Who is a dentist?
Dentists are healthcare professionals who diagnose, manage, and treat issues related to the oral cavity, including diseases and injuries that affect the mouth, gums, teeth, and jawbone. They are trained to offer surgical treatment options and are authorized to prescribe medication. Some dentists can also perform specialized surgery and are called dental surgeons.
One of the essential duties of a dentist is offering preventive dental care, educating patients and families about oral hygiene, and avoiding dental decay in the long run.
Dentists generally practice in a private office or clinic setting. Since dental care involves a team approach, you will find that your dentist works with other healthcare professionals like dental hygienists, assistants, and laboratory technicians.
What are the educational qualifications of a dentist?
A dentist undergoes a similar path of study as any other medical doctor. The first step is to gain an undergraduate degree in an associated field, such as chemistry, biology, health, or mathematics. Subsequently, they must undertake and pass a dental admissions test to become eligible for studying in a dental school.
A dental program comprises two years of biomedical science studies and two years of clinical practice, after which an individual earns either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.
Some dentists may get certified by appearing for the National Board Dental Examination. Depending on their specialty area, some dentists may have to complete a postgraduate residency of one to three years. They can also choose to become experts in a particular field. Read on to learn more.
What specializations can a dentist choose from?
Dentists can choose from an array of subjects to become experts in. Some of these are authorized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialities and Certifying Boards and include the following:
- Dental anesthesiology: Experts in this field manage pain, anxiety, and overall patient health during dental, oral, maxillofacial, and supplementary surgical or diagnostic procedures throughout the perioperative period.
- Dental public health: This para-clinical branch helps prevent dental disorders through organized community efforts. These dental specialists identify critical oral health issues and formulate effective strategies to overcome them.
- Endodontics: Doctors in this field treat dental pulp disorders, including those that affect the nerves, blood supply, and fibrous tissue of the tooth. To this end, a root canal is a standard teeth-saving procedure practiced by endodontists.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Based on histopathology, this field deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the mouth, teeth, and surrounding regions.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: This specialization focuses on performing X-rays and other imaging techniques and scans to diagnose and manage oral disorders by developing effective treatment plans for their patients.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Doctors who are experts in this area focus on 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: This area of specialization involves the correction of dental and facial irregularities with the help of orthotic devices such as braces, aligners, retainers, etc.
- Periodontics: Experts in this area treat diseases related to the gum tissues and the bones that support the teeth. Often, cavities can erode the gums and cause bone loss, requiring the care of a periodontist.
- Prosthodontics: Providers of this field undertake the restoration of natural teeth and oral structures with artificial devices like dentures or the replacement of missing teeth. This is especially useful in the geriatric population.
What common conditions do dentists treat?
Dentists can attend to a wide range of oral conditions, including the following:
- Tooth decay - This generally results from cavity formation, which occurs when plaque that eats away at the hard surface of the teeth (enamel) causes holes in the teeth.
- Gingivitis - This is a mild gum disease caused by poor dental hygiene. It causes plaque build-up on the teeth. Common symptoms of gingivitis include swollen or puffy gums, bad breath, and receding gums. It results in inflammation and infection of the gums, bone, and periodontal ligaments.
- Mouth cancer - It can develop in the gums, tongue, lips, inner lining of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, or under the tongue. A dentist can help prevent mouth and throat cancers by screening patients during regular check-ups. People who drink alcohol, smoke, or have a history of sun exposure are at high risk of developing oral cancers.
- Malocclusion or misaligned jaw - This is often hereditary and can cause an underbite, overbite, and crowding of the teeth. In a standard jaw, the upper teeth sit over the lower teeth, i.e., the points of molars must fit the opposite molar grooves. Malocclusions occur when this gets disturbed, necessitating surgery, braces or aligners, or, if necessary, teeth extraction.
Reasons to visit a dentist
Going to a dentist on a routine visit can help solve most of your oral problems before the symptoms start showing or while they are in a nascent stage. However, if you experience the following issues, you should visit a dentist before they become severe:
- Abnormally aligned or misaligned teeth
- Difficulty when biting or chewing
- Bad breath that will not go away on its own
- Sensitivity to hot or cold food
- Family history of gum disease or oral cancer
- Pre-existing medical issues like diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- Inability to bite into food correctly (open bite) or uneven bite
- Dryness in the mouth
- Jaw popping while chewing
- Bleeding or puffy gums
- Pain in the mouth, face, or neck
- Persistent toothache
- Unusual spots or sores in the mouth
What to expect at a dental exam?
At your visit, your dentist or dental hygienist may perform your routine dental examination every visit. In the case of children, a pediatric dentist will check for developmental issues or abnormalities.
Before your dentist begins the check-up, you can expect them to record your medical history, recurrent symptoms, and any medications you’ve been taking. You should also notify them if you have other health conditions like diabetes.
Your dentist will investigate your mouth with a concave mirror during the check-up. They will assess your gums and teeth for signs of inflammation or tooth decay.
To screen you for oral cancer, your dentist will examine your lips, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. They may also check your bite, i.e., if your top and bottom teeth meet correctly, for which they may also use X-rays. Dentists may also refer you to a specialist like an orthodontist in case of specific abnormalities.
Your dental check-up may also include teeth cleaning. During the cleaning process, your dentist will remove any tartar (a mineral deposit that gets trapped at the bottom of the teeth) or plaque build-up.
Your dentist will also guide you on how you can maintain or improve oral hygiene by recommending proper brushing and flossing techniques. They may also ask you to avoid or limit certain foods. Additionally, if you have dentures, implants, or bridges, your dentist will tell you how to care for them.
Find a dentist near you in Orland Park, Illinois
Early detection of oral problems can help maintain overall well-being. The American Dental Association recommends that people visit the dentist twice a year. However, depending on an individual’s health, they may need more than two such trips a year.
If you haven’t had your bi-annual dental check-up yet and are looking to get one done near you, Zocdoc can help! On Zocdoc, users can book online and in-person appointments with providers in their area or neighborhood right from their homes. This way, you can avoid the hassles of waiting rooms and book a consultation in just a few minutes.
Enter your condition or symptoms, location, insurance plan, and date to start your search. Browse a list of top-rated dentists near you. Select one based on insurance plans accepted, hospital affiliation, gender, languages spoken, wait time, office location, distance, and whether a provider treats children.
Suppose you have a busy schedule and must attend an appointment; worry not! Depending on a provider’s availability, users can book consultations on the same day, post work hours (5 pm), in the morning before 10 am, or even on the weekends.
Zocdoc also displays each dentist’s profile (including their educational qualifications, certifications, and licensures) under the “View profile & reviews” tab. Moreover, you can also read verified patient reviews to make an informed decision.
Using Zocdoc, all bookings with dentists near you become fast, free, and secure!
Oral health in Illinois
Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Illinois employs approximately 3,830 general dentists (as of May 2021). This number is significantly higher than in neighboring states like Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana.
In 2020, roughly 68.4% of adults in Illinois had visited a dental clinic or seen a dentist in the previous year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those who visited the dentist, the majority, or around 69.3%, consisted of females, and about 67.5% comprised males. Individuals with education levels greater than high school, i.e., nearly 77.7% of college graduates, were more likely to visit a dentist than high schoolers (51%). Of all Illinois adults aged 65 and above, nearly 15.7% had lost all their natural teeth, and about 31.9% had lost six or more diseases and tooth decay.
Studies suggest that individuals who drink fluoridated water are less likely to develop oral cavities and tooth decay. As per the Illinois Department of Public Health, communities with water fluoridation experience roughly 25% fewer cavities and save about $32 per person yearly on dental treatment costs. The CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS) reported in 2018 that approximately 98.2% of Illinois residents received fluoridated water from the Community Water Systems (CWS).
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 2,030 new oral and pharynx cancer cases were reported in Illinois in 2023. The oral cavity and pharynx cancer incidence rate per 100,000 people was considerably higher in men (18.4) than in women (6.8).
Sources
WebMD
Maine Dental Association
Mouth Healthy
MedlinePlus
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Cancer Statistics Center
Illinois Department of Public Health
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