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Dentist Related Terms: porcelain veneers, bridges, crowns, teeth cleaning, braces, orthodontics, Brite Smile, dental implants, restorative dentistry, teeth whitening, laminate, smile enhancement, cosmetic reconstruction, full mouth rehabilitation, cracked teeth, discolored teeth, stained teeth, non-metal ceramic crowns, metal free fillings, bonding technologies
Dentist Summary: Dentistry is the practice of taking care of teeth and gums. There are several specializations of dentistry such as oral surgery or periodontics. Dentists provide services such as general cleanings, cavity fillings, and tooth cappings.
Dentist FAQs:
What is a Dentist?
A Dentist is a healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry, which is the science and art of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, jaws and mouth.
General Dentistry is the only non-speciality field of Dentistry thereby, a general Dentist typically does not focus on any particular discipline within dentistry, and instead provides basic care within a variety of disciplines.
However, a general Dentist can, and often does, further his training in one or more speciality areas (such as surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, etc.). As a result, there can be a great deal of variation between the level of skill in different disciplines from dentist to dentist, however all dentists must achieve a certain degree of skill in various disciplines in order to graduate from dental school and earn licensure.
A general Dentist, unlike a specialist, can choose which services he will provide and which he will refer to specialists. If a general Dentist falls into the majority, he will perform restorative, prosthetic, routine endodontic therapy, routine periodontal therapy, and simple exodontia, as well as performing examinations. A general Dentist falling into the minority might feel comfortable treating more complex cases, as well as placing implants and extracting third molars (among many other procedures frequently referred to specialists). A general dentist usually does not clean teeth, but instead delegates that task to his support staff (e.g. dental hygienist).
What type of education or degrees does a Dentist need?
In most western countries, to become a qualified Dentist one must usually complete a minimum of 4 years of postgraduate study. Generally, 2 years of clinical experience working with patients in an educational setting are required to become a Dentist. One is considered a dentist and qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae (BDS) or (BChD) or equivalent.
How often should I visit a Dentist?
It is recommended to visit the Dentist twice a year for a general cleaning and check-up.
How old does my child need to be to visit a Dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends children first see the Dentist six months after their first tooth and no later than one year of age.
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