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Who is a dentist?

Dentists are medical professionals who provide oral healthcare and plazy a significant role in the healthcare system. They diagnose and treat dental problems related to teeth, gums, cavities, etc. They are also responsible for maintaining and promoting oral hygiene and educating individuals and communities on improving oral health. 

Responsibilities of dentists

Dentists use various equipment, technologies, and procedures to treat and prevent dental concerns. Some of their responsibilities include:

• Protecting, restoring, and maintaining the oral health of individuals
• Administering care during oral injuries
• Restoring and replacing damaged teeth
• Advising and educating patients on proper oral care
• Devising treatment plans for complex problems
• Performing oral surgeries
• Prescribing antibiotics and other medications
• Improving a patient's appearance by the use of sealants or teeth whitening
• Examining head muscles, neck, jaw, salivary glands, etc.

Education and training of dentists

Before pursuing dental education, one must complete an accredited, four-year bachelor's program. Then, one must major in a science-related field to ensure one meets the coursework required for admission to an accredited dental school. Finally, one must pass the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) to enroll in the dental program.

The four-year dental program offers a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. The first two years are spent learning through classroom training and laboratory projects. The following two years are dedicated to gaining clinical experience, during which the students treat patients under the supervision of experienced dentists. 

After completing the dental degree, one must pass the National Board Dental Examination, which comprises a rigorous written and clinical test. After passing this exam, one becomes a certified, licensed dentist. One may further specialize in prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, or pediatrics.

Types of dental specialists

Some dentists choose a dental specialization after completing their dental school. There are 12 specialty areas that the National Commission Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) recognizes:

• Endodontist: Responsible for preventing, diagnosing, and treating infections and injuries in the dental pulp.
• Orthodontist: This specialty involves straightening teeth, preventing and correcting teeth alignment, and treating abnormalities of neuromuscular and skeletal structures.
• Prosthodontist: This involves repairing natural teeth or missing teeth.
• Periodontist: This encompasses preventing, diagnosing, and treating soft tissue diseases and supporting teeth bone structures.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: This specialty involves surgical treatments of the face, mouth, and jaw, along with treating tumors, cysts, and masses within the jaws.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiologist: This specialty combines expertise in dentistry and radiology. These experts interpret radiology images and data. These specialists help diagnose and treat concerns about the mouth, jaw, and face.
• Dentist anesthesiologists: This specialty focuses on patient safety and involves managing pain and anxiety during diagnostic or surgical dental procedures. 
• Pedodontist: These specialists provide primary and comprehensive oral care to infants until adolescence. 
• Orofacial pain (OFP): This specialty involves diagnosing, treating, and managing pain disorders of the mouth, jaw, face, neck, and head.
• Oral medicine: This specialty provides care to patients with complex oral conditions.
• Dental public health (DPH): Helps prevent and control dental diseases, and organized community efforts support it.

Reasons to see a dentist near you

It is recommended that you should visit a dentist for a routine check-up every six months. Following are a few reasons to visit your dentist regularly:

• Avoid letting minor issues turn into major issues

A dental visit comprises a mouth cleaning and a dental exam. Dentists closely examine oral health by looking for signs of tooth decay, cavities, gum health, etc. They ensure no minor oral concerns develop that could lead to significant problems in the future.

• Screening for gum disease, oral cancer, or other conditions

One of the most crucial aspects of a routine visit to a dentist is the determination of preventive care and the detection of diseases. The dentist examines your jaw, neck, insides of cheeks, lips, and tongue, as well as the floor and roof of your mouth, to ensure no symptoms of major oral diseases.

• Protecting overall health

Did you know that, according to a study by the University of California, women who get dental care regularly are at a lower risk of developing heart disease? Your dental health impacts other parts of the body. Some conditions, such as lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, can be identified through symptoms appearing in the mouth. A dental expert can identify these issues early and make a referral to a primary care physician or a specialist.

• Maintaining previous dental work

Your previous dental work may break down over time. A routine dentist visit can help identify and distinguish between common wear and tear and serious problems.

Difference between an orthodontist and a dentist 

Dentists and orthodontists focus on oral health using different approaches. One key distinction between them is that all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.

Knowing the difference between the two matters. Orthodontists are specialists, so despite dental benefits, insurance might not cover their entire care. Often, insurance needs a dentist's referral to cover an orthodontist.

Dentists and orthodontists differ more than they share in common. Dentistry encompasses a broad medical domain covering teeth, gums, nerves, and jaws. Dentists focus on oral health, tackling tooth decay, root canals, gum ailments, crowns, bridges, veneers, whitening, and alignment issues.

On the flip side, orthodontics, a branch of dentistry, zeros in on correcting bites, occlusion, and tooth positioning. Orthodontists are experts in aligning teeth and treating crowded, misaligned, overbite, and underbite conditions. Dentists refer patients to orthodontists for problems related to bites and tooth alignment.

Dentists undergo extensive training. The first two years of dental school revolve around classrooms and labs. The final two years focus on practical experience with patients under supervision. After dental school, dentists must pass the National Dental Examination for licensure.

Orthodontists require further education as a dental specialty, similar to doctors pursuing extra training to become surgeons. Initially, dentists and orthodontists receive comparable education, but orthodontists must obtain additional certification before practicing. 

Orthodontists are usually prominent in pre-dentistry or pre-med during their undergraduate studies before dental school. After completing dental school and passing a certification exam, they undertake a two to three-year residency program focused on orthodontics. The American Board of Orthodontics requires orthodontists to pass additional certification exams before practicing.

In short, consider your dentist a primary care provider for oral health and your orthodontist a specialized expert. You can address the most common dental issues by visiting a nearby dentist.

What to expect from your first visit to a dentist?

When you schedule your appointment with a dentist near you, it is helpful to know what to expect. This can ease any anxiety you might have about your first dental visit. Typically, here is what you can expect:

• Checking in and completing paperwork

When you arrive for your appointment, you must first fill out any forms provided to you. Getting to your appointment about 15 minutes early is a good idea to complete any required paperwork. After you check-in, your dentist will introduce themselves and ask if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity or pain. After this conversation, they will order the necessary X-rays.

• X-rays and other diagnostic tests

Your dentist will review recent X-rays of your teeth. If you have not had X-rays done in the last year or two, a skilled dental assistant will take a complete set of X-rays. The dentist needs these X-rays to check for any cavities or dental issues between your teeth or in hard-to-see areas of your mouth.

• A comprehensive dental exam

Once the X-rays are reviewed, your dentist will begin the exam. They will use a special instrument called an explorer to examine every tooth in your mouth. The dentist will observe signs of tooth decay, gum diseases, and other potential problems that could lead to cavities without proper care. They may also screen you for oral cancer.

• Dental health history and concerns

Be proactive in sharing your dental and medical health histories with your new dentist. This information is important because oral health can affect many aspects of your overall health. Certain health conditions or medications may impact your teeth. Knowing your medical background will make your dentist better prepared to look for any related issues in your mouth.

• Development of a personalized dental care plan

The primary goal of your first visit is for the dentist to get a clear picture of your dental health to create a personalized dental care plan. In dentistry, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. By sharing your concerns, habits, and goals for your oral health, you can partner with your dentist for the most effective care plan according to your needs.

Rare dental diseases

There are some rare dental ailments that dentists are adept at treating, including:

• Ectodermal dysplasia

Ectodermal dysplasia affects teeth, hair, and fingernails because these tissues all develop from the "ectoderm" during fetal development. Dysplasia means the abnormal growth of tissues or cells. This syndrome most notably causes multiple missing teeth. The teeth that do form are unusual, conical, and usually smaller than usual.

• Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome causes severe dryness in the mouth and eyes. One of the dental concerns associated with Sjögren's syndrome is the negative impact of dry mouth on oral health.

Extreme dry mouth significantly increases the risk of developing gum disease and cavities. It also leads to more frequent ulcers, mouth sores, and tissue trauma (such as cheek and lip biting).

• Amelogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta

Amelogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta are genetic disorders that cause malformations in developing teeth. Amelogenesis imperfecta affects the formation of tooth enamel, while dentinogenesis imperfecta affects the development of dentin, which is the hard tooth structure lying just underneath the enamel.

When someone has one of these conditions, their teeth are weak, abnormal, and susceptible to cracking and decay. In many cases, all teeth require dental crowns to protect and cover them.

• Aggressive juvenile periodontitis

Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is not rare at all. Millions of adults around the world suffer from this condition. However, it is much less common among children and teenagers. Despite poor oral hygiene, most children do not develop severe gum disease. The most common issue for young people is gingivitis, which is inflammation on the surface of the gums.

In rare cases, children can develop aggressive gum disease that progresses rapidly. This means the body responds quickly and aggressively to the bacterial toxins in dental plaque by attacking the bone surrounding a tooth. Most cases only affect a few teeth. Slightly less common is generalized aggressive periodontitis, which affects all of a child's teeth.

How do you find the best dentist near you in Newport Beach, California?

Choosing the best dentist is crucial to maintaining good oral health. Zocdoc's website helps you find highly-rated dentists in your city with a simple process. You can search for dentists based on a particular concern you may be dealing with or the procedure. Zocdoc also has advanced search filters for location, date, time of appointment, doctor's gender, availability, distance from your area, languages spoken by the doctor, etc. 

Zocdoc also has a feature that helps you find doctors who accept your insurance, allowing you to use it for your payment. When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you must provide your insurance information or indicate that you're paying out-of-pocket. Some providers may require insurance information to book appointments. If you prefer not to use insurance for your appointment, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc. If you have more insurance-related queries, visit the Zocdoc insurance page.

You can either visit the dentist in person or book an online appointment. You will also find all the details about these practitioners' education and training, experience, certifications, licenses, clinical interests, etc. To choose the best dentist near you, read verified reviews about these doctors from their previous patients.

Moreover, all bookings on this platform are easy, quick, and free!

Dental health statistics

According to Dentagraphics, California has around 15,086 general dental practices. This means there are an average of 2,611 residents per general dental practice, which is lower than the current US average of 3,519. The state has approximately 9,914 specialty practices, mostly periodontists, followed by pedodontists, endodontists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. California has an average of 3,973 residents per specialty practice, which is also lower than the current US average of 4,138. 

As per America's Health Rankings, about 64.6% of California adults visited a dentist in 2020, while the percentage for the US was 66.7%. According to the same report, the majority of the adults who visited the dentist were above the age of 65, with 74.2% of adults in this category consulting a dentist in 2020.

Sources

Learn.org

Webster Dental

Healthy-Mouths.org

Greenville Family Dentistry

World Health Organization

National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialities and Certifying Boards

Dentagraphics

America's Health Rankings

SMB Orthodontics

Healthline

Premier Dental of Ohio

Smile Generation

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.