Dentists (credentialed as Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine) examine, diagnose and treat teeth and the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. They also educate patients on good oral hygiene and preventive care. In addition, dentist may identify signs and symptoms of systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease or preterm birth that manifest in the mouth.
Oral Hygiene
The mouth is full of germs, but brushing, flossing and regular dental visits help keep these germs under control. When oral health problems do occur, such as gum disease, bad breath (halitosis) and tooth decay, the dentist can spot them and treat them before they become severe.
Hygienists gather a patient’s medical history and perform an exam of the head, neck and mouth to identify abnormalities. Dental hygienists also provide education and counseling on preventive dental care to help patients maintain optimal oral health.
To practice as a dental hygienist, a person must graduate from an accredited program at an institution of higher learning and be licensed by the state in which they intend to work. Licensing requirements vary by state, but typically include an associate degree and passing a written national dental hygiene board exam and a clinical state exam.
Preventative Care
Preventative care is any action patients or healthcare providers can take to reduce the risk of a health problem. This includes anything from screenings to education and patient counseling. It also includes medication to reduce the risk of disease, lifestyle changes, and weight loss interventions. The general goal of preventative care is to improve patient outcomes. As the medical industry shifts away from fee-per-service models, preventative care is one way providers can offer value-based care and improve patient outcomes.
Unlike traditional medical care, which focuses on treating symptoms and diseases once they have already developed, preventive care targets disease in its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. This helps to mitigate long-term effects, lowers overall healthcare costs, and creates healthier patients. Many preventive services are 100% covered by some medical plans.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is a process by which a medical professional determines the cause of a patient’s health problem. This is accomplished by gathering information through medical history, physical exam and diagnostic tests. Medical professionals use this information to correlate and identify patterns in symptoms, and ultimately arrive at a working diagnosis.
This method is often used in emergency settings to guide immediate care, and can be very accurate. However, it is difficult to teach and requires a great deal of clinical experience. Diagnostic errors are a major source of problems for patients, clinicians and healthcare organizations. Minimizing these errors should be a priority. One approach is to better understand the diagnostic process and to make it more intellectually accessible, and so more teachable and achievable for clinicians.
Treatment
Dentists are trained to perform a wide range of procedures. They are skilled in dental restoration such as tooth extractions and fillings, but they also offer cosmetic enhancements like teeth whitening and veneers.
A dentist may also recommend orthodontic treatment, such as braces to align teeth and bite. This improves both aesthetics and function. They may even perform surgical procedures, such as placing dental implants or removing wisdom teeth.
Dental professionals also encourage patients to maintain good oral health by practicing proper hygiene and attending twice yearly cleanings and evaluations. Additionally, they may identify systemic diseases and conditions, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, celiac disease and cancer, that impact oral health and wellbeing. They may collaborate with specialists like otorhinolaryngologists, gastroenterologists and neurologists when dealing with these conditions.
Prevention
A consistent oral hygiene routine along with regular dental visits limit or eliminate the need for more invasive treatments like fillings and root canals. Good preventive care also reduces your risk of developing other health issues that are linked to poor oral hygiene habits, including cancer and heart disease.
Prevention focuses on identifying and stopping problems before they develop, saving you time, money and stress in the long run. It includes practicing daily oral hygiene to remove plaque and tartar, eating a balanced diet that is low in sugar and contains the necessary vitamins and minerals, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and visiting your dentist for regular oral evaluations and cleanings.
Your dentist may also use X-rays to check for decay between teeth or under restorations, bone loss, cysts, tumors and other abnormalities.