Who is a dentist?
A dentist is a healthcare provider with a specialization in oral health. They diagnose oral diseases and conditions affecting the teeth, gums, mouth, tongue, salivary glands, the muscles of the neck, head, and jaw, and the nervous system of the head and neck.
Dentists create treatment plans to restore and maintain the patient's health. They monitor the growth and development of the teeth and jaws, interpret X-rays and diagnostic tests, and administer anesthetics safely. Dentists can also perform procedures on the soft tissues of the oral cavity, the bone, and the teeth. They also manage oral trauma and other emergencies.
Dentists can detect diseases in other body parts because the symptoms are often first visible in the mouth, which helps them treat such conditions promptly. They perform comprehensive tests, examining the teeth and gums for abnormalities such as ulcerations, lumps, discolorations, or swelling.
Educational requirements to become a dentist
To become a dentist, individuals start by obtaining an undergraduate degree in science, such as astrology, health, or mathematics, and then undergo training for four years in a dental school. The initial two years of dental school involve studying biomedical sciences in classrooms and laboratories, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, and pathology. In the last two years, students gain hands-on clinical experience under the guidance of experienced dentists and specialists, focusing on diagnosing and treating oral diseases.
Upon completion of dental school, graduates earn either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.D.M.) degree. To practice, all dentists must pass a state-level licensure exam and ensure that they meet continuing education requirements to stay informed about advancements in their field.
Dentists can pursue board certification by taking the National Board Dental Examination. Some may choose to specialize in a particular area of dentistry, requiring the completion of a residency lasting two to three years, depending on the chosen specialty.
What are the different areas of specialization for dentists?
Dentists can focus on different areas of dentistry after getting their dental degree. These can include:
- Endodontics: This specialization focuses on root canal therapy. General dentists can also perform root canals, but they may refer a complicated case to an endodontist.
- Prosthodontics: Prosthodontics creates natural-looking dental restorations such as dentures, bridges, and crowns.
- Pedodontics: Pedodontics, or pediatric dentistry, treats oral problems in children from infants to adolescents and teens.
- Periodontics: This specialization involves diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions affecting the tissues around the teeth. Periodontists can treat gum disease and other ailments.
- Orthodontics: Orthodontists focus on realigning your bite, ensuring that the upper teeth sit squarely on the lower teeth. They straighten the teeth for optimal function and may use appliances such as braces, retainers, and clear aligners.
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology: Specialists in this field are experts at interpreting dental X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, and other imaging tests.
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: This specialization studies the causes and effects of oral disease. Specialists in this field are experts at diagnosing complex cases.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Practitioners specializing in this field can remove wisdom teeth and treat injuries, defects, and diseases of the jaws, mouth, and face.
- Oral medicine: Specialists diagnose and treat patients with chronic medical issues.
- Dental anesthesiology: Specialists in dental anesthesiology offer advanced pain management services essential for people undergoing oral and dental surgery procedures.
- Orofacial pain management: This specialization focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing head, face, jaw, and teeth pain.
- Public health dentistry: This specialization focuses on disease prevention in communities. They design programs to improve oral health.
- Forensic dentistry: Forensic dentists typically work in the legal field. They can interpret dental records and identify a victim when law enforcement finds human remains. They evaluate teeth and jaw bones for this purpose.
- Reconstructive surgery: People with extensive cavities or gum disease sometimes need full mouth reconstruction or rehabilitation; this is what reconstructive surgery does. This procedure can take several sittings.
- Implant dentistry: This specialty focuses on placing dental implants, a long-term option for teeth replacement. General dentists, periodontists, and oral surgeons can do this procedure.
- Cosmetic dentistry: It focuses on improving patients' appearance. For example, cosmetic dentists can improve your smile and whiten your teeth. They can also perform gum contouring and porcelain veneers and offer restorative and preventive treatments.
What are the most common dental issues?
Most dentists recommend adopting certain dental hygiene practices such as brushing twice, flossing daily, eating a healthy diet, and having regular checkups to prevent recurring dental issues. They also encourage spreading awareness about various dental conditions and their causative reasons, which can help avoid any possible health issue. Following are some common dental problems one must be aware of:
- Bad breath: Scientifically known as halitosis, it is an awkward oral issue. Most of the time, an underlying dental condition can cause smelly breath. It can be gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, or bacteria on the tongue.
- Cavities or tooth decay: Cavities are the second most common health condition in the United States. It occurs when plaque combines with sugars and starches in your food. The resulting product produces acids that attack the tooth enamel. Dry mouth, aging, and normal enamel erosion can cause cavities.
- Periodontal disease: An infection in the gums of the teeth is known as periodontal or gum disease. It is a prominent cause of adult tooth loss. Diabetes, dry mouth, and smoking are significant risk factors. The symptoms include bad breath, swollen and bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and chewing pain.
- Oral cancer: Oral cancer is a severe and deadly disorder commonly occurring in people aged 40 and above, but it can occur in younger people, too. It is often curable if diagnosed and treated in earlier stages. Smoking or chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the most prominent risk factors. Standard mouth or throat cancer symptoms include sores, lumps, or difficulty chewing or moving your tongue or jaw.
- Mouth sores: Mouth ulcers can be of many types and are very bothersome. Unless they last more than two weeks, they are not a significant cause of concern. Some common mouth sores include canker sores (triggered by varying causes), fever blisters or cold sores (caused by herpes simplex virus), and thrush (caused by yeast infection).
- Tooth erosion: This is caused by acid attacking the enamel, resulting in the loss of tooth structure.
- Tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity in teeth is a common issue that involves pain and discomfort from sweets, cold air, hot or cold beverages, and ice cream.
- Toothaches and dental emergencies: These include a broken or cracked tooth, an abscessed (pus) tooth, or accidental tooth loss.
How frequently should you visit a dentist?
How often you should visit a dentist near you depends on your individual needs and your dentist's recommendations. Generally, scheduling routine treatments like dental checkups and cleanings at the intervals recommended by your dentist is essential. You can ensure optimal oral health if you take proper steps to care for your oral hygiene and receive professional cleanings every six months.
However, more frequent checkups may be beneficial if you have a history of oral conditions like cavities or gum disease. Find the best dentist nearby and discuss your needs to determine the appropriate visiting schedule for your oral health.
Common dental procedures
Dentists perform various procedures to manage or treat a variety of dental problems. Some of these dental procedures include:
- Teeth whitening: Teeth whitening is a relatively pain-free procedure. Some people are sensitive to the whitening compounds used by dentists, but it is a simple procedure that most dental offices can perform. At-home teeth whitening kits require a significant amount of extra time and work and the purchase of teeth whitening kits. Whitening is less time-consuming and safer in a dental office because professionals do it. Dentists often use a special hydrogen peroxide gel and a light source for teeth whitening.
- Extraction: Extraction sounds terrifying and painful and could be a discomforting treatment for some individuals. However, your dentist will do everything possible to make you feel comfortable. You may need to undergo an extraction for various reasons, like cavities or decaying teeth. When having a tooth extracted, you will most likely be either unconscious or completely numbed. You will be unable to feel anything. Extractions are often necessary to prevent further pain despite the chances of post-operative discomfort.
- Veneers: If your teeth are discolored or misaligned, your dentist may advise you to have veneers. These are popular remedies for common dental issues. It is a thin covering placed over the front portion of a tooth or group of teeth. They are mainly used for correction, although dentists also use them for whitening. Most patients find the procedure uncomplicated and painless, and dentists find it simple.
- Dental fillings: Dental fillings help treat cavities. This procedure involves filling the cavity to restore the tooth's integrity. The process is typically quick, using local anesthesia to minimize any discomfort. The effects of numbing may persist for several hours after the procedure, but it's a straightforward way to address cavities and restore the tooth.
These standard dental procedures help maintain oral health and address various dental concerns. Meet your dentist for the most appropriate treatment plan for specific dental issues.
Three preparation tips to maximize your routine dental visits
You probably meet your dentist every 6-12 months for a routine dental checkup and cleaning that lasts between 30-60 minutes. How can you ensure you get the most out of your limited appointment time? The key here is to go well prepared. Here's a quick checklist you can follow before your next dental visit:
Write down your concerns and questions: A day or two before the appointment, take some time to record any new dental symptoms you have noticed, such as toothache, sensitivity, or bleeding gums. Moreover, if you have any oral health-related queries, remember to jot them down, too. Do you need ideas? Consider asking the following questions:
- Is my current oral hygiene routine proper, or should I change anything?
- What type of toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash do you recommend using?
- How can I whiten my teeth naturally? Can you explain more about teeth whitening procedures?
- What foods should I eat and avoid to maintain my oral health?
- Should I make any lifestyle changes?
- What else can I do to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other conditions?
- What does my oral health indicate about my overall well-being?
Gather your health information: Has anything changed health-wise since your last visit? For instance, maybe you got a new diagnosis or started a new medication. Please make a note of it to inform your dentist. Your updated medical history can help them assess your risk for potential oral health complications.
Be mindful of your food choices and clean your mouth: Dental exams and cleanings become more challenging when food particles are stuck in your teeth, you're experiencing sensitivity, or your teeth are stained. So, firstly, on the day of the visit, avoid foods and beverages that are sugary, sticky, pigmented, hot, cold, and acidic. Secondly, follow your oral hygiene routine, including brushing, flossing, scraping the tongue, and using a mouthwash. This way, you can avoid awkward, embarrassing situations and make the dentist's job easier.
How do you find the best dentist near you in Saint Louis, Missouri?
When faced with cavities or other abnormalities in the mouth, one must visit a dentist. However, finding a dentist when needed can take time and effort. Luckily, Zocdoc can help you here.
You can locate a good dentist with a few clicks by going to the Zocdoc website or the Zocdoc application. Just provide some basic information about yourself, including why you need to see a dentist (symptoms or a condition), the day and time of your appointment, your home address, zip code, and your existing health insurance. Zocdoc will list dentists in your area who specialize in treating your issues.
To use the feature to pick your insurance plan, enter the name of your insurance company in the search query. If you can't find your medical insurance plan on Zocdoc, upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will automatically scan the image and display the most likely plan for you. This feature isn't available for dental or vision insurance cards. If you face any issues while uploading the image, don't hesitate to contact Zocdoc's service team for assistance. Additionally, you can check out Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
Each dentist's Zocdoc profile details their education, training, areas of specialization, hospital affiliations, certifications, years of professional experience, credentials and licenses, and honors or awards they have received. In addition, the profiles include the languages spoken by the dentists, gender, and whether or not they treat children.
With Zocdoc, you can easily make in-person and online appointments with the best dentist near you. Just look for the purple button on the profiles of dentists who allow such video consultations.
Furthermore, Zocdoc enables you to choose dentists that accept your insurance. Select your insurance from the drop-down box. If the dentist is available, you can schedule appointments during business hours, non-business hours, and even on weekends and holidays.
Appointment scheduling with Zocdoc is simple, free, and safe.
Statistics on dentists in Missouri
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Missouri had approximately 1,710 general dentists in May 2021. Further, according to America's Health Rankings, Missouri had about 52.1 general dentists and advanced practice dental therapists per 100,000 population in September 2022. The number was lower than the national average of 60.6 per 100,000 population.
In 2020, about 63% of adults in the state reported visiting a dentist or dental clinic within the past year, which was lower than the national average of 66.7%. Women (66.8%) were more likely to visit a dentist or dental clinic than men (59%). Those aged 45 to 64 (64.3%) had the highest dental visits. The rate was lower in those aged 18 to 44 (62.6%) and those 65 and above (62.1%).
Sources
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
Crescent Heights Dental Clinic
Verywell Health
Trident Smiles Dental
Dorsey Family Dental
Gentle Smiles of Colorado
Radiance Dental
