All service copy below has been pulled directly from:
https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/dentists-doctors-of-oral-health
Many Americans today enjoy excellent oral health and are keeping their natural teeth throughout their lives. But this is not the case for everyone. Cavities are still the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood.
Too many people mistakenly believe that they need to see a dentist only if they are in pain or think something is wrong, but they’re missing the bigger picture. A dental visit means being examined by a doctor of oral health capable of diagnosing and treating conditions that can range from routine to extremely complex.
A Team Approach
The team approach to dentistry promotes continuity of care that is comprehensive, convenient, cost effective and efficient. Members of the team include dental assistants, lab technicians and dental hygienists. Leading the team is the dentist, a doctor specializing in oral health who has earned either a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, which are essentially the same.
The Dentist’s Role
Dentists are doctors who specialize in oral health. Their responsibilities include:
- Diagnosing oral diseases.
- Promoting oral health and disease prevention.
- Creating treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health of their patients.
- Interpreting x-rays and diagnostic tests.
- Ensuring the safe administration of anesthetics.
- Monitoring growth and development of the teeth and jaws.
- Performing surgical procedures on the teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Dentists’ oversight of the clinical team is critical to ensuring safe and effective oral care. Even seemingly routine procedures such as tooth extractions, preparing and placing fillings or administering anesthetics carry potential risks of complications such as infection, temporary or even permanent nerve damage, prolonged bleeding, hematomas and pain.
More than Just Teeth and Gums
Dentists’ areas of care include not only their patients’ teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the nervous system of the head and neck and other areas. During a comprehensive exam, dentists examine the teeth and gums, but they also look for lumps, swellings, discolorations, ulcerations — any abnormality. When appropriate, they perform procedures such as biopsies, diagnostic tests for chronic or infectious diseases, salivary gland function, and screening tests for oral cancer.
In addition, dentists can spot early warning signs in the mouth that may indicate disease elsewhere in the body. Dentists’ training also enables them to recognize situations that warrant referring patients for care by dental specialists or physicians.
Education and Clinical Training
The level of education and clinical training required to earn a dental degree, and the high academic standards of dental schools, are on par with those of medical schools and are essential to preparing dentists for the safe and effective practice of modern oral health care.
Most dental students have earned Bachelor of Science degrees or their equivalent, and all have passed rigorous admission examinations.
The curricula during the first two years of dental and medical schools are essentially the same — students must complete such biomedical science courses as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, immunology and pathology. During the second two years, dental students’ coursework focuses on clinical practice — diagnosing and treating oral diseases. After earning their undergraduate and dental degrees (eight years for most) many dentists continue their education and training. Some go on to achieve certification in dental specialties.
| Dental Specialty Education and Training (Beyond an Undergraduate Degree + DMD/DDS Degree)* | ||
| Specialty | Description | Residency Education |
| Dental Public Health | Preventing and controlling dental disease through organized community efforts | 1-2 years** |
| Endodontics | Diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases and injuries of dental pulp and surrounding tissues; performing root canals | 2-3 years |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Research, identification and diagnosis of diseases of mouth, teeth and surrounding regions | 3 years |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology | Diagnosing and managing oral diseases and disorders using x-rays, other forms of imaging | 2 years |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Diagnosing and surgically treating disease and injuries of mouth, oral and maxillofacial region | 4-8 years*** |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | Diagnosing, intercepting and correcting dental and facial irregularities | 2-3 years |
| Pediatric Dentistry | Diagnosing and treating the oral health care needs of infants and children through adolescence | 2-3 years |
| Periodontics | Diagnosing and treating diseases of gum tissue and bones supporting teeth | 3 years |
| Prosthodontics | Restoring natural teeth or replacing missing teeth or oral structures with artificial devices, such as dentures | 3 years |
| Other Advanced Dental Education and Training (Beyond an Undergraduate Degree + DMD/DDS Degree)* | ||
| Area | Description | Residency Education |
| Advanced Education in General Dentistry | Provide emergency and multidisciplinary comprehensive care in multiple environments; care for patients with special needs. | 1-2 years |
| Advanced Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology | Deliver anxiety and pain control services for emergency and comprehensive, multidisciplinary care; function in hospitals, dental offices and surgery centers. | 2-3 years |
| Advanced Education Programs in Oral Medicine | Act as primary care providers for patients with chronic, medically-related conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region. | 2 years |
| Advanced Education Programs in General Practice Residency | Emphasis on care of patients with complex health conditions or special needs, hospital dentistry and coordination with other health providers. | 1-2 years |
| Advanced Education Programs in Orofacial Pain | Advanced Education in Orofacial Pain:Emphasizing care of patients with complex orofacial pain conditions | 2 years |
*Many but not all dentists complete an undergraduate degree before entering dental school; some enter dental school after 3 years.
**Many dental public health specialists also complete a two-year Master’s degree in public health.
***Many oral and maxillofacial surgeons obtain medical (M.D.) degrees in conjunction with their programs.
Upon completing their training, dentists must pass both a rigorous national written examination and a state or regional clinical licensing exam in order to practice. As a condition of licensure, they must meet continuing education requirements for the remainder of their careers, to keep them up-to-date on the latest scientific and clinical developments.
Why Oral Health Matters
Numerous recent scientific studies indicate associations between oral health and a variety of general health conditions — including diabetes and heart disease. In response, the World Health Organization has integrated oral health into its chronic disease prevention efforts “as the risks to health are linked.”
The American Dental Association recommends that dental visits begin no later than a child’s first birthday to establish a “dental home.” Dentists can provide guidance to children and parents, deliver preventive oral health services, and diagnose and treat dental disease in its earliest stages. This ongoing dental care will help both children and adults maintain optimal oral health throughout their lifetimes.
| Dentists’ areas of care include not only their patients’ teeth and gums but also the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the nervous system of the head and neck and other areas. |
Improving the Nation’s Oral Health
Despite all we know about the importance of oral health to overall health, to people’s self-esteem and to their employability, state and federal policies continually sell dental care short.
- Most states spend 2 percent or less of their Medicaid budgets on dental services.
- An estimated 164 million work hours are lost each year due to oral disease.
The American Dental Association is committed to improving the nation’s oral health through public education and through legislative advocacy to strengthen funding for dental services provided through public health programs.