Role of dentists in healthcare
Dentists are healthcare professionals who examine and therapeutically care for individuals with issues related to teeth, gums, and oral components. Their pivotal role in advocating for proper oral cleanliness is actively educating individuals and communities on a good diet, brushing techniques, flossing, cleaning products, and other aspects of oral care.
When you become aware of the importance of oral hygiene, it minimizes the chance of complications developing in your mouth or other parts of the body. Dentists are also responsible for the following:
- Creating treatment plans to maintain the oral health of patients
- Assessing diagnostic tests and X-rays
- Monitoring the development of teeth and jaws
- Performing surgical procedures in different areas of the mouth
Education and training of a dentist in the US
One must complete a recognized four-year bachelor's program before pursuing dentistry education. Usually, general education and major coursework are part of the curriculum. When one decides to pursue a dental career, one will probably major in a science-related subject, fulfilling the coursework requirements for admission to an accredited dental school.
Some schools also offer a pre-dental program that includes studying subjects like biology, physics, human genetics, and physiology. After earning a bachelor's degree, one needs to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). After that, a person must gain admission to a dental school officially accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission.
The four-year dentistry program grants a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). During the first two years of these programs, one learns via classroom instruction and laboratory assignments. The two years after that are devoted to getting practical experience, during which the students treat patients under the supervision of experienced dentists.
Difference between a dentist and an orthodontist
Dentists and orthodontists both work on oral health through distinct methods. A crucial difference between them is that every orthodontist is a dentist, yet not all dentists hold orthodontic licenses.
There are more differences between dentists and orthodontists than similarities. Dentistry covers a broad medical field involving teeth, gums, nerves, and jaws. Dentists support oral care and address tooth decay, root canals, gum problems, crowns, bridges, veneers, whitening, and misalignment.
On the other hand, orthodontics, a dentistry subset, concentrates on fixing bites, occlusion, and tooth alignment. Orthodontists specialize in aligning teeth and treating misaligned, crowded, overbites, and underbites. Dentists refer patients to orthodontists when they encounter issues related to bites and teeth alignment.
Dentists undergo thorough training. Students spend the initial two years of dental school in classrooms and labs. The last two years involve hands-on work with patients under licensed supervision. After dental school, dentists must pass the National Dental Examination to be licensed.
Orthodontists need more schooling as a dental specialty, like a doctor getting extra education to be a surgeon. Initially, dentists and orthodontists undergo similar education, with orthodontists needing additional certification before practicing. Orthodontists typically pursue pre-dentistry or pre-medical majors in undergrad before dental school. Upon finishing dental school and passing the certification test, orthodontists join a 2 to 3-year residency program specializing in orthodontics. The American Board of Orthodontics states that orthodontists can practice after additional certification tests.
Moreover, if you see a dentist and they suggest an orthodontist, your insurance might not accept it. Orthodontists are specialists, so your insurance might only partially cover their treatments, even with dental benefits. At such times, insurance requires a dentist's recommendation to include an orthodontist visit.
In short, consider your dentist a primary care provider and your orthodontist a specialist. An emergency dentist can usually address common dental problems.
Reasons to visit a dentist near you regularly
Did you know that per an interim policy released in 2020 by the American Dental Association (ADA), dentistry is classified as an essential healthcare service? Many consider visiting a dentist only for toothache, cavities, or gum problems. Also, some people do not make as many dentist appointments as they should despite having visible oral concerns. Following are a few reasons why you should visit dentists:
- Attending to minor oral concerns: An open mouth is exposed to a lot, whether eating or talking. Minor tooth decay, plaque under the gum line, or impacted wisdom tooth problems may seem insignificant. Still, they can cause significant worry if not treated early. Regular dental visits ensure that oral concerns are identified early and addressed quickly.
- Preventive care saves money: Regular dental visits and other dental treatments are covered under your insurance. If you visit your dentist frequently, they can identify potential problems early. Detecting issues early on can enable you to steer clear of more costly and intrusive interventions in the future.
- Keeping track of previous dental work: Some types might break down over time. Keep track of any work you get done. Regular checkups enable your dentist to distinguish between ordinary wear and tear and more severe issues. As a result, they might suggest ways to improve or, in some situations, replace the prior treatment.
- You don't feel confident about your smile: Have you always felt you need to hide your smile because of lost, damaged, crooked, or discolored teeth? Your dentist offers numerous alternatives to give you a beautiful smile, including veneers, braces, and whitening procedures.
- Protecting your overall health: It's important to note that oral well-being can impact your health. According to research conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, evidence suggests that women undergoing dental interventions are less likely to encounter heart disease. They also have fewer strokes and don't experience many other negative cardiovascular consequences. Suppose your dentist notices anything concerning during routine appointments. If that happens, they can inform you about it and recommend you seek guidance from your primary care physician.
Common dental treatments
Dentists near you provide a range of services to enhance oral health, restore damaged teeth, and improve aesthetics. Below are key dental treatments that help patients maintain their best smiles:
- Bridgework: Dental bridges fill gaps between missing teeth by connecting two crowns. Natural teeth, implants, or a combination of these can support these structures. Dentists recommend bridges to restore smiles, improve appearances, and create a youthful look.
- Dental bonding: Dentists use dental bonding to correct imperfections, such as chipped, cracked, or decayed teeth, enhancing a patient's smile. They apply a tooth-colored resin to the affected teeth and harden it with a special light, ensuring the material bonds securely for a natural appearance.
- Invisalign: Dentists use Invisalign to straighten teeth without interfering with daily activities. This treatment involves custom-fitted, removable aligners that gradually shift teeth into place. The nearly invisible design and comfortable fit make Invisalign a popular choice for those with a crooked smile.
- Dental veneers: Veneers are thin coverings placed over the front of teeth to correct crookedness, poor shape, or severe discoloration. These can help lighten teeth that have yellow or gray tones, offering a long-lasting cosmetic solution.
- Root canal therapy: Root canal treatment saves infected or severely decayed teeth from extraction. Dentists extract the infected pulp and clean and seal the inside tooth to avoid further harm. Contrary to popular belief, the procedure is no more painful than a standard filling.
- Dental sealants: To prevent decay, dentists apply sealants to the chewing surfaces of back teeth. These plastic coatings harden into a protective shield, reducing the need for future fillings, crowns, or other dental procedures.
- Teeth cleanings: You must visit a dentist every six months for professional teeth cleanings. Tartar, a hardened plaque buildup, accumulates above and below the gum line, and a dentist can effectively remove it to ensure healthy teeth and gums.
- Dentures: Dentists provide removable dentures to replace missing teeth. People use complete dentures when all teeth are missing, while partial dentures fill gaps where some remain. Modern dentures offer enhanced comfort and a more natural appearance.
- Tooth extractions: Dentists perform extractions when a tooth is too damaged for restoration. In some cases, removing a tooth prepares the mouth for orthodontic treatment. Whether due to decay, trauma, or overcrowding, extractions help maintain overall dental health.
- Teeth whitening: Patients seeking a brighter smile can choose between at-home and in-office teeth whitening treatments. The at-home option involves custom trays filled with hydrogen peroxide gel, while dentists accelerate in-office teeth whitening treatment with a unique light source.
Which common foods cause dental problems?
Certain foods and beverages can cause plaque buildup and eventually lead to cavity formation and tooth decay. While these foods need not be avoided entirely, consuming them in moderation can help prevent tooth erosion. Here are some foods that can potentially damage your teeth:
- Sweet, sticky, and sour candies—While enjoyable, sweet treats like candies contain added sugars that feed destructive bacteria in the mouth and break down the teeth' enamel. Sour candies also contain acids that are tougher on the teeth. Sticky candies tend to remain in the teeth if not brushed out properly, which may lead to cavity formation and tooth decay. Healthy snacks like dried fruits or trail mix can also stick to your teeth.
If you eat sticky foods or candies, choose those that clear out of the mouth quickly. Ensure you rinse your mouth, brush, and floss after consuming any candy.
- Sugary beverages like energy drinks or sodas- Most carbonated drinks, including diet sodas, contain sugar. Cavity-producing bacteria feed on sugar, producing more acid in the mouth, eventually leading to tooth enamel erosion. Carbonated drinks may also have phosphoric and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel. Moreover, sodas can dry the mouth and produce less saliva, hastening the decay process.
- Refined starchy foods, baked goods, and white bread- Chewing bread and crushing on snacks like potato chips causes saliva in our mouths to break down the starches into sugar, which causes cavities. Additionally, starchy foods can also stick between the teeth. Less refined carbs, like whole grains, can be a better choice. However, whenever you choose to snack, ensure you floss that day to remove any food particles stuck in your teeth.
- Citrus fruit juices- Lemon, grapefruit, and orange juice are great sources of vitamin C and are considered healthy to consume. However, these juices are highly acidic, which can cause the teeth' enamel to erode. Rinsing the mouth after drinking acidic fruit juices can help avoid cavities.
- Alcohol- We know that consuming excessive alcohol can harm the body in many ways. It can also affect the teeth, as alcohol tends to dry out the mouth. A dry mouth produces less saliva, which is necessary when washing away food particles and preventing them from sticking between teeth and causing cavities or decay. Moreover, alcohol also increases a person's risk of mouth cancer.
Find the best dentists near you in Yakima, WA
If you want to see a dentist in Yakima, visit the Zocdoc website. This platform allows you to find the right dentist from the top-rated dentists. You can use search filters like medical conditions, procedures, or healthcare specialists. Zocdoc allows you to search for a doctor using advanced search filters, such as location, date, time of appointment, doctor's gender, hospital affiliation, and language. This ensures you have a safe and comfortable visit to the emergency dentist during an urgent situation.
You can come in person or schedule an online appointment via video call. One of the best advantages of using Zocdoc is that you can also check which dentist near you accepts your insurance, which helps cover the payment for dental services. If you cannot find your insurance plan on Zocdoc, you may upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will then scan the image of your card and show you your likely plan. This service is available only for medical insurance cards, not vision and dental cards. If you need help uploading your card, you can contact Zocdoc's service team.
However, you can still schedule appointments through Zocdoc if you do not have insurance or do not want to use it for your visit. To do so, select "I'm paying for myself" in the drop-down menu to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. We will immediately match you with a list of dentists who accept people without health insurance. Do you have any other insurance-related questions? Please visit our patient help center page.
Additionally, you can find all the information about your chosen doctor by visiting their profile. The practitioner's bio contains information about their specialization, duration of the training, certificates, licenses, affiliations, and professional accomplishments. Each profile also has reliable patient reviews. Moreover, all bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Dental health statistics in Yakima, West Virginia
As per a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, one out of four adults in the US has untreated cavities. Nearly half of the US population aged 30 years or older has visible signs of gum disease. At the same time, 9% of adults are affected by severe gum disease. The same organization highlighted the concerning fact that, on average, the US loses over $45 billion in productivity yearly due to untreated dental diseases.
As per a report published by the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, 62% of West Virginians have lost at least one of their permanent teeth. Also, nearly one-fourth of West Virginians have cavities that need treatment. Although experts recommend visiting a dentist at least twice a year, one out of five survey respondents has not seen a dentist in more than three years.
Sources
Wake Dental Care
WebMD
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
The Whole U University of Washington
Learn.org
Berkeley News
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
SMB Orthodontics
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Healthline[3]
MouthHealthy
University of Rochester Medical Center
Isaacson Gentle Dentistry
