A dentist is a medical professional who examines and treats the teeth, gums and other hard and soft tissues of the mouth. Dentists may practice general dentistry or specialize in one of nine dental specialties.

Patients value empathetic dentists who take time to thoroughly explain treatment options and answer questions. It’s also important that a dentist maintains a positive working environment for their support staff.

Preventive Care

Preventive care is health care that helps prevent disease or find it early when it’s easier to treat. It includes services like screening tests and checkups. Preventive care can help save lives and reduce overall costs of health care.

Dental hygienists are licensed healthcare professionals who provide educational and therapeutic oral health care services directly to patients. They focus on preventing and treating dental diseases to improve oral and general health.

They assess patient risk and perform multiple procedures to prevent dental disease, including professional teeth cleanings, scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the roots of the tooth to remove bacteria), and adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials or systemic antibiotics. Dental hygienists also document and record all treatment provided to the patient and maintain an excellent provider-patient relationship.

Value-based care models, where providers are paid based on patient outcomes, center diverse care methods and distribute the health care burden evenly while devaluing profits, may help reduce strain on healthcare systems.

Routine Exams

Routine exams may include a physical examination or laboratory testing such as blood work and screening for conditions like cholesterol levels and diabetes. These exams can detect disease before it causes any noticeable symptoms and provide preventive care for patients. A routine exam also allows doctors to assess the patient’s overall health, which can help guide future treatment. These exams can be performed at any age and are often required for things like school and sports. During a routine exam, it is important to share any significant medical history with the doctor. This includes details about current medical conditions, family health issues, allergies, medications, surgeries and immunizations. It’s a good idea to bring a list of the current medications the patient takes, including over-the-counter medicine and supplements.

Annual physicals can detect diseases and health problems that are not yet evident and can help the patient make lifestyle changes to improve their overall well-being.

Cleanings

Dental cleanings, also called prophylaxis, are routine procedures that dental hygienists perform on patients to remove plaque and tartar. Patients with healthy teeth and gums should schedule a preventative cleaning every six months, though those at higher risk of developing cavities or gum disease may need to visit more often. Routine cleanings can highlight areas where brushing and flossing need to be improved and help patients find better ways to perform those tasks at home.

Aside from preventing gum disease and tooth decay, regular cleanings can detect other oral health issues such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which manifests as pain and discomfort in the jaw. TMD is a major contributor to the development of gum disease and can even cause tooth loss. There are several different types of dental cleanings, all of which your dentist or hygienist will explain to you in detail. Some of the most common include a gross debridement, which eliminates large amounts of plaque and tartar on one or more teeth; and a periodontal maintenance cleaning, which helps treat gum disease and prevent its recurrence.

X-Rays

Different types of X-rays help your provider see bone fractures, tumors, infections and other conditions. They also help detect cavities in teeth. X-rays are performed in hospital radiology departments, dentist’s offices and other locations that have specialized equipment. Your provider may ask you to wear a gown or remove clothing, jewelry or metal objects that can show up on the image. You might need to drink a liquid or have a contrast dye injected before some X-rays.

Although X-rays use radiation, the amount is very small and not much more than you get from naturally occurring background radiation in your daily life. Some X-rays require you to hold your body in a certain position or angle for a few seconds, while others take longer. X-rays are safe for most people, but be sure to tell your provider if you are pregnant. They can recommend another imaging test that is safer for you.