| Dentists are licensed practitioners who hold a bachelor of dental surgery (B.D.S.) degree. Becoming a dentist requires a minimum of five years of dental school followed by a year of post graduate vocational training in an approved dental practice with close support of a qualified and experienced dentist. Dentists who wish to specialise spend two or more years in advanced training. |
 |
The eight recognized specialties are:
- Dental public health: Prevention and control of dental disease and promotion of community dental health
- Endodontics: Prevention and treatment of diseases of the root pulp and related structures (root canal therapy)
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Diagnosis of tumors, other diseases, and injuries of the head and neck
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Tooth extractions; surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaw, and face
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics: Diagnosis and correction of tooth irregularities and facial deformities
- Paediatric dentistry: Dental care of infants and children
- Periodontics: Treatment of diseases of the gums and related structures
- Prosthodontics: Treatment of oral dysfunction through the use of prosthetic devices such as crowns, bridges, and dentures
Positive Signs
Good dentists take a personal interest in you and your health. They are prevention-oriented and will give you information on diet and healthy choices but not lecture you. They use x-ray films and can justify why you need them.
A thorough dental examination includes inspection of the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, inside of the cheek, palate, and the skin of the face and neck, plus feeling the neck for abnormal lymph nodes and enlargement of the thyroid gland. In adults a periodontal probe should be inserted between the gums and teeth to detect abnormally large crevices. Good dentists also chart their findings in detail.
Regular check-ups can detect problems early. Routine tooth cleanings, bite evaluations, periodontal examinations, early interventions, and fluoride treatments can often avoid costly repairs. The frequency of maintenance care (including calculus removal and x-ray examinations) should be based on an assessment of the frequency of cavity formation, the rate of calculus formation, the condition of the gums, and your lifestyle. Once current treatment has been completed, you should be placed on a recall schedule and notified when the next checkup is due.
High-quality dental work usually lasts a very long time. You should be informed if there is any likelihood of early failure eg if the dentist is trying a filling rather than doing a crown straight away. It is in your interests to try minimal intervention work first. Low-quality work may fall out or decay out in a few years and can end up costing you more both financially and in terms of your dental health. The price of dental work is not the best way to judge quality; rather, pay attention to the time the dentist takes to do the work. High-quality dentistry cannot be done assembly-line style; it takes time and meticulous attention to detail.
Before embarking on treatment, get a clear understanding at your own level of what is to be done and what the outcome might be. Consider treatment options, because there may be more than one way to accomplish a goal. For example, a partial denture, a removable bridge, fixed bridge, or an implant may all be acceptable ways to replace a missing tooth; but they have different advantages, disadvantages, and cost.
Negative Signs
Be wary of flamboyant advertising, because it is likely to signify an emphasis on mass production rather than quality care. When the fees charged per service are low, the number of services performed may be greater than needed, resulting in higher overall cost.
Dentists whose ads overemphasize one-visit comprehensive treatment may not be interested in long-term maintenance care that does not generate high income.
Routine use of intravenous sedation is another bad sign because it means that patients are exposed to unnecessary risks. Although general anesthesia can be appropriate for adults with seizure disorders, and a few other situations, the vast majority of patients do not need it for routine dentistry.
Be wary about so called “Dental Holidays.” An April 2008 Which? report into medical and dental tourism warns that careful research is needed before going abroad for dental treatment. The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) said different standards of dentistry outside Britain were leading to medical problems. "So-called 'dental holidays' are presented as a cheap alternative to getting treatment in this country, but if things go wrong, then nothing could be further from the truth," Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF, said. "It is unrealistic to expect that complicated procedures, which can take months in this country, can be carried out to the same standard on a 10-day holiday - but that is the myth being sold to people."
Other Tips
It makes sense to become acquainted with a family dentist before an emergency arises. Suitable prospects can be identified by asking among friends, acquaintances, and local health professionals.
A good first step is to schedule a "get acquainted" visit to see whether your personalities and philosophies of health care are a match. Ask about fees and payment plans. Where large fees are involved for major work, it is best to have a written understanding of what fees will be charged and when payment will be due.
Consumers Research offers these questions for judging a dentist's skills after you have received treatment:
- How does your bite feel?
- Is any of the dental work irritating your gum?
- Does the treated tooth look like a tooth?
- Does dental floss or your tongue catch on the tooth?
- Did the dentist take time to polish your fillings?
- Do you feel pain when drinking hot or cold liquids?
- Was any debris left in your mouth after treatment?
- Does the dentist use a water spray to cool your teeth while drilling?
When extensive dental work is advised, a second opinion is often a good idea. No practitioner should fear or resist having you get a second opinion. If a treatment plan is sound, particularly a major and/or expensive one, it should hold up to scrutiny by others.
|
