Who are dentists?
Dentists help patients maintain good oral health by diagnosing and treating diseases of the teeth, mouth, gums, and other oral structures. They perform dental procedures using high-tech equipment, including lasers, drills, X-ray machines, brushes, and other tools. Visiting a dentist can help maintain good oral health and improve overall well-being.
Dentists usually treat oral cancer, jaw pain, teeth grinding, gingivitis, cavities, bleeding gums, disorders-related dental issues, and gum disease. They are leaders in a dental team of dental assistants, lab technicians, dental hygienists, and nurse practitioners. Dentists promote routine treatment and provide comprehensive, practical, affordable, and efficient dental care. Supervision and management are essential for the clinical team to provide safe and effective dental services.
Dentists vs. orthodontists: key differences
Both dentists and orthodontists are healthcare professionals who specialize in oral health, but their expertise and training set them apart. Dentists focus on diagnosing and treating various conditions affecting the teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth. In contrast, orthodontists undergo additional education to specialize in correcting teeth and jaw misalignment.
- What does a dentist do? - Dentists are medical professionals dedicated to maintaining oral hygiene and treating common dental issues. After completing an undergraduate program, they attend dental school and become certified practitioners. Their responsibilities include:
- Taking and interpreting dental X-rays
- Filling cavities and repairing damaged teeth
- Extracting problematic teeth
- Treating gum diseases like gingivitis
- Prescribing medications for oral health conditions
- Whitening teeth and applying crowns or veneers
- Performing oral surgical procedures
- What does an orthodontist do? - Orthodontists are specialized dentists who focus on teeth alignment and jaw positioning. After dental school, they complete additional training in orthodontics. Their primary duties include:
- Monitoring jaw and facial growth in children
- Diagnosing and treating bite misalignment (malocclusion)
- Creating treatment plans using braces, retainers, and corrective appliances
- Performing procedures to straighten teeth
- Installing devices such as braces, expanders, and headgear
- Who should you visit: dentist or orthodontist? - For routine dental care, such as checkups, cavity treatment, and gum disease management, a dentist near you is the right choice. However, if you have issues with teeth alignment, jaw structure, or bite correction, consulting an orthodontist may be necessary. Children should have an orthodontic assessment by age seven to determine if they may need braces. Some dental insurance plans may require a dentist’s referral before covering orthodontic care.
Understanding the differences between dentists and orthodontists can help you pick the right provider for your oral health needs.
What kind of education and training do dentists receive?
A dentist follows a study path similar to that of a medical doctor. First, they complete an undergraduate biology, chemistry, health, or math program, earning a bachelor's degree. Next, they take a dental admissions test to apply to dental schools.
The training includes:
- Two years of biomedical science studies, followed by two years of clinical practice
- Earning a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree
- Obtaining a dental license by passing written and practical exams
Dentists can also get certified by passing the National Board Dental Examination. Depending on their specialty, they may need to complete a one to three-year postgraduate residency.
Types of dentists
Various oral healthcare specialists provide the required care and treatment for multiple issues. The following are a few types of dentists and other oral health providers.
A general dentist can be your primary dental care provider. They diagnose, treat, and manage several aspects of oral health, including root canals, gum care, fillings, veneers, crowns, bridges, and preventive education.
An endodontist specializes in diagnosing, preventing, and treating disorders and injuries to the human dental pulp or tooth nerve. This specialist can perform simple to complex root canal treatments and other surgical root procedures.
- Maxillofacial and oral radiologist
A radiologist is an oral health care specialist who collects and interprets X-ray images and data. They diagnose and manage the mouth and maxillofacial region's diseases, disorders, and conditions.
- Maxillofacial and oral surgeon
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon conducts a variety of surgical treatments on the face, mouth, and jaw. They provide reconstructive and dental implant surgery to accident victims who have suffered face injuries. They also treat patients with jaw tumors and cysts and perform dental implant placement.
An oral pathologist is a dentist who examines the causes that affect the oral structures (teeth, lips, cheeks, jaws) along with parts of the face and neck. Oral pathologists examine the biopsy, tissue, or lesion given to them by other oral healthcare professionals and provide a diagnosis.
An orthodontist specializes in diagnosing, preventing, intervening, and treating malocclusions, or "bad bites," of the teeth and associated tissues. Malocclusions can occur due to crowded, missing, or additional teeth or misaligned jaws. This specialist straightens teeth through the bone using wires, braces, bands, and other fixed or removable corrective equipment or retainers. They work with children and adults who want to improve their appearance and bite.
A pedodontist or pediatric dentist diagnoses and treats dental issues in children aged one or two through early adulthood. They can identify, treat, or refer you to another specialist for decaying, missing, crowded, or crooked teeth problems. After dental school graduation, they must complete at least two years of further training. Their additional training focuses on child behavior, physical growth and development, and the specifics of children's dentistry.
What medical conditions does oral health impact?
Problems with your mouth can adversely affect the rest of your body, and dental conditions can often reveal information about your overall health. It is also true the other way around, and oral health can be affected due to various other diseases and conditions, including :
Diabetes elevates the risk of contracting gum disease by impairing the body's capacity to fight infection. People with gum disease have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels, and routine dental care can help regulate it.
In patients with HIV/AIDS, oral issues such as painful mucosal sores are prevalent.
Periodontal bone loss and tooth loss lead to this condition, which weakens bones. Sometimes, osteoporosis medications are known to harm jawbones.
The development of Alzheimer's disease in the body leads to worsening dental health.
Additional problems related to oral health are rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, certain tumors, and an immune system ailment that produces dry mouth (Sjogren's syndrome). If you have recently been unwell or have a chronic disease, let your dentist know about the medications you use and any changes in your body.
Why should you visit a dentist?
Regular visits to dentists are crucial for several reasons, and experts recommend having a checkup every six months.
If you’ve had a dental procedure, regular checkups ensure everything remains in good condition. If you’re pregnant, use tobacco, or have ongoing medical issues, a dentist can coordinate your care with your medical doctor.
Visit a dentist if you feel pain or discomfort in your mouth, teeth, jaws, or gums. Pain/swelling in the mouth, neck, or face could indicate a problem. Additionally, if your gums bleed or you have trouble chewing or swallowing, schedule a visit to find out the cause.
Your dentist will check for mouth cancer, gum problems, or dental decay. Regular checkups help prevent serious issues. The dental hygienist cleans your teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Tartar and plaque cause tooth decay and gum disease. They can also provide tips on taking care of your teeth at home.
How to protect oral health?
Taking care of your dental wellness can benefit your overall well-being. Practice good dental hygiene daily and contact a dentist near you for any issues or concerns. A few practices to help strengthen your oral health are:
- Brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day
- Opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Floss every day
- Use fluoride toothpaste to prevent tooth decay
- Use mouthwash after brushing and flossing to eliminate leftover food particles from your mouth
- Maintain a healthy diet and don't have sugary foods and beverages. Remember to eat fibrous, raw, and crunchy fruits and vegetables
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months
- Arrange routine dental examinations and cleanings
- Quit smoking or using any tobacco products
Finding the best dentists near you in West New York, NJ
To maintain good oral health, scheduling bi-annual visits with a trained dentist for routine consultations and cleanings is essential. Besides providing healthy teeth and gums, regular dental checkups can help detect oral health concerns early and treat them before they worsen.
Are you interested in scheduling a routine dental checkup and want to book a quick appointment? With Zocdoc, finding the best dentists in your vicinity for oral health issues is easy! Zocdoc's comprehensive database of healthcare professionals can help you locate some of the best dentists in West New York, New Jersey, within minutes.
You can begin by entering your symptoms, location, or the specialist you seek and receive a list of providers most suited for you. Further, you may filter the displayed results based on gender, language proficiency, hospital affiliations, and whether they tend to children.
You can also make payments using your health insurance by entering your plan details and finding in-network providers. If you need clarification about your policy's coverage, the insurance detector can assist you, and you can submit your information pre-appointment using the insurance card capture feature.
If you need assistance finding family doctors covered by your insurance, our online patient help center is here. You can connect your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. Remember, each appointment uses only one insurance plan.
If you have multiple insurance plans, no worries. You can add details about your second insurance in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can enter your second insurance info for quick access. You can also contact the Zocdoc service team if you run into any issues during the process of finding the right service provider for you.
Through Zocdoc, you can schedule either an in-person or video appointment with top dentists. Look for the purple video button to book video consultations. You can also filter for video availability to find providers offering video appointments.
Every dentist listed on Zocdoc has a comprehensive profile with their qualifications, experience, clinical training, board certification, accolades, and more! The profiles also show if the specialist has experience providing your desired service. Once you have chosen the best dentist for your requirements, quickly schedule a session using Zocdoc based on their availability.
Booking appointments with dentists near you on Zocdoc is easy, free, and secure.
Statistics on dental health in New Jersey
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, 4,100 general dentists, 370 orthodontists, 50 dentists in other specialties, 6,060 dental hygienists, and 10,170 dental assistants were legally practicing in New Jersey.
According to the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022, published on the America's Health Rankings website, 68.3% of New Jersey adults visited a dentist the past year. The report also stated that more women in the state (70.2%) went to a dental clinic than men (66.2%).
According to a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, 52% of children between six and eight years had cavities in their primary teeth. The report also stated that the number increased with age; 57% of teenagers from 12 to 19 and 90% of adults over 20 years had at least one cavity in their permanent teeth. One in every four adults between 20 and 64 had a minimum of one cavity. Another report by the same organization stated that one in six people over 65 lost all of their natural and permanent teeth.
Sources
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
American Dental Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
America's Health Rankings
Mayo Clinic
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Healthline
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