Dental professionals provide patients with a wide range of medical services. They treat oral diseases, conditions and injuries, as well as spotting early warning signs that may indicate problems in other parts of the body.
A dentist can choose to specialize in one of nine dental specialties. They also work in community health centers and hospitals. For more information, click the link https://bocadentallasvegas.com/ provided to proceed.
Oral hygiene is a daily routine of cleaning your teeth and gums that prevents tooth decay, gingivitis, bad breath (halitosis) and other oral health issues. Oral care includes brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for dental X-rays, exams and cleanings. Good oral hygiene can help you look and feel better, eat and speak more comfortably and save on healthcare costs later in life.
Practicing good oral hygiene can include brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, using floss or interdental brushes to clean between your teeth, and rinsing with a mouthwash containing fluoride. Visiting your dentist regularly can also reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease, as well as detect and treat problems like abscesses, cysts, and tumors early on.
While brushing and flossing are the most important aspects of maintaining good oral health, it is also important to eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking or using e-cigarettes, which can lead to discolored or rotting teeth and cause cancer, and to limit how much sugar you consume. Your dentist may recommend special dental products such as mouthwash, a dental floss with an antibacterial coating, dental sealants, or professional fluoride treatments.
If you are interested in a career in dental hygiene, the first step is to enroll in an accredited associate degree program. City Tech’s Dental Hygiene program is fully accredited and prepares you to meet licensure requirements in 17 to 22 months. You can also find accredited dental hygiene programs at community colleges, vocational schools and technical schools. Licensure for dental hygienists is provided by each state and requires successful completion of an accredited entry-level program, passing a written National Dental Hygiene Board examination and a clinical exam.
Preventive Care
Preventive care includes health services like screenings, tests and vaccines that can help prevent diseases or catch them at a stage when they are easier to treat. It is often covered by your health insurance plan at no additional cost to you. Preventive health is more effective (and less costly) than treating a disease after it has already developed, and it can help you stay healthy throughout your life.
Dental hygienists are health professionals who are trained to provide education, clinical and research, administrative and therapeutic services supporting total oral health in a patient-centered care environment. They assess patients’ oral tissues and identify and evaluate risk factors for diseases including periodontal (gum) disease. They perform clinical procedures such as professional teeth cleanings, application of fluorides and pit and fissure sealants, and radiographs (X-rays).
Hygienists also work with patients to teach them how to prevent diseases by practicing good oral hygiene and recommending other healthy lifestyle choices. For example, a hygienist can help you avoid tooth decay by recommending that you brush your teeth last thing at night and at least two other times during the day, using a toothpaste with fluoride. They can also recommend the use of an antibacterial mouthwash, which kills harmful bacteria and reduces plaque build-up.
If you smoke, a hygienist may encourage you to quit, as studies have shown that smokers are more likely to develop gum disease and lose teeth. They can also give you advice about how to give up smoking, including several methods that have worked for other patients. Hygienists can also help children who are at high risk of developing cavities by applying tooth-protecting dental sealants to their permanent back teeth when they first come through.
Restorative Care
Restorative care is valuable in helping patients maintain the skills they recovered during rehabilitation. It can also help prevent further deterioration and complications that could limit function. It can even promote a person’s highest quality of life, provided that independence is encouraged only to the point where it is safe or where it would not negatively impact their health.
Often, people who receive restorative care are older adults or people with chronic diseases that slow the recovery process. An interdisciplinary team can work with them to set treatment goals that focus on improving their physical, social, and spiritual well-being.
The goal is to discharge them from acute care and into a setting that provides restorative services, such as a nursing home or assisted living. The program is more relaxed than intensive rehabilitation, with fewer hours of therapy each day and more attention given to long-term goals. It can take longer to achieve a goal, but it is less stressful for the client and helps them feel more in control of their recovery.
A common restorative care plan includes assisting with mobility, performing passive or active range-of-motion exercises, and putting on or removing braces, splints, or supports for injured limbs. Amputation and prosthesis care may also be involved, as is providing assistance with bathing and grooming. Communication and cognitive retraining are also important aspects of the program, especially for those suffering from dementia.
In addition to providing physical and emotional support, restorative care aims to encourage a person’s self-confidence and sense of purpose. It can also be a way for them to connect with friends and family, which can boost their mental health and improve overall well-being. Your PSW training can prepare you to assist with these types of activities.
Emergency Care
Patients in need of immediate unscheduled medical care may visit the Emergency Department (ED). During registration, we ask for information that goes into your medical record such as name, address, family doctor contact information, employer, health insurance and more. We also collect your consent for treatment and start an intravenous line to give you medications or fluids. In addition, video translation services are available for patients whose first language is Korean, Spanish or Chinese. Smooth communication is critical to the quality of patient care. (Fitzpatrick 2018; Raaber 2016). Optimal coordination of information may also help reduce distraction, stress, and fatigue for staff members and contribute to the accurate assessment of patients’ conditions by healthcare providers.
However, it is not uncommon for these two types of dental professionals to collaborate with one another to provide patients with the best possible care. This is particularly true when it comes to treating crooked, misaligned, or chipped teeth, as both treatments can be used in tandem with orthodontics to achieve optimal results.
Often, misalignment issues such as overlapping or gapped teeth are caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, childhood trauma, and habits like over-indulging in certain foods and drinks that can stain the tooth enamel. In these cases, the cosmetic dentist can help to correct these issues by providing a number of solutions that are designed to reduce or eliminate these stains. In addition, they can recommend oral hygiene practices to encourage a healthier smile.
For instance, they can suggest using a straw when drinking certain beverages to minimize their contact with the front teeth, and they can recommend mouthguards for those who engage in physical activities that could lead to facial injuries. They can also offer whitening procedures, which can dramatically improve the brightness of the tooth enamel for a more attractive smile.
Many patients feel self-conscious about their misaligned smiles, which can cause them to avoid smiling or speaking in public. This can affect their self-esteem and confidence levels, resulting in problems with social interactions. Cosmetic dentistry offers a number of treatment options that can fix these issues, such as teeth whitening, veneers, and porcelain crowns. However, these treatments cannot fully address misalignment issues, and a visit to an orthodontist is usually required to straighten the teeth and align the jaw.