A dentist, also called a dental hygienist, is a professional who specializes in dentistry, chiefly the diagnosis, preventative, and treatment of oral disorders and diseases of the oral cavity, with an emphasis on the mouth. A dentist has to diagnose a patient's dental problem, evaluate it, evaluate its severity, work on it, and treat it. Other dental professionals who work under a dentist include dentists, periodontists, orthodontists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, assistants to dentists, laboratory technicians, x-ray technicians, and technicians to therapists. A dentist's supporting staff assists in giving oral healthcare services to patients.
Dentists come in two flavors: those who can drill and remove the tooth and those who cannot. Dentists who are allowed to drill are known as general dentists, while those who cannot are called orthodontists. To know how well a dentist performs in his or her field, dentists must first have been given a comprehensive examination by an independent agency like the American Dental Association to assess their dexterity and abilities in the field. Learn more about plumbing at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber.
Most dentists work in a one-man shop; however, there are some who work solo in small offices in cities. Dentists who work alone have to work with only their hands. Since they only have their hands to work with, dentists have to exercise caution when handling tools. They also have to work alone because there are many materials required in the office. Dentists who work alone do not have to deal with office politics that come along with a large staff. See degree of patient and staff satisfaction here!
Dentists have to be concerned with more than just their teeth. They have to take care of the entire body so that their health is assured. A good dentist should be familiar with the general health of a person. This means that he or she knows how the person eats, speaks, works, breathes, walks, sleeps, etc. The way a person's teeth look and how their mouth fits together is also important because this will determine how the rest of his or her body looks like.
To become a dentist, you have to undergo two years of schooling at an accredited dental school. You must pass all of the required subjects and get licensed through the state board of dentistry. After the completion of the two-year course, you must complete four years of supervised residency in a participating dental clinic. This is also where dentists can specialize. Dentists can choose to take additional schooling to get to a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, or they can choose to become an oral surgeon or a periodontist to match your project.
Dentists are different from other medical practitioners because most of them have to perform surgeries and procedures while sitting. In addition, dentists also work with many types of patients including adults, children, adolescents, diabetics, and the elderly. Dentists who practice general dentistry can diagnose, treat, and prevent oral diseases by conducting thorough exams and examinations, inspecting the oral cavity, inspecting the gum tissue under the gums, looking into the jaw joint, and fixing jaw disorders. There are also some dentists who specialize in reconstructive work like dental implants, cartilage replacement, and molds, and ceramic dentures and who work in prosthodontics and orthodontics.
