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Who are dentists, and what do they treat?

Dentists diagnose and treat teeth, gums, oral cavities, and mouth diseases. Some common conditions they treat include gingivitis (a mild gum disorder), bruxism (grinding of teeth), crooked teeth, and periodontitis (gum disease). They also perform minor and complex surgeries such as removing wisdom teeth, root canal treatment (RCT), and tooth extraction.

During routine dental checkups, a dentist checks for cavities or signs of gum disease, cleanses teeth, removes any buildup on your teeth, and fills up cavities. Other duties involve administering anesthesia, reviewing X-rays, and educating people on dental hygiene practices.

Educational background of dentists

Dentists follow a career path similar to conventional Doctors of Medicine (MDs). To become a dentist, one must complete an undergraduate degree in science followed by dental school. After graduating from dental school, they earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree. Some also specialize in endodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, or pediatric dentistry.

What are the various specialties in dentistry?

Dentists can specialize in several areas of dentistry. Depending on the specialty chosen, they undergo additional training that can last one to a few years.

• Oral and maxillofacial pain: The specialty involves diagnosing, managing, and treating pain disorders in the jaw, mouth, face, head, and neck. It focuses on evidence-based understanding of pathophysiology, etiology, prevention, and treatment.

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Involves the surgical and adjunctive treatment of dental issues. It includes diseases, injuries, and defects affecting the functional and esthetic components of the oral and maxillofacial region.

• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: This dental specialty covers the detection, prevention, interception, and correction of malocclusion, neuromuscular, and skeletal abnormalities in developing or mature orofacial structures.

• Prosthodontics: This area of dentistry focuses on the diagnosis, rehabilitation, treatment planning, and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance, and health. It primarily treats patients with clinical conditions related to missing or deficient teeth and oral/maxillofacial tissues.

• Pediatric dentistry: This specialty focuses on providing oral health care for children. It includes preventive care for infants and adolescents, including those with special health care needs.

• Periodontics: This specialty treats illnesses affecting the supporting and surrounding teeth tissues or their substitutes. It focuses on maintaining these structures' health, function, and esthetics.

• Endodontics: This area treats the dental pulp and periradicular tissues. It involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and injuries related to the pulp.

• Dental public health: This specialty prevents and controls dental diseases and promotes dental health through organized community efforts. The specialty emphasizes dental health education and applied dental research. It focuses on the administration of group dental care programs on a community basis.

• Oral and maxillofacial pathology: This specialty deals with the nature, identification, and management of oral and maxillofacial diseases. It involves research and diagnosis using various clinical, radiographic, microscopic, and biochemical examinations.

Symptoms of oral and dental problems

Waiting until your symptoms surface to visit a dentist is bad for your overall health. Schedule dental appointments at least twice annually to detect problems early on.

However, if you experience any of the following, rush to a dentist immediately:

• Chronic bad breath
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth
• Broken or cracked teeth
• Frequent dry mouth
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Toothache or pain
• Swollen and bleeding gums after flossing and brushing
• Swelling on face and cheek
• Sensitivity to cold and hot beverages or temperature

Causes of oral and dental problems

Meanwhile, the prominent risk factors for oral issues include the following:

• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Poor brushing habits
• Genetics or family history
• Frequently eating sugary foods and drinks
• Heartburn or acid reflux
• Hormonal changes in women
• Infections such as AIDS or HIV
• Frequent vomiting due to acid
• Use of certain medicines that lead to a dry mouth

What can you expect at the dentist appointment?

Before you visit a dentist near you, plan enough time off from work or school. A well-planned schedule gives you enough time to rest after your appointment. Before the meeting, check if your healthcare insurance provider covers your dentist. If you don't have insurance, check how much you may have to pay for the appointment. Keep your ID and insurance cards ready while filling out the paperwork. 

During the appointment, a dental hygienist or dentist will scrape off buildup, floss your teeth, and use other tools to clean them. They will also examine your oral health thoroughly, including your teeth, gums, and supporting structures, to determine any problems. For a better assessment, they may require X-rays. The dental exam might cause discomfort, but this only gets you closer to fixing teeth problems and avoiding severe concerns. Depending on the findings, the dentist will recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Call the dentist's office if you have any questions about pain or swelling between appointments. However, if you suffer from a broken tooth, run to the emergency room and inform your dentist immediately.

Why is oral health so important?

The human body comprises valuable and harmful bacteria; the same applies to the mouth. A build-up of harmful bacteria can lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Plaque and sugary foods trigger harmful bacteria that produce acid that erodes tooth enamel and eventually causes tooth erosion. Studies have linked poor oral hygiene to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and respiratory infections. Therefore, it is vital to ensure proper oral hygiene. Here are some reasons why oral health is important: 

Reduces the risk of heart disease and other health issues: Research shows that individuals diagnosed with heart problems or diabetes often have gum disease or tooth decay. Heart issues can result from blood vessel inflammation brought on by oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream.

Prevents tooth loss: Excessive plaque buildup can cause tooth decay and may cause tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing help maintain proper oral hygiene, protect natural teeth, and avoid gum disease and bone loss.

Reduces cancer risk: Good oral hygiene can lower the risk of oral cancer and several other types of cancer, including breast, skin, and gallbladder. 

Reduces pregnancy complications: Pregnant women with good oral health have a higher chance of having a healthy baby with adequate birth weight. Tooth decay and gum disorder can lead to the release of chemicals that cause premature labor and inflammation. Expectant mothers need to uphold good dental hygiene and schedule routine dental examinations. 

Boosts self-confidence: Maintaining good oral hygiene can boost self-confidence by giving individuals a brighter smile. Yellow or stained teeth may not cause harm, but they can make individuals self-conscious. Regular cleaning and polishing can protect against dental problems and help individuals gain confidence.

How do you maintain oral hygiene?

Besides regular visits to a dentist near you twice a year, you should also practice dental hygiene at home to stop tooth decay and oral diseases. Poor oral hygiene can significantly heighten the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Here are a few simple tactics you can opt to maintain oral hygiene at home:

• Brush your teeth often: The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth twice daily. Doing this helps remove tiny food particles and plaque (a sticky, colorless layer of bacteria), which can develop on your teeth, producing acids that lead to the breakdown of enamel and form cavities. Brushing your teeth after eating (in the morning and before sleeping at night) can reduce the risk of cavities. However, avoid brushing immediately after eating, as the acids in your mouth can remove the protective enamel.

• Limit sugary and acidic food: Sugary drinks such as fruit juices, sodas (including diet sodas), teas, and energy drinks are likely to convert into acid in the mouth, which erodes the teeth's enamel. Moreover, acidic food can also stain and cause yellowing of the teeth. While you should avoid excess sugary and starchy foods, you do not need to cut them entirely out of your diet.

• Avoid smoking tobacco: Smoking can cause periodontal or gum disease, leading to discoloration of your teeth, inflammation of the salivary gland openings, and an increased risk of developing oral cancer. Tobacco products weaken the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth and disrupt the normal functioning of gum tissue cells. Nicotine gum or patches can help reduce smoking, and you can also approach your dentist or hygienist for a long-term solution.

• Eat a diet with fruits and vegetables: A balanced diet helps maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. Crispy and fresh fruits or raw vegetables such as apples, leafy greens, carrots, and celery help generate mouth-cleansing saliva that freshens your mouth and removes bad breath. They also help remove plaque and contain antioxidants such as vitamin C, which help protect gums from bacterial infection and damage.

• Treat your dry mouth: Saliva is an essential substance the mouth produces that helps remineralize the teeth. It also prevents cavity formation and keeps the mouth comfortable and healthy. A dry mouth or xerostomia can be relieved temporarily by hydration, i.e., sipping water frequently, chewing sugar-free gum, limiting caffeine intake, and adding moisture by placing a humidifier in your room. You may have to seek medical help for long-term relief, as severe dry mouth can also be the underlying cause of other health conditions.

How do you find top-rated dentists near you in Memphis, TN?

Cavities can grow deeper into the tooth if left untreated, leading to intense pain, increased sensitivity, swelling in the gums, infections, and eventually cause tooth decay or require tooth extraction. Routine dental checkups prevent cavities from forming and lower the risk of tooth erosion and gum disease.

Finding an experienced dentist in Memphis can take time and effort. However, Zocdoc provides a straightforward and safe way to find dentists in your area from the comfort of your home. To book an online or in-person consultation, visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition/symptoms and location (Memphis, Tennessee). You can then browse through the displayed results of top-rated dentists and filter your search based on the providers' gender, hospital affiliation, languages they speak, distance, and whether a provider treats children or not.

To help you make an informed decision, Zocdoc also gives you access to each healthcare professional's unique profile, which includes information like their educational background, clinical experience, licenses, awards, certifications, and accreditations. You can also select a dentist by reading honest and verified reviews by past patients. 

If you want to find a provider who accepts your insurance, add your insurance information (your provider and plan) on the Zocdoc search. It will help you see accurate results of in-network dentists near you. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance. 

After choosing your preferred dentist, Zocdoc will help you instantly book an in-person or virtual appointment based on the specialist's availability.

Booking appointments with dentists on Zocdoc is easy, free, and secure!

Dental hygiene statistics in Tennessee

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2023, Tennessee employed over 1,450 general dentists and nearly 150 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and 80 orthodontists (who realign teeth and treat dental malocclusions and oral anomalies).

Data collated by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2020 shows that approximately 59% of all adults aged 18 and above residing in Tennessee had visited a dental clinic or seen a dentist in the past year. Of these, nearly 60.8% were females, and 58.5% were males. People with education levels greater than high school (75% of college graduates) were more likely to see a dentist than those who did not graduate high school (36.7%). It also stated that of all Tennessee adults aged 65 and above, 19.5% had no teeth left due to tooth decay and gum disease, and 39.1% had lost six or more teeth.

Research indicates that people who drink fluoridated water are less likely to develop oral cavities and other similar dental problems. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS), an estimated 88.8% of Tennessee residents received fluoridated water from the Community Water Systems (CWS) in 2020.

As per the American Cancer Society (ACS), there were nearly 1,250 new oral and pharynx cancer cases in 2022 in Tennessee. The incidence rate of oral cavity as well as pharynx cancer per 100,000 people was higher in men (20.5) than in women (6.6).

Sources

Healthline[1]

Healthline[2]

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2]

Mayo Clinic[3]

University of Illinois Chicago

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

WebMD[3]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[3]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]

American Cancer Society

Locust Family Dentistry

Maryland Department of Health

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.