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Who is a dentist? 

Dentists diagnose and treat any abnormalities or illnesses of the teeth, gums, throat, tongue, salivary glands, and mouth. They are specialists in oral health and can advise you on preventing cavities. They can extract, fill cavities, bond and repair cracked teeth, and treat gingivitis. Dentists can also take and interpret dental X-rays, whiten teeth, perform oral surgery, and install crowns or veneers, besides overseeing the development of children's teeth and prescribing medicine.

Dentists can help detect oral cancer and other diseases early because their symptoms can be observed in the mouth before appearing in different body parts. 

What kind of education and training do dentists receive?

Dental aspirants need to complete their graduation in subjects such as biology or chemistry. After this, they must enroll in a school of dentistry where they study and train for two years, followed by practicing dentistry for another two years under the guidance of experts. After dental school, dentists must clear the National Dental Examination to get their license to practice. Depending on the area of specialization, dentists may take one to three years of postgraduate residency.

What are the various specialties in dentistry?

After obtaining a license to practice dentistry, dentists can study and train further by taking up a specialty. It requires additional education and training for one to three years, depending on the specialty chosen. The following are various branches of dentistry that dentists can specialize in:

1. Orthodontics: These practitioners focus on realigning your bite and straightening your teeth for maximum health and function. Orthodontists can offer retainers, braces, clear aligners, and other custom-made appliances.
2. Endodontics: An endodontist specializes in root canal therapy. Several general dentists also conduct root canals. In more complex circumstances, a dentist may send you to an endodontist.
3. Pedodontics: Often known as pediatric dentistry, pedodontics treats children, adolescents, and teenagers.
4. Prosthodontics: Prosthetic dentistry is a field dedicated to making dental prosthetics for missing or damaged teeth. A prosthodontist makes natural-looking dental restorations like bridges, crowns, and dentures.
5. Periodontics: Periodontology is a dental field that deals with gum disease and other disorders that affect the tissues around your teeth.
6. Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Oral pathologists investigate the causes and consequences of oral disease and provide diagnoses under challenging instances.
7. Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Oral surgeons diagnose and treat diseases, abnormalities, and injuries to the jaws and other orofacial (mouth and face) structures. They typically remove wisdom teeth, but they also provide various additional services.
8. Oral and maxillofacial radiology: Oral and maxillofacial radiologists are experts at interpreting dental X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, and other dental imaging tests.
9. Public health dentistry: Public health dentists work to enhance community oral health by developing preventive disease initiatives.
10. Orofacial pain management: Orofacial pain management dentists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing pain in the teeth, jaws, head, and face.
11. Dental anesthesiology: A dental anesthesiologist provides advanced pain control services to patients undergoing dental or oral surgery.
12. Oral medicine: Oral medicine dentists specialize in diagnosing and treating persons with chronic medical problems.
13. Cosmetic dentistry: It improves the appearance of your smile. Some treatments available are teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and gum contouring. Many cosmetic dentists also provide preventive and restorative care. Some, however, choose to  only on aesthetic operations.
14. Implant dentistry: Dental implants are a common long-term tooth replacement alternative placed by implant dentists. Specialists like periodontists, oral surgeons, and general dentists can perform implant placements.
15. Forensic dentistry: Forensic dentistry is the examination and interpretation of dental records for legal purposes. For example, when law enforcement discovers human remains, a forensic dentist might evaluate teeth and jaw bones to identify the victim.
16. Reconstructive dentistry: Some dentists specialize in reconstructing or rehabilitating intraoral defects, missing teeth, or dental tissues. It includes treating patients with significant cavities or gum disease. Therapy usually entails several treatments, which may take multiple consultations to obtain the desired result.

What conditions do dentists treat?

Dentists diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of concerns, including:

• Cavities: Cavities are holes in your tooth that form when acids in your mouth erode your enamel (the hard outer layering of your tooth). Its symptoms include bad breath, toothache, facial swelling, and bleeding gums. While maintaining proper oral hygiene helps prevent cavities, you should see a dentist if the symptoms are severe. They can treat this condition through dental fillings, fluoride treatment, root canal therapy, or tooth extraction.
• Jaw pain: Jaw pain is typically a symptom of other medical conditions, such as arthritis, abscessed teeth, mumps, gum disease, and infections. The pain might feel throbbing or intense and can occur alongside other symptoms like stiffness in your temporomandibular joints (joints connecting your skull and lower jaw) and pain when you try to open your mouth. 
• Tooth abscess: Tooth abscesses are pus-filled pockets in your gums that resemble red, swollen bumps. They occur due to bacterial infections, which can also spread to bones and teeth surrounding the affected tooth. Abscesses can cause sharp, throbbing pain radiating to your neck, ears, and jawbone. Other symptoms of this condition include a bitter taste in your mouth, bad breath, red and swollen gums, and tooth sensitivity.
• Bruxism (teeth grinding): Bruxism is when you subconsciously clench or grind your teeth, exerting excessive strain on your jaws and teeth. This can cause health concerns like headaches, jaw pain, ear pain, pain while eating, and difficulty opening and closing your mouth. Based on your symptoms, doctors can treat bruxism through mouth guards, medications, and botulinum toxin injections. They can also suggest lifestyle changes and stress reduction techniques to help you manage persistent symptoms.

When should you visit a dentist?

Per the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your child's first dental visit must be scheduled at six months old or no later than their first birthday. After that, they should see a dentist every six months for a regular check-up, as should all adults. Doing this may help prevent tooth decay and protect against gum disease (which results in tooth or bone loss). Routine visits will also help the dentist detect other illnesses in other body parts. The dentist will clean your teeth and prevent bad breath by brushing, flossing, preventing stains, and giving you an attractive smile. 

If you have a toothache or stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth, a dentist can help you here. Visit a dentist even if you feel fine because there could be problems you cannot detect. A dentist can whiten teeth, add fillings that mimic natural teeth (in case you have gaps in the teeth), and even replace the tooth if required.

Those more prone to gum disease or oral cancer should see a dentist more often than twice a year—your doctor should be able to advise you on this.

Treatments and procedures performed by a dentist

Starting the journey towards optimal oral health involves entrusting your care to a proficient dentist near you. These professionals dedicate themselves to providing a comprehensive range of treatments and procedures. They go beyond routine practices, focusing on personalized care, preventive measures, and a patient-centered approach.

Here's an overview of common dental services actively performed:

1. Performing dental cleanings: Meticulously removing plaque and tartar during regular cleanings is vital for maintaining exemplary oral health. It helps prevent conditions like tooth decay and gum disease.  
2. Addressing cavities with fillings: As explained above, dentists treat cavities by removing decayed parts and filling the area with materials like amalgam or composite resin. This process restores the tooth's function and shape.  
3. Applying crowns as restorations: Fixing damaged or decayed teeth includes fitting crowns for protection, strength, and an improved appearance.  
4. Constructing bridges for tooth replacement: To replace teeth, bridges are created with one or more artificial teeth connected to dental crowns on each side, which are anchored by natural teeth.  
5. Surgically placing dental implants: Fixing missing teeth involves surgically placing dental implants in artificial tooth roots. It provides a stable and permanent solution.  
6. Conducting tooth extractions: Recommending and performing tooth extractions occurs in cases of severe damage or complications with adjacent teeth.  
7. Performing root canal therapy: Addressing infected or inflamed pulp involves root canal therapy. It includes removing, cleansing, shaping the tooth's interior, and sealing to prevent infection.  
8. Orthodontic treatment: Orthodontic treatments correct misalignments in teeth and jaws. Some options include braces, clear aligners, or specialized appliances.  
9. Administering gum treatments: Gum disease requires various therapies. These include deep cleanings, scaling, root planing, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions.  
10. Providing emergency treatments: Delivering immediate and comprehensive care for dental emergencies includes pain relief, injury treatment, and necessary extractions.

Common questions related to dental hygiene 

1. Does one need to visit a dentist often if wearing braces?

People with braces should visit a dentist often because food is more likely to get stuck in places the toothbrush cannot reach. The dentist will also need to clean their braces to avoid bacteria buildup. Your orthodontist, who has placed the braces, will work closely with your dentist for this.

2. What kind of toothbrush should one use?

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and change your toothbrush every three months because of the wear and tear. You may only need to change the head occasionally when using an electronic toothbrush. Check the instructions that came with it for more details. However, if you have gum disease, you must replace your toothbrush every four to six weeks to prevent bacterial formation. Cleaning your brush with hot water will also aid in killing germs and keeping it clean. Changing your toothbrush after a recent sickness is also a good idea.

3. What are fillings?

Dentists perform fillings to fill a tooth's cavity. After cleaning the cavity, the dentist must fill it in once they remove the decay. The dentist numbs the mouth with an anesthetic before filling the hole. Fillings can be composite, ceramic, or gold.

4. What is gum disease?

Teeth grinding, tobacco use, medications, genetics, plaque, and bacterial buildup can all cause periodontal disease or gum disease. It starts with gingivitis, which, if left untreated, can lead to severe gum disease. Gum disease often leads to irreversible bone and tooth loss. Symptoms of periodontal disease include a receding gum line, extreme tooth sensitivity, chronic bad breath, bleeding or swollen gums, or abscessed or loose teeth.

Finding a good dentist near you in Sunnyvale, California

Finding an expert dentist in your area can take time. However, Zocdoc makes it simpler to access licensed medical specialists from the comfort of your home. Book a virtual appointment or in-person consultation with a dentist on Zocdoc to avoid the inconveniences of traveling to a hospital or clinic.

Enter your condition or symptoms, preferred specialty, location, and insurance plan in the search bar of the Zocdoc home page. A list of top-rated dentists will pop up based on your entry. Zocdoc provides detailed profiles of each dentist, including gender, education, qualifications, licensure, hospital affiliation, accreditation, awards, languages they can speak, location, and whether they treat children. Zocdoc also provides verified and genuine patient reviews so you can easily find the best dentist near you in Sunnyvale, California.

Furthermore, you can narrow the list of dentists in-network by choosing your insurance company and plan in the drop-down menu at the top of the page or using Zocdoc's insurance detector. When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, the website prompts you to share details about your insurance or to acknowledge that you are paying out-of-pocket. Some healthcare providers need you to provide insurance information to schedule appointments. If you do not have insurance or do not want to use insurance for your appointment, you can always find another suitable provider on Zocdoc. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.

Booking appointments with a dentist near you on Zocdoc is simple, secure, and free!

Statistics on gum disease and oral cancer in California

According to a 2016 survey compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the American Academy of Periodontology, California is among the top ten states for people diagnosed with gum disease—the highest prevalence recorded at approximately 47.8%. Acknowledging the state's need for preventive dental care is crucial, given that nearly half of all Californians between the ages of 30 and 79 experience gum disease.

Malignancies of the lip, tongue, pharynx, and mouth, as well as oral and pharyngeal cancers, can cause early death and can be quantified in terms of years lost. Hence, it is crucial to maintain good dental hygiene and visit the dentist regularly to avoid such losses.

Sources

Healthline

All Seasons Dental Care

WebMD

Maine Dental Association

Rice Dentistry

California Department of Public Health

Cleveland Clinic[1]

Cleveland Clinic[2]

Cleveland Clinic[3]

Cleveland Clinic[4]

Cleveland Clinic[5]

The Oral Health Foundation

CRESCENT HEIGHTS DENTAL CLINIC

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.