March 6th is National Dentist’s Day

National Dentist’s Day is today, March 6th. This special day serves as a way to recognize your local dentist for all the things they do to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. Although you may not know the various ins and outs of dentistry, both general dentists and dental specialists perform a variety of tasks daily to help their patients maintain or restore their oral health. If you visit your dentist every six months as the American Dental Association recommends, then chances are you are vaguely familiar with some of the things your dentist does. However, there are other things your dentist does to preserve your oral health that you may not even realize. To celebrate National Dentist’s Day, here is a list of a few things your dentist does during a dental checkup: 

 

Examines Your Teeth

This one is pretty obvious. After all, you go to the dentist so they can look at your teeth. However, do you know what your dentist is looking at when they examine your teeth? When your dentist examines your teeth, they will look for signs of decay, damage, or wear that could indicate teeth grinding or clenching. They will also look at any possible plaque or tartar buildup to determine if you need to alter your brushing habits. Finally, they will make sure that all your teeth are secure in their sockets and pain-free. 

 

Examines Your Gums

While this one is still somewhat obvious, it is not as obvious as the first one. Since your gums are attached to your teeth and help to secure them, it is important that they are also in good condition. When your dentist examines your gums, they will look for any signs of redness, irritation, swelling, discharge, tenderness, or bleeding. They will also likely use a special device to measure the depth of your gum pockets to determine if your gums are receding, or pulling away from the teeth.

 

Interprets Dental X-Rays

Another highly important thing your dentist does is to read your dental x-rays. Depending on your oral health, dental x-rays can be taken once to twice a year to monitor the condition of the underlying bone and internal tooth structure. Part of your dental checkup is your dentist interpreting these x-rays for you to explain a possible need for treatment. Dental x-rays can detect a range of dental problems including, but not limited to, cavities between teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, fractures, and pulp infections. 

 

Screens for Oral Cancer

Unfortunately, oral cancer is on the rise. As a result, many dentists now perform oral cancer screenings during regular dental exams. During an oral cancer screening, your dentist will evaluate the soft tissues of your mouth for any abnormal tissue abnormalities such as discoloration or a change in texture. They may even use a special light that illuminates abnormal tissues. 

 

Discusses Your Overall Health

Many people are unaware of how closely oral and overall health are related, as well as how managing one helps to manage the other. Because of their close relationship, your dentist will ask about current medical conditions, your medical history, and about any medications you are taking. All these things can potentially affect your oral health, which can affect your overall health, and so on and so forth. Your dentist will provide you with personalized information to manage both your oral and overall health. 

 

Overall, your dentist does many things to help you preserve your oral health. In addition to examining your teeth, they also examine your gums, read x-rays, screen for oral cancer, and discuss your overall health. And these are just a few of the many things your dentist does. From all of us here at Bethesda Family Dentistry, Happy National Dentist’s Day!