, you may experience specific dental issues even if you get regular checkups every year. There are some signs of oral conditions that you should not ignore. Other than obvious reasons like toothache and cavities, here are some other signs to visit a dentist near you: 

• See a dentist if you have pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or an eating disorder. 

• Visiting a dentist is crucial if you are pregnant. Pregnancy can cause changes to the teeth, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Pregnancy may also worsen some existing dental issues. Some expecting mothers may experience pregnancy gingivitis, which is indicated by swollen or bleeding gums. High hormone levels during pregnancy can affect the way the gums react to plaque (a sticky film that builds up on the teeth). Your dentist can take care of all dental procedures and cleanings before your baby arrives. 

• Sensitivity to hot or cold food: If you feel a sharp pain shooting through the gums when you eat or drink something cold or hot, your teeth may be sensitive. The pain may also radiate across your head. Sensitivity occurs due to the loss of the outermost protective layer of the teeth, called enamel, and this leads to exposure of the sensitive dentin of the tooth and allows hot and cold foods to stimulate the nerves. 

• Recession of gums: Receding gums is a normal part of aging. However, they may be a sign of gum disease. Gum recession leads to exposure of the teeth roots and increases the risk of infection, pain, and tooth decay. 

• Difficulty chewing and swallowing, or pain in the neck, face, jaws, or gums, can also indicate a problem within your bite or the way your teeth fit on top of each other. An orthodontist (a dentist specializing in the misalignment of the jaw) can recommend dental devices such as braces, aligners, or retainers to help correct your bite and relieve jaw pain. 

• Dry mouth (Xerostomia): A dry mouth can be a medication side effect or, in some cases, indicate Sjögren's syndrome. In this chronic autoimmune condition, the body's immune system may mistakenly attack its moisture-producing glands, the lacrimal (tear-secreting) glands, and the salivary glands.

• If you have puffy gums, or your gums bleed when you brush your teeth.

Find the best dentist near you in Medford, OR

Do you have a constant toothache causing hindrance in your day-to-day activities? Do you experience extreme sensitivity in your teeth when consuming something cold? Do you have a sore throat that doesn't seem to be healing? If so, visiting a dentist would help you get a timely diagnosis and treatment. With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best dentist who accepts your insurance plan in Medford.

Enter your location (Medford, Oregon), doctor's specialty (dentist), and preferred appointment date. An extensive list of dentists will appear based on your search criteria. At Zocdoc, transparency is of utmost value. Hence, each dentist's profile includes a brief introduction, educational qualifications, practice location, visit reasons, and, most notably, patient reviews and ratings.

Furthermore, with Zocdoc, you can filter out your results by gender, spoken languages, and whether a doctor offers pediatric care. You can also book a video appointment with a dentist near you if in-person visits are impossible. You can book one by looking for a purple video icon on dentists' profiles or by filtering results through video consultation. 

Zocdoc makes booking an appointment 100% easy, free, and secure!

Dental health stats of Medford, Oregon

According to a 2023 American Cancer Society report, around 780 new oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer cases will be diagnosed, and about 200 deaths will be caused by the same in Oregon. 

In the 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, about 11.2% of adults aged 65 and above in Oregon reported losing all natural teeth due to decay or gum diseases. It also showed that around 68.0% of adults aged 18 years and above visited a dentist in 2020. 

According to a report by the National Oral Health Surveillance System, over 85.0% of children in Oregon visited a dentist in 2022.

Sources

American Cancer Society

American Dental Education Association

Maine Dental Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Oral Health Surveillance System

Verywell Health

American Dental Association[1]

American Dental Association[2]

American Dental Association[3]

American Dental Association[4]

Healthline

Aetna

WebMD

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.