Dentistry is widely considered to be among the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States in recent years, and many American adults and children go to the dentist’s office every year for regular checkups and cleaning. Sometimes, a trip to the dentist’s office will involve more serious operations, such as a root canal, tooth extraction, a dental implant, or getting braces or retainers put in so that teeth grow in correctly. How often to Americans go to the dentist, and what can they do to keep their teeth healthy longer and not need such things as fillings or a root canal?
The Dentist’s Office
Not all American adults and children go to the dentist’s office as often as they should, but many do, and there, they can expect anything from a simple checkup to more serious operations that can take care of major tooth problems. Often, those working at the dentist’s office are dental assistants, who are dental school students or recent graduates looking for hands-on experience in their field, and these workers are often highly motivated and dedicated to their career, which may often put their patients in good hands. What might be done at the dentist’s office? If the pulp in the teeth becomes broken down and infected, this calls for a root canal, but in fact, a root canal is not as stressful as some patients might think. The procedure is practically painless and will not majorly affect the tooth’s performance afterwards, aside from numbing it from heat and cold and other minor side effects. A root canal can help prevent inflammation of tissue in the mouth or head and contain a bacterial infection, something that should definitely be taken care of once a dentist as diagnose the problem.
Tooth extraction may also be done at the dentist’s office once the mouth is numbed, and one reason is to remove wisdom teeth that will crowd the other teeth once they come in. A person may want to inquire about wisdom tooth removal cost, for example, before going into the dentist’s office to have this procedure done. Tooth extraction may also be done if a tooth is heavily infected or rotted, and removing it is the only way to contain the infection. Braces may be installed on kids’ teeth to help keep them aligned, and adults may get clear plastic retainers put in so that tooth crowding does not occur in the mouth. Cavities, meanwhile, are a common problem and can be dealt with by use of metal fillings. Other dental implants may also be put in as well. Dental implants have a success rate of around 98%, according to scientific literature, and they are commonly done. Around three million people today in the United States have dental implants, and that number grows by about 500,000 every year. A patient looking for such a job can ask about dental implants prices to see what they are getting into, and prepare to come in later. At the dentist’s office, kids may also have sealant put on their teeth to help protect them and pr event problems later in life.
Tooth Care
A dentist can take care of major tooth problems for a patient, but everyday Americans, kids and adults alike, can take steps to keep their teeth healthy and prevent expensive and painful problems. Kids and adults alike should be diligent about brushing their teeth with a good toothbrush and toothpaste after they eat, and this removes bacteria from the mouth that secrete plaque that damages the teeth’s surface. Tooth brushing can remove the plaque itself as well, and remove the sugars and other foods that those bacteria feed on. Flossing allows a person to reach food bits deep between the teeth where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach, and mouthwash can both clear out remaining bacteria and freshen the breath, too.
People are also urged to avoid chewing on hard items such as ice cubed to avoid the risk of cracking their tooth crowns, and those who play sports are urged to use mouth guards to prevent trauma from chipping teeth or knocking them loose. Grinding teeth, meanwhile, is an issue that may require medical attention to fix.