What Is a Doctor of Dental Medicine?

A doctor of dental medicine, or dentist, cares for the mouth, gums and other areas near the mouth. Dentists complete many years of education before they are licensed to begin practicing. Some dentists choose to specialize in a particular area, like pediatric dentistry.

Definition

A dentist is a professional who specializes in diseases and conditions of the human mouth, maxillofacial area and other associated areas, according to the American Dental Association. They evaluate the condition of the mouth and/or surrounding areas and make diagnoses and recommendations for prevention and/or treatment.

Education

Dentists in the United States go to dental school for four years after they have earned a four-year bachelor's degree. When they complete dental school they receive a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine). The training for both degrees is similar, and it makes no difference which kind a dentist has. A dentist must pass both state and national exams before he can begin to practice.

Specialization

After completing dental school, about a third of dentists decide to go back to school for more training in a special area. Some of the special areas are:

• Dental Public Health: health education, research, prevention
• Endodontics: health care for human dental pulp (soft tissue inside the tooth)
• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics - care for malocclusion (skeletal abnormalities)
• Pediatric dentistry: oral health care for infants and children

Dental Office

The dentist's office is equipped with special equipment that she uses to make the patient comfortable and to help her diagnose a problem and/or treat it or make recommendations for treatment. A special chair and lighting allow the dentist to place the patient in a position that makes it easy for her to see inside the patient's mouth.The dentist will make X-rays of the teeth periodically to check for cavities and other potential problems.

Prevention/Solution

One of the most important things that a dentist and/or her assistant, or dental hygienist, can do is to recommend and educate patients about preventive measures that the patient can do at home, such as regular brushing and flossing. Most dentists recommend that patients come to the office at least every six months to have a checkup and to get their teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist. During that visit the dentist, hygienist and patient can discuss the patient's dental health and make a plan for future care. A good relationship between the patient and dentist can result in fewer dental problems and a healthier mouth.