Difference Between Oral Surgeons and Dentists

If a patient is in need of dental treatment there are different specialists to consider. Depending on the type of dental treatment being received a patient may be better off seeing a dentist or may be better off seeing an oral surgeon. Thus it is important to better understand the types of treatments a dentist and oral surgeon performs to be able to determine who to seek out. Treatments Performed by Dentists General dentists provide preventative care and maintenance. Preventive care includes performing dental cleanings, taking and interpreting x-rays, performing oral examinations, and monitoring the growth and development of teeth and jaws. Maintenance includes performing fillings of cavities, root canals for teeth that can not be restored, placing crowns, and other surgical procedures of the teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity. By seeing a dentist patients are … Read more

Delivering Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment in Dental Practices

An interesting article titled “Dentist-Perceived Barriers and Attractors to Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Provided by Mental Health Providers in Dental Practices,” written by Heyman et al. appears in Advances in Dental Research (vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 35-41, February 2018). The article discusses how over 20% of dental patients report having dental fear and how over 20 randomized controlled trials have show that Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) can help. Even though such CBT treatment has been shown to help it has not been widely used beyond dental fear specialty clinics according to the authors. The authors feel that the treatment is recognized but the way to disseminate it throughout the US health care system is needed. The authors explore enhancing the dental home via an approach known as evidence-based collaborative care where specialized mental health providers work within the dental home to provide … Read more

Reasons Why You Should Look Into Cosmetic Dentistry

Aesthetic dentistry has many advantages to offer. That is why it’s so popular. Smile fillings are so affordable nowadays that almost anyone can improve their smile one way or another through aesthetic dentistry. You no longer have to be born with perfect teeth. A cosmetic dentist can create the smile you want when nature has not given it. It’s essential to point out that not everyone is the right candidate for aesthetic dentistry. Those who do not adequately care for their teeth and whose oral care is lacking may not be healthy enough to accept specific procedures successfully. In other words, you must have a certain amount of healthy tissue to work with. For example, the affordable dental in three locations will not compromise the function or health of your mouth for cosmetic procedures. On the other hand, if you … Read more

The Real Truth About Dentistry

An intriguing long form piece appears in the May 2019 issue in Atlantic titled “The Truth About Dentistry: It’s much less scientific—and more prone to gratuitous procedures—than you may think,” written by Ferris Jabr, see https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/05/the-trouble-with-dentistry/586039/. This article has a lot of people talking including dentists, physicians, and patients who have experience with dentists throughout the Internet on forums and Twitter (see https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/forums/topic/the-truth-about-dentistry-critical-longform-piece-in-the-atlantic/). The main shortcoming with this article in the Atlantic is it relies on an anecdotal story which forms the basis of the entire article. There are several themes to the article that will be discussed below along with additional themes not mentioned that are involved to form the real truth about dentistry. 1. Dentistry is a Business and some Dentists, just like in other Professions, are Bad Apples. The article describes a dentist Lund who overtreats patients … Read more

Alternatives To Painkillers After Dental Work

It is common for people to have pain after they have dental work. That is why dentists often prescribe opiates. However, opiates can cause dangerous side effects. They can also be addictive. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to opiates. To learn more about opiate addiction, please visit The Recovery Village website. Over-the-Counter Medication  Many people find that over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol and Advil, can alleviate toothaches. They can also reduce inflammation. If you find that over-the-counter relievers are not working, then your dentist can write you a prescription for a stronger medication.  Apply Ice  Ice is one of the most effective home remedies for alleviating pain after toothaches. Not only can ice alleviate pain but it can also get rid of inflammation. You will need to wrap the ice up in a towel or paper towel before you apply … Read more