Dental hygiene is a crucial part of overall health maintenance. Regular visits to a dentist will ensure your teeth and gums are healthy, but also give the dentist an opportunity to identify and treat issues like oral cancer, which can have a significant impact on a patient’s overall well-being. Dentists’ Integral Role in Dental Health Maintenance
The training that dentists receive allows them to understand the unique impact of lifestyle elements on oral health. This wider perspective places dentists in an excellent position to play a bigger role in a primary healthcare system that embraces a prevention focus.
In the first two years of dental school, curricula are essentially identical to medical school – students take courses in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and pathology. The following eight years are focused on clinical practice – diagnosing and treating patients. After graduation, most dentists pursue additional specialty training to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.
While dentists are best known for preventing cavities and repairing damaged teeth, they can also perform many other procedures such as dental implants, bone grafts, root canal therapy and even jaw reconstruction. Some of these procedures require advanced technology, while others are simpler and can be done in a patient’s chair at the dentist’s office.
Dental professionals are acutely aware of the impact of tobacco and alcohol on oral health, especially periodontal disease and oral cancers. They can advise patients on cessation programs and the benefits of drinking water. They can also screen patients for a number of risk factors, including socioeconomic status, living conditions and health-care access.
Recent insights into the social determinants of health have indicated that addressing these broad influences will improve health outcomes. Despite these positive developments, obstacles remain in the way of integrated medical and dental care.
One of the greatest obstacles is that medical and dental practices often operate in separate silos. This means that when a patient presents to a dental office, they may not have a medical provider in mind who can address their specific concerns. scheduling an appointment with a Torrance dentist is a proactive measure toward preventing oral health issues. Whether you’re due for a routine check-up or seeking treatment for a specific concern, regular dental visits are key to early detection and intervention.