Dental Care

Dental care is important and requires attention. Americans tend to take great pride in their teeth, and the quality of dental care here is both very high and very prevalent.

A good rule of thumb with dental care is that prevention is the best cure; as my dentist says, "Forget about your teeth and they'll go away - literally!"

The American Dental Association (ADA) advocates yearly check-ups and cleanings, and daily flossing and brushings.

These measures go a long way toward preventing cavities and more serious dental problems, such as gingivitis, a gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.

Not only does dental care include the prevention and treatment of health problems and diseases, it also can entail improving the patient's appearance. Through orthodontics (teeth straightening, usually with braces), and such procedures as capping, bonding and whitening, cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly common in the U.S. Such dentistry can be expensive, but if you have the money, you too can have a "Hollywood smile."

Like members of the medical profession, those in the dental profession must follow a strict process to be qualified to practice. They must attend a prescribed course of study at an accredited dental college and be licensed by the dental medical board of the state in which they practice. General dentistry is performed by a DDS (doctor of dental science). He or she will examine your teeth and perform such procedures as filling cavities and various types of cosmetic dentistry. Typically, your dentist will have a dental hygienist working with him to assist in procedures and to clean teeth (important in the elimination of plaque, a substance that can cause gingivitis). For more complex situations, a patient may then be referred to a dental specialist, such as a endodontist, who performs root canals.

Many people are fearful of visiting a dentist because some dental procedures can be painful. The dental professional community is very aware of this and now takes great steps to provide pain-free, and virtually pain-free, dentistry. Even for some of the most basic procedures, the patient is afforded the use of a local anesthetic. Perhaps the psychological fear of dental procedures is the only relevant fear left, and some dentists counter this with such soothing diversions as stereo headphones and a choice of music.

Payment

Some Insurance plans cover dental visits and procedures; some do not. Those that do offer dental coverage generally only cover medically required attention, not cosmetic dentistry. Some dental procedures may fall in between these two categories, such as orthodontics (straightening), and your dentist can be helpful in your dealings with your Insurance company. Many dental procedures are quite expensive, so if you are not covered by Insurance, it is wise to work out a payment plan with your dentist.

Finding a Dentist

• The American Dental Association (ADA) website contains a description of the specialties of the dental profession, as well as a dentist referral service, by locality, for the entire U.S.
  
  
• Word of Mouth. As in anything else, networking is a valuable tool. Ask friends and acquaintances for feedback before the need arises. And, look at their teeth! Often the attention of a good dentist is apparent in his or her patient's smile.
  
  
• Clinics. Again, as with general medicine, there are clinics that provide dental care. These may be affiliated with dental colleges, county health departments or be private establishments. Some take walk-in patients, but many require an appointment. Always call ahead to find out which.
  
  
• Telephone Book. When other sources do not present themselves, this is always a useful tool. The "yellow pages" will have a large listening of practicing dentists and dental related services, including referral services. It is a good idea to have some feedback about a dentist before you visit him; you might gain such information by calling your local health department or hospital. If these establishments cannot give you the information you want, they probably can direct you to a source that can. Again, any dentist working on your teeth should include DDS after his name and be licensed by the dental board of the state in which he practices.