Dentists are physicians who work to prevent and treat oral diseases, injuries and defects. They also provide dental hygiene services, including teeth cleaning and periodontal health evaluation. They examine patients for signs of oral disease such as gingivitis, halitosis (bad breath) and oral cancer. Dentists also treat tooth decay and perform restorative procedures to repair teeth damaged by decay or injury.
Dentists use x-rays to detect cavities and other problems in the mouth.
Many dentists specialize in treating a particular type of patient or condition. For example, a dentist specializing in orthodontics treats children with crooked teeth or adults needing braces to straighten their teeth. A periodontist treats patients with gum disease and other problems affecting the gums, while an endodontist treats problems with the root canals of teeth.
Why you need a dentist:
Finding a dentist near me can be difficult — especially if you don't have insurance. But even if you have insurance, it's important to find a good dentist.
Here's why:
- A dentist is the only person who can treat your teeth and gums.
- You must see a dentist regularly for regular dental checkups and cleaning appointments. These appointments are important because they help prevent cavities, gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems with your mouth. They also help catch potential problems early on, making them easier to treat.
- A dentist can also prescribe medications that will help relieve pain from toothaches and other problems. Some dental procedures require anesthesia, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure, so you can't feel pain or discomfort during treatment. Dental assistants are trained to give injections or apply local anesthetics before certain procedures if necessary.
- And finally, dentists can repair broken or damaged teeth by filling cavities (which helps prevent further tooth decay) and replacing missing teeth with dentures or bridges — two options that can improve your chewing ability and make eating easier for those who wear them.
Services provided by dentists:
Dentists provide a range of services to help patients maintain their oral health. These include:
- Oral hygiene services: Cleaning and polishing teeth, applying fluoride treatments, and removing plaque and tartar.
- Restorative services: Repairing or replacing damaged teeth with crowns, bridges or dentures.
- Prophylaxis (preventive) services: Routine cleaning of the teeth and gums to remove plaque (bacteria) and tartar. A dental hygienist can do this in private practice or your dentist in the surgery. You must go for regular prophylaxis appointments every 6 months if you have not recently had any fillings, crowns, bridges or implants placed in your mouth.
- Periodontal treatment: This treatment for gum disease may involve scaling (deep cleaning) and root planing (deep scraping). It may also involve gum surgery if the gums are inflamed or infected (gingivitis).
How to find a dentist:
You might be looking for a new dentist because you're moving to a new area, or maybe your current dentist is retiring. Whatever the reason, finding a dentist can be a challenge.
If you're searching for a new dentist, these tips can help:
- Ask friends and family members for recommendations. If you have friends or family who are happy with their dentists, ask them who they recommend. Their suggestions may help narrow down your search.
- Use online reviews to find a good dentist. You can read reviews on websites like Yelp and Google to see what other people have said about their experiences with certain dentists. If you see several negative reviews about a specific practice, it's probably not worth going there for treatment.
- Contact your insurance company if necessary. Your insurance company might provide information about preferred dentists within its network — or it might even provide referrals directly to those dentists' offices so that you don't have to do any legwork yourself!
Cute Smile Dental
18740 Ventura Blvd., Ste 108, Tarzana, CA, 91356
(818) 776 1236