What Does a Dentist Do?

A dentist is a health care professional who examines and treats the teeth, gums and other hard and soft tissues of the mouth. He or she may also advise patients on good oral hygiene practices and identify other health conditions or illnesses that manifest in the mouth.

Becoming a Dentist in white oak tx involves significant educational costs and years of training. Some graduates carry substantial student loan debt.

Preventive Care

Generally speaking, dental problems are easier (and less expensive) to treat in their early stages. This is why most dental insurance plans cover preventive care at 100% with no deductibles or co-pays.

Preventive dental services include daily brushing and regular cleanings to remove the bacterial film known as plaque from the teeth. Plaque eats the sugar on and between your teeth, producing acid that attacks the gums and enamel over time. If not removed, it can harden into tartar.

Dentists also use pinpoint x-rays and panoramic dental images to identify hidden issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and other abnormalities. These services are essential for ensuring that your teeth and gums remain healthy throughout your lifetime. They are especially important for children and young adults as they develop their permanent adult teeth, but even older adults can benefit from these services. The goal is to keep the teeth healthy, strong, and white. This can be achieved by establishing healthy dental habits at an early age and regularly visiting the dentist for a thorough cleaning and exam.

Restorative Care

A damaged tooth does not self-repair, so restorative care involves fixing the problem and improving mouth function. This is particularly important for patients with missing or broken teeth. Without the proper treatment, these teeth can become weakened and more susceptible to decay and infection, as well as impairing chewing or speaking abilities.

A Dentist in white oak tx may recommend a variety of restorative procedures, depending on the extent of the damage. Some of the most common include fillings, root canal therapy, and dental bridges. A dentist can also replace teeth with implants and dentures to improve a patient's ability to chew and speak effectively.

Rehabilitation strategies are also common goals of restorative care, as they can help patients regain their full range of motion and ambulation skills. Patients with limb loss may benefit from the use of braces, splints and wraps to maintain strength and flexibility.

Cosmetic Care

In addition to providing preventive care, dental practitioners offer cosmetic treatment options like teeth whitening, veneers and bonding. They also provide anti-anxiety medicines to treat patients with dental phobias and sedatives to ease pain and discomfort during procedures.

Depending on your oral health needs, your dentist may recommend a specific procedure or may refer you to a specialist for a particular type of treatment. If you have dental insurance, your insurance provider should cover most or all of the cost. If you don’t have insurance, your county Department of Health can direct you to Federally Qualified Health Clinics or Article 28 clinics that may provide dental care on a sliding scale. You can also contact a charity organization to learn about programs that offer free or low-cost dental care. In addition, there are a number of private financial options that can help you pay for dentistry.

Emergency Care

Dental emergencies may seem minor at the time, but prompt care can help prevent complications and costly, invasive procedures in the future. If you are experiencing a toothache, contact your dentist to see if they offer emergency services or can recommend an urgent care clinic in the area. If your toothache is accompanied by fever, headache, or facial swelling, head to the emergency room.

ERs are well-suited to handle life-threatening medical concerns, but they lack the specialized equipment and expertise needed for dental treatment. Urgent care centers and primary care physicians can offer immediate relief, but they will likely refer you to a dentist for follow-up treatment. Untreated dental emergencies can lead to complications ranging from severe pain and bleeding to infection of the contiguous structures of the neck and jaw, which threatens overall health. Managing these issues requires a multidisciplinary approach involving non-dental professionals, hematologists, oral surgeons, and dentists.