Dentists: Doctors of Oral Health
Most Americans today enjoy excellent oral health and are keeping
their natural teeth throughout their lives. But this is not the
case for everyone. Cavities are still the most prevalent chronic
disease of childhood. Further, about 100 million Americans did
not see a dentist in 2007, even though regular dental examinations
and good oral hygiene can prevent most dental disease.
Too many people mistakenly believe that they need to see a dentist
only if they are in pain or think something is wrong, but they’re
missing the bigger picture. A dental visit means being examined
by a doctor of oral health capable of diagnosing and treating
conditions that can range from routine to extremely complex.
The American Dental Association believes that a better understanding
of the intensive academic and clinical education that dentists
undergo, their role in delivering oral health care and, most important,
the degree to which dental disease is almost entirely preventable
is essential to ensuring that more Americans enjoy the lifelong
benefits of good oral health.
The Dentist’s Role
Dentists are doctors who specialize in oral health. Their responsibilities
include:
- Diagnosing oral diseases
- Creating Treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health
or their patients.
- Interpreting x-rays and diagnostic tests
- Ensuring the safe administration of anesthetics
- Monitoring growth and development of the teeth and jaws
- Performing surgical procedures on the teeth, bone and soft
tissues of the oral cavity.
- Managing oral trauma and other emergency situations
A Team Approach
The team approach to dentistry promotes continuity of care that
is comprehensive, convenient, cost effective and efficient. Members
of the team include dental assistants, lab technicians and dental
hygienists. Leading the team is the dentist, a doctor specializing
in oral health who has earned either a Doctor of Dental Medicine
(DMD) degree or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, which
are essentially the same. Dentists’ oversight of the clinical
team is critical to ensuring safe and effective oral care.
Education and Clinical Training
The level of education and clinical training required to earn
a dental degree, and the high academic standards of dental schools,
are on par with those of medical schools, and are essential to
preparing dentists for the safe and effective practice of modern
oral health care.
Most dental students have earned Bachelor of Science Degrees
or the equivalent, and all have passed rigorous admissions examinations.
The curricula during the first two years of dental and medical
schools are essentially the same – students must complete
such biomedical science courses as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology,
microbiology, immunology and pathology. During the second two
years, dental students’ coursework focuses on clinical practice
– diagnosing and treating oral diseases. After earning their
undergraduate and dental degrees (eight years for most) many dentists
continue their education and training to achieve certification
in one of nine recognized dental specialties.
Upon completing their training, dentists must pass both a rigorous
national written examination and a state or regional clinical
licensing exam in order to practice. As a condition of licensure,
they must meet continuing education requirements for the remainder
to their careers, to keep them up-to-date on the latest scientific
and clinical developments.
As doctors of oral health, dentists must be able to diagnose
and treat a range of conditions and know how to deal with complications
– some of which are potentially life-threatening.
More than Just Teeth and Gums
Dentists’ areas of care include not only their patients’
teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck and jaw,
the tongue, salivary glands, and the nervous system of the head
and neck. During a comprehensive exam, dentists examine the teeth
and gums, but they also look for lumps, swellings, discolorations,
ulcerations – any abnormality. When appropriate, they perform
procedures such as biopsies, diagnostic tests for chronic or infectious
diseases, salivary gland function, and screening tests for oral
cancer. In addition, dentists can spot early warning signs in
the mouth that may indicate disease elsewhere in the body. Dentists’
training also enables them to recognize situations that warrant
referring patients for care by dental specialists or physicians.
Why Oral Health Matters
Numerous recent scientific studies indicate associations between
oral health and a variety of general health conditions –
including diabetes and heart disease. In response, the World Health
Organization has integrated oral health into its chronic disease
prevention efforts “as the risks to health are linked”
The American Dental Association recommends that dental visits
begin no later than a child’s first birthday to establish
a “dental home”. Dentists can provide guidance to children
and parents, deliver preventive oral health services, and diagnose
and treat dental disease in its earliest stages. This ongoing
dental care will help b oth children and adults maintain optimal
oral health throughout their lifetimes.
Together, we can work to improve America’s oral health and
give all of us something to smile about.
Years of Specialty Training Beyond a Four-Year Dental Degree
- Pediatric Dentistry - Oral health care needs of infants and
children through adolescence – Schooling lasts 25 months
after dental school
- Endodontics - Health of dental pulp, the soft core of teeth,
specializes in performing root canals – Schooling lasts
26 months after dental school
- Periodontics – Treats diseases of the gum tissue and
bone supporting the teeth – Schooling lasts 35 months after
dental school
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics – Correcting
dental and facial irregularities – Schooling lasts 30 months
after dental school
- Prosthodontics – Restoring natural teeth or replacing
missing teeth or oral structures with artificial devices, such
as dentures – Schooling lasts 32 months after dental school
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – Surgical Treatment of
disease and injuries of the mouth – Schooling lasts 54
months to 72 months after dental school
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology – Diseases of the mouth,
teeth and surrounding regions – Schooling lasts 37 months
after dental school
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology – X-rays and other forms
of imaging used for diagnosis and management of oral diseases
and disorders – Schooling lasts 30 months after dental
school
- Dental Public Health – Preventing dental disease through
organized community efforts – Schooling lasts 15 months
after dental school
Information courtesy of the American Dental Association
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