Who is a dentist, and how often should you visit them?
Dentists are healthcare professionals who provide medical care for the teeth, gums, jaw, and mouth. They can diagnose and treat various oral conditions, offer preventive dental care, and maintain your previous dental procedures.
Dentists can treat patients' oral health throughout different stages of life, including childhood, adulthood, and late adulthood. Most dentists run their private practices, but you may also find them in community clinics, educational institutions, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.
To ensure optimal oral health and avoid dental problems, visit the dentist for check-ups and cleanings at least once every six months or per your dentist's recommendations. However, you will need more frequent dental exams if:
- You use tobacco products and drink alcohol too often.
- You require better oral hygiene habits.
- You have a personal or family history of dental issues like gum concerns or tooth decay.
- You are pregnant or are planning to conceive.
- You have chronic health disorders, like diabetes or heart disease.
- You have a weakened immune system.
- You need access to good oral health products and services.
- You have had previous dental work or oral surgery.
What oral health conditions do different types of dentists treat?
After earning a dental degree, dentists may opt for a postgraduate residency program of 1-3 years to train further in any dental specialty.
- Endodontists focus on diagnosing and treating concerns related to the tooth pulp, which includes the nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues. You may see them for complex issues such as untreated tooth decay, injuries, or infections.
- Orthodontists diagnose, prevent, and treat misaligned teeth and jaws using braces, clear aligners, and additional orthodontic appliances. Common orthodontic issues include crowding of teeth, overbite, underbite, and crooked teeth.
- Periodontists specialize in issues related to teeth' gums, bones, and other supporting structures. These include gum disease, periodontitis, gingivitis, gum recession, and bone loss around teeth.
- Prosthodontists are experts in restoring or replacing missing or damaged teeth with implants, crowns, bridges, or dentures. Tooth decay, injury, congenital disabilities, or aging may lead to permanent loss of teeth.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have expertise in the surgical treatment of disorders affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions, including the mouth, jaw, face, head, and neck. Some common diseases impact teeth, facial trauma, injuries, misaligned jaws and teeth, congenital disabilities such as cleft lip and palate, head and neck cancers, and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).
- Oral and maxillofacial radiologists use advanced imaging technologies, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, to diagnose and manage disorders affecting these regions.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathologists study the causes and effects of diseases and conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.
- Dental anesthesiologists specialize in safely and effectively administering anesthesia to patients undergoing painful dental treatments, such as root canals, tooth extraction, dental implant placement, gum surgeries, and extensive restorative procedures.
- Pedodontists, also known as pediatric dentists, provide comprehensive oral care to infants, children, and adolescents. They mainly focus on preventing dental conditions by educating them and their parents about good oral hygiene and diet.
- Orofacial pain specialists diagnose, treat, prevent, and manage pain disorders of the face, mouth, jaw regions, and head, including chronic headaches, migraines, TMJ disorders, teeth grinding, and nerve pain.
- Oral medicine specialists diagnose and manage various oral and maxillofacial conditions. It includes oral mucosal diseases, oral manifestations of systemic diseases, salivary gland disorders, and temporomandibular joint disorders.
- Dental public health specialists focus on preventing oral diseases and promoting oral health among the population through research, policy development, and community-based interventions.
What can you expect during preventive dental visits?
If you have a preventative dental appointment scheduled for the first time, it may help to know what to expect. The best dentist near you may:
- Examine the teeth, gums, and mouth to check for any decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues.
- Clean the tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth and gums.
- Take X-rays of your teeth to detect any cavities or other problems that may not be visible during the examination.
- Inspect your mouth, lips, and throat for any signs of oral cancer.
- Guide you on proper oral hygiene routine, lifestyle, and diet tips for oral health.
- Check if the previous dental procedures are intact.
- Discuss your concerns and queries about your oral health.
Foods to avoid for healthy teeth
The worst foods that you must avoid to keep your teeth healthy include the following:
- Carbonated drinks: Carbonated soda increases the acidity levels in the mouth, affecting the tooth enamel. Moreover, the mouth becomes dry, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Dark color sodas can even stain or discolor your teeth. Therefore, avoid carbonated drinks and drink more water, as it will keep your mouth clean and hydrated.
- Sour candies: Any type of candy is unhealthy for the teeth and gums. Sour candies contain different acids that can affect your teeth. They are chewy and can stick to the teeth for extended periods, causing plaque buildup and tooth decay. If you love sweets, choose chocolates, which are easy to chew and quickly wash away.
- Ice: Though ice is made of water, chewing it can affect tooth enamel and increase the chances of a dental emergency. Chewing complex substances can result in broken, chipped, or cracked teeth or loose crowns. If you use ice to chill your beverages, avoid chewing it. You could drink your beverages without ice or use chilled water instead.
- Bread: Bread and saliva mix in the mouth to form a gummy or sticky substance that could enter the crevices between the teeth. Further, the saliva breaks down the starch into sugar. If the mouth is not cleaned correctly after eating, the leftover sugar deposits on the teeth could cause cavities. Therefore, avoid eating bread and opt for whole wheat foods with less sugar that don't stick to the teeth.
- Potato chips: Potato chips may be crunchy and feel satisfying, but they contain a lot of starch. This starch could stick to the crevices between your teeth, forming plaque and resulting in tooth decay. Therefore, avoid eating chips or other fried products. If you eat any, wash and floss your mouth and teeth thoroughly to remove the sticky leftovers from the teeth.
- Alcohol: Alcohol is unhealthy for the body, including the teeth and gums. Saliva keeps your teeth healthy by washing away leftover food particles and preventing food from sticking to the teeth. Alcohol intake makes the mouth dry, which increases the chances of gum disease, oral infections, and tooth decay. Therefore, avoid drinking alcohol, drink lots of water, and use oral hydration and fluoride rinses to keep your mouth hydrated.
Where can you find the best dentists near you in Port St. Lucie, Florida?
Although dental visits seem intimidating, avoiding them can negatively impact oral and overall health. Poor dental hygiene can significantly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Hence, it is crucial to partner with a dentist to receive continued and comprehensive dental care throughout your life.
If you reside in Port St. Lucie, Zocdoc can assist you in finding top-rated dentists in your area. In the search bar, you enter your availability and insurance details, as well as the specialty and location. If you have multiple insurance plans, you can include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and schedule appointments with one insurance plan at a time. You can specify your secondary carrier and plan for the provider in the notes section during the final step of the booking process. Moreover, if your provider uses Zocdoc's intake forms, you may add secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For further insurance-related FAQs, refer to Zocdoc's patient help center.
Once you click the find button, you'll receive an extensive list of dentists matching your search preferences. You can also specify your preferred appointment time—before 10 a.m., noon, or after 5 p.m. You can also apply Zocdoc filters such as your visit reason, travel distance, and the provider's gender and language. Dental visits mostly happen in person. However, you can look for providers in the video visits tab if you need to consult a dentist online before an in-person visit.
Once your search results are narrowed down, you can review the provider profiles to learn more about them before picking one. You can find information about their education, training, board certifications, hospital affiliations, and practice names. Verified patient reviews can also help you choose the best dentist near you. Once you've selected a dentist, you can book your appointment via Zocdoc within a few minutes—it is easy, secure, and 100% free!
Key statistics on dental conditions, dental visits, and dentists in Florida
According to estimates from the American Cancer Society for 2025, it is projected that there will be approximately 56,660 new cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancer in the United States, resulting in around 12,770 deaths. Within the state of Florida, the organization anticipates about 5,630 new cases and 1,030 related deaths for the same year.
Analyzing data from 2017 to 2021, the American Cancer Society reported an incidence rate of 14.5 cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancer per 100,000 people in Florida, which is higher than the national average of 12.2. Furthermore, the annual mortality rate for this cancer in Florida between 2018 and 2022 was approximately 2.7 per 100,000 residents.
A report from America's Health Rankings in 2022 indicates that around 61.2% of Florida adults had visited a dental clinic or dentist within the past year. There was a notable difference in dental visit rates by gender, with over 65.1% of females attending compared to 56.9% of males. Age also played a role in these statistics, as around 67.1% of individuals aged 65 and older, 59.7% of those aged 45-64, and nearly 58.3% of adults aged 18-44 reported having dental visits within the same timeframe.
Additionally, a May 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that Florida had nearly 8,400 dentists, ranking the state second in the nation for the highest employment level of dental professionals.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards
Mayo Clinic
America's Health Rankings[1]
America’s Health Rankings[2]
America’s Health Rankings[3]
American Cancer Society[1]
American Cancer Society[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
Healthline
