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Who is a dentist?

Dentists are licensed medical professionals who promote dental and oral health. One of their responsibilities is encouraging patients to maintain good dental hygiene. They can spot and care for problems with the mouth, teeth, and gums. Dentists employ equipment and technologies like X-ray machines, scalpels, lasers, drills, brushes, and other medical tools when performing dental operations.

Dentists offer examinations, diagnoses, management, treatment, and preventive care for oral health issues. Dentists also diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the teeth and gums. In addition, they suggest restorative and preventative procedures, surgery, and other specialized services as necessary.

The education and training of a dentist

Dental schools typically require applicants to obtain a bachelor's degree before admission. After two to three years of undergraduate education, some institutions may accept candidates who wish to enroll in a dental program and receive bachelor's degrees concurrently. Although no set pre-dental major is necessary, studying biology, physics, and chemistry might offer proper preparation for dental school.

During the first two years of dentistry school, students are taught health and dental science curriculums and trained in laboratory work. Course topics include oral pathology, periodontics, dental anesthetics, orthodontics, radiography, and pharmacology. Students spend a considerable part of the last two years of dental school experiencing clinical practice, where they examine and treat patients under the supervision of dental professors.

After four years of dental school, students get a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) or the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Many states require dentists to graduate from an accredited school to be eligible for state licensure. 

What subspecialties can dentists pursue?

Besides general dentistry, the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Board recognizes the following subspecialties:

• Orthodontics: A dental specialty focused on diagnosing, preventing, and treating misaligned teeth and jaws, often using braces or aligners to improve oral health.
• Endodontics: A dental specialty that treats diseases and injuries of the dental pulp and roots. It commonly involves root canal therapy to save infected or damaged teeth.
• Periodontics: A dental specialty that prevents, diagnoses, and treats gum diseases and conditions. It includes the placement and maintenance of dental implants and the management of oral inflammation.
• Orofacial pain: A specialty dealing with addressing and managing pain in the face, mouth, neck, and head, usually involving complex treatment strategies.
• Oral medicine: A specialty that manages the oral healthcare needs of complex patients and diagnoses medical-related diseases, disorders, and conditions.
• Prosthodontics: A specialty that replaces missing teeth and restores oral structures using dentures, bridges, and dental implants, ensuring proper function and aesthetics for patients with complex dental needs.
• Dental anesthesia: This specialization entails administering drugs to numb specific parts of the mouth and alleviate pain during dental treatments to promote patient comfort and safety.
• Pediatric dentistry: A specialty centered around the oral health care of children (infancy through adolescence), addressing related issues, development, and preventive care to ensure healthy dental development and habits.
• Dental public health: A specialty that concentrates on preventing and managing oral diseases through working in community health programs, government agencies, schools, and other settings.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery: This specialty handles the surgical treatment of diseases and injuries and manages defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and other tissues in the oral and maxillofacial region.
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology: A dental specialty that addresses the nature, diagnosis, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions, integrating pathology with treating these conditions.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology: A specialty that utilizes and interprets conventional and digital images, MRI scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, and similar techniques to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of oral-facial diseases and conditions.

What conditions do dentists treat?

Dentists can diagnose and treat various health concerns, including the following:

• Cavities: Cavities develop due to plaque (a sticky, yellow, or colorless layer of bacteria) buildup on the tooth's surface. You can prevent this by brushing twice daily, using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and limiting sugar intake. If the condition worsens, your dentist can treat the cavities using dental fillings. 
• Halitosis (bad breath): Halitosis is a widespread dental problem. Its causes include cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, certain foods and medications, oral infections, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Brushing and using mouthwash can temporarily prevent bad breath, but see a dentist near you if the condition persists. They can identify the root cause and devise a treatment plan accordingly. 
• Periodontitis: Periodontitis results from gum infections and can cause permanent tooth loss if left untreated. Its symptoms include swollen or bleeding gums, teeth sensitivity, red or purple gums, and pus between the teeth and gums. While everyone is at risk for periodontitis, it is more prevalent in smokers, people over 30, and people with diabetes.
• Hyperdontia: Hyperdontia is a rare medical condition in which people are born with extra teeth. People with this condition are prone to other oral disorders, such as a cleft palate or Gardner's syndrome (the growth of noncancerous tumors in the mouth). To treat hypodontia, dentists extract the additional teeth and use orthodontic devices like braces, retainers, or aligners to correct the bite.
• Tooth abscess: An abscessed tooth occurs when the pulp (soft tissue inside the root canal) gets inflamed or dies. Due to this, harmful bacteria enter the pulp, infect the root, and form a pocket of puss around it. Tooth abscess symptoms include fever, throbbing toothache extending to the jaws and neck, and increased tooth sensitivity.
• Tooth erosion: Eating acidic or sugary foods can cause the enamel to wear away. People with dry mouths also risk tooth erosion, as they might not have enough saliva to rinse away the dietary acids. This condition is preventable with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. In severe cases, your dentist can perform tooth bonding.

Services offered by dentists

Dentists offer various dental and oral care treatments to people of all ages. Some of the standard services they provide are detailed below.

• Oral examinations: During a routine visit, a dental team or dentist will examine your mouth and teeth to check for indications of bad oral hygiene. Their goal is to detect any areas that can benefit from treatment, such as:
• Decay recognition: The dentist will look for any outward indications of tooth decay and check to see if any tooth enamel has weakened. 
• Gum check: A dentist will measure the pockets surrounding your teeth to see if any bone has been lost to gum disease and assess your gums' health.
• Bite assessment: To safeguard your dental health, your dentist will also assess your bite pattern and look for abnormalities.
• Monitoring dental development (for children): Dentists closely monitor the development of children's teeth and their eruption patterns so that they can promptly suggest any required orthodontic treatments.
• Dental X-rays: As part of regular check-ups, routine dental X-rays are helpful because they can help spot cavities between your teeth. They can also reveal details of the condition and height of the bone that supports the teeth. Additionally, X-rays can indicate the location of a child's developing teeth. Dental X-rays come in many varieties. The dentist will assess which X-rays are appropriate to gather the information they need about your teeth.
• Oral cancer screening: Examining patients for oral cancer is another crucial task dentists perform. Early detection is essential for all cancers. For this reason, dentists check for cancer at every dental assessment. Reviewing what occurs during an oral cancer screening will help you prepare for it. While screening, your dentist will hold your tongue in place with gauze and then examine your mouth and tongue for any symptoms or indicators.
• Scaling and polishing: Dentists recommend regular dental cleanings to preserve healthy gum tissue and prevent periodontal disease. Using dental equipment, the dentist removes any hardened plaque (called tartar). The next step is to polish the enamel and remove stains from your teeth using a special paste, and the final step is to floss your teeth.
• Fluoride treatment: The dentist may apply fluoride treatments after a tooth cleaning. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises topical fluoride treatments for children to fortify their tooth enamel when they are most vulnerable to cavities.
• Sealant application: A thin coat of dental sealant on the chewing surfaces of teeth helps prevent decay. A sealant has a lifespan of five to ten years. Although it is more frequently used to treat adolescents, adults with healthy, unfilled molars can also benefit. An acid solution is used to clean the tooth's surface so that the sealant can adhere to it.
• Home care instructions: A dentist will review your precise at-home care recommendations during your appointment. Suggestions include using the appropriate brushing and flossing methods. Additionally, they can provide dietary and nutritional tips tailored to your oral health. Asking questions regarding your dental health at this time is a good idea. 

How to prepare for your dentist appointment

Visiting the dentist often stirs up anxiety, but with the proper preparation, you can turn a nerve-wracking experience into a manageable one. Here's a concise, dentist-backed guide to help you feel confident before your next appointment:

• Eat smart before your visit: Most people can eat before a routine dental check-up, provided they brush and floss afterward to keep their teeth clean. However, your dentist will advise against consuming sugary foods, sticky snacks, hot or cold beverages, and anything that might stain or cause sensitivity. These can interfere with oral hygiene and complicate your treatment.
• Things to avoid before your appointment: Skip excessive brushing, alcohol, painkillers, or smoking, and avoid heavy makeup or tight clothing. Bring essential dental gear like retainers, and be honest about your medical history. If anesthesia is involved, have someone drive you and skip the visit if you're unwell.
• Avoid eating food: If your appointment requires anesthesia, dental surgery, or blood work, your dentist will ask you to refrain from eating for at least 5 hours beforehand. Eating too close to the appointment may cause nausea or affect test results. Before this fasting period, a protein-rich meal, like eggs, fish, or legumes, will keep you full longer and reduce discomfort.
• Make your teeth look good: Before heading out, brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. While these will not fix long-term dental issues, they will help freshen your breath and remove food particles, making the visit smoother for you and your dentist.
• Relax and calm yourself: To calm pre-appointment jitters, try deep breathing, schedule morning visits, and bring a friend if needed. Don't hesitate to tell your dentist you're nervous—they can work with you to make the experience easier. Even using a hand signal during the procedure can help them know when you need a break.
• Dress comfortably: Wear relaxed, inexpensive clothes since you'll be reclining for some time, and spills may happen despite your dentist's best efforts.

Finding a dentist near you in Santa Monica, California

Nothing compares to a perfectly clean mouth after a professional cleaning! However, finding a good dentist can be another task to add to our to-do lists. You would need to identify a trusted dentist for a proper dental consultation. The crucial thing is finding a clinic that offers top-notch dental care in a convenient location.

Finding a healthcare professional who fulfills your needs is easy with Zocdoc. You only need to register, describe your symptoms, or select "dentist," type in "Santa Monica, California" as your location, pick a time slot, and choose your insurance company and plan. Adding your insurance information to your Zocdoc account helps you find in-network providers more easily. However, many offices will require you to bring an insurance card to the appointment. For more information, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center.

Furthermore, you may narrow your search results by language ability and gender. Get a list of dentists who fit your criteria with Zocdoc. The platform also provides additional credentials, client testimonials, and other essential information. Depending on their availability, you can book an in-person or online appointment with a dentist near you whom you have identified as the best fit for your unique needs.

All appointments booked through Zocdoc are simple, safe, and free!

Statistics on dentists and dental health in California

As per data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 14,770 dentists offered services in California as of May 2021, which amounts to about 37.64 dentists for every 100,000 residents.

As of 2021, California has the highest number of dentists actively practicing in the U.S., followed by Texas and Florida.

Despite this, tooth decay in California, particularly among children, is high. According to a 2018-20 survey by the California Department of Public Health, more than 60% of children in the third grade had tooth decay, and nearly 22% had untreated tooth decay. However, a marked improvement is apparent compared to the figures for these issues from the 2000s.

Sources

WebMD[1]

WebMD[2]

Colgate

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

California Department of Public Health

Indeed

Verywell Health[1]

Verywell Health[2]

Verywell Health[3]

Medical News Today

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

American Academy of Orofacial Pain

Aimst University

American Dental Education Association

​​Dorsey Family Dental

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.