Dentistry ranks in the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States today, and each year, tens of millions of Americans visit their local dentists for dental care such as cleaning and X-rays. These patients might also get dental care such as getting dental implants such as porcelain veneers fitted in, or even having false teeth fitted in to fill in a tooth gap. A lot of today’s dental care is in fact cosmetic dentistry, and this proves to be a popular form of dental care today. Not all patients at the dentist’s office have cavities or gum disease; more often, they want dental care that restores the appearance and shape of their teeth for a good smile. How might someone find a good dentist for themselves or their child?
Find a Local Dentist
When a family moves to a new city or county, they will want to find local healthcare providers in the area, such as dentists offices and urgent care clinics. When it comes to dental care, an adult may have plenty of local options to choose from, and they can review those options online once they conduct a search. This may, for example, include searching “top rated dental care San Diego CA” or “best rated pediatric dentists Miami FL” and finding some results. The client can strike out results that are unsuitable for some reason, and then compile a list of strong candidate dentists.
The client may then visit these dental offices in person, to get a fair impression of what they are like and meet the staff working there. The client can consult the dentists and dental assistants, and review each one’s credentials such as their work history, educational background, awards or recognition, and more. If the client is looking for a pediatric dentist, they can bring along their child, to check that their young one feels comfortable at the office and gets along with the staff there. The client may tour a number of local dentists this way, as many or few as they like, until they find the best one for their needs and sign up.
Child Dental Care
Starting at age two, or even one and a half years, a young child is ready for the dentist; a pediatric dentist, that is. A young dental patient may get routine cleanings and checkups, and children may get sealant put on their teeth to strengthen them (and have braces fitted on, if need be). These young patients may also be given free tooth brushes and toothpaste, and the dentist will teach them about good dental care such as brushing teeth after every meal. Children may be taught what to expect when their baby teeth come loose, and they may be taught to use mouth guards when playing sports. That, and children may be told to never chew on or bite on hard objects, or risk cracking the enamel.
Cosmetic Dental Care
Meanwhile, adult patients at a dental clinic may be looking for cosmetic dentistry; that is, dentistry that concerns itself with the appearance of teeth. A good example is tooth whitening, and a dentist may provide gels and pastes that can restore the color of a patient’s teeth. Tartar buildup and tobacco use can stain teeth, but tooth whitening gels, or porcelain veneers, can restore their pearly white color. Porcelain veneers are thin, white plates that can be fitted over teeth to restore their color.
In other cases, a patient may get dental implants such as crowns, which are artificial enamel pieces that fit over real teeth. This can help restore the shape of worn down or cracked teeth and protect them, which makes eating and speech easier and safer. If a tooth is missing entirely, a patient may have a mold made from their real teeth, and a dental bridge will be made for them. A dental bridge is a realistic replica tooth that is fitted into a tooth gap, then held in place with covers that slip over the real teeth flanking the gap. This restores the patient’s smile, and makes eating and speech easier. And finally, elderly patients may get dentures, which can replace entire rows of teeth at once, along with false gums to hold them all together.
