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Tribeca Dentist

What you should know before choosing a dentist

Here are important questions about dentists:

Is the dentist covered by your dental insurance plan?
Does the dentist perform the kinds of services you need? For example, you may want to find a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry or a pediatric dentist for your child.
How are emergencies handled?
Are the location and hours of the office convenient for you?
How long is the wait for non-emergency appointments?
What are the fees for typical services such as x-rays or a preventive dental appointment that includes an oral exam and teeth cleaning.?
Are payment plans available?
If you get butterflies in your stomach when thinking of going to the dental appointment, ask if the dentist specializes in working with patients who are nervous about dental procedures and if he or she offers nitrous oxide to help patients relax.

Do you know what kind of dental health practitioner to see?

Type of Dental/Oral Healthcare Provider
What They Do
General dentist

Much like your primary care physician, your general-care dentist examines and monitors the condition of your teeth and gums. He or she will chart an overall plan to treat problems and to prevent future problems. A general-care dentist uses a number of procedures for restoring teeth that have decay, disease or have been injured.
Pediatric dentist
(also called pedodontist)
Pediatric dentists have postgraduate training in working with children and conditions common to children. They have kid-size equipment and are experienced at putting children at ease.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

Surgery of the mouth, jaw and face are performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Common surgeries are dental implants, correcting cleft palates and repairing facial injuries such as fractured jaws.
Periodontist

Periodontists specialize in diseases of the gums and other tissues that support your teeth.
Endodontist

Have you ever had a root canal? It may have been performed by an endodontist, a specialist who focuses on the pulp,the tissues, blood vessels and nerves inside your tooth and in the tissues that surround the outside the tooth’s root.
Orthodontist

Making sure your teeth are straight and your teeth meet properly when you bite down is the job of an orthodontist. Braces and retainers are common tools used by an orthodontist.
Cosmetic/aesthetic dentist

From teeth whitening and tooth veneers to gingival sculpting, bridges and braces, a cosmetic dentist has the tools and technology to bring a great-looking smile to your face.
Dental hygienist

An indispensable defender of your dental health, your dental hygienist conducts initial examinations, cleans teeth, scrapes away stubborn tartar, takes x-rays and provides instruction in self-care.

What you may not know about tooth loss

Teeth have an important job in addition to chewing and giving you a great smile. In fact, your teeth are essential to maintaining the normal structure of your face. If restorative steps aren’t taken when you lose a tooth, the part of the jaw bone that once held the tooth dissolves and the remaining teeth shift out of alignment.

When people are missing most or all of their teeth, the upper and lower jaw bones shrink in size, the gums recede and the space between the nose and chin decreases. Called facial collapse, this gives the mouth and cheeks a sunken look that adds years to a person’s appearance. Fortunately, advances in cosmetic dentistry make it possible to restore the mouth, typically using dental implants.

Too often, we think of our oral health as separate from our overall health. In reality, the health of our teeth and gums is intertwined with the rest of our body. Your mouth is the main entrance to the body. Gums and teeth are linked to the digestive, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic and skeletal systems and the bloodstream. And they share the harmful organisms that cause disease. This is why your dentist is so important to your health and well-being. Your dentist is an expert in diagnosing and treating conditions of your teeth, gums and upper jaw and face—conditions that can impact your overall health. Most important, your dentist can help you prevent damaging and costly oral health problems from occurring in the first place.

Who’s the most important member of your dental health team?

You! Even with the very best dental care, if you don’t do your part, the health of your teeth and gums is at risk. Although personal dental hygiene practices differ depending on the general condition of your mouth and gums, the following steps are crucial.

1. Brush your teeth after every meal, at least three times a day. Floss at least once a day.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet. Good nutrition helps you maintain healthy teeth.
3. Have your teeth examined and cleaned every six months—more if you have gum disease or other conditions that place you at greater risk of oral health problems.

7 health conditions your dentist may detect first

You might be surprised to know that a dentist is often the first person to spot a number of health conditions, including serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease. All told, more than 90 percent of the systemic diseases of the body are linked to symptoms in the mouth.

1. Red, sore, swollen gums of periodontitis (gum disease) are associated with heart disease and stroke.
2. Sore, pale gums indicate you may be anemic.
3. Bright red, spongy, inflamed gums that bleed easily can be a sign of leukemia.
4. Significant erosion of tooth enamel may signal of eating disorders, such as bulimia, or gastric conditions.
5. If air blowing on your gums makes them bleed, you may be pregnant.
6. Bad breath, dry mouth, bleeding gums and receding gums are often associated with diabetes.
7. White spots and sores that don’t heal on your gums and other oral tissues can be signs of oral cancer.

About the Author

http://www.besttribecadentist.com and Kurt Ostergaard Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.