Top 3 Myths About Your Dentist
Get the real facts on 3 common misconceptions about dentists.
Are you letting any of these top 3 myths about your dentist interfere with your ability to get the care you need? Read on to find out.
A Busy Dentist is a Better Dentist
Having a lot of happy patients coming back to them for routine care is definitely a sign of an excellent dentist. However, you should not assume that one dentist is better than another purely on the availability (or unavailability) of appointments. The fact that a dentist is booked solid for months may simply indicate that they have not expanded their practice to properly accommodate all of their patients. If they are unwilling to expand, you have to wonder if they might also be unwilling to update their knowledge with ongoing training in the latest dental procedures or update their office with the latest tools and technology.
Dentists are Doctors who Flunked out of Med School
Another common misconception some people have is that a dentist is not a “real” medical professional. These people see dentists as inferior to medical doctors. In reality, dentists undergo highly technical training just like medical doctors do, and their end degree is either a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). To become a dentist, one has to complete a Bachelor of Science degree, followed by a four-year graduate program including years of clinical skill practice. In some states, dentists must complete a residency in addition to passing a licensing exam. If additional certifications in specialty areas such as orthodontics or endodontics are desired, even more training will be needed. As you can see, the amount of education that must be completed is on par with any type of medical degree. Sometimes doctors and dentists work together in ER settings and they see one another as equals.
Dentists Only Care for Your Mouth
One final myth is that the care you receive from a dentist is limited to your teeth and gums. Based on this, many people assume that if their teeth and gums are healthy, they don’t need to see a dentist. This could not be further from the truth. The care your dentist provides can have a big impact on your overall health and well-being. For example, if you allow gum disease to run rampant in your mouth, bacteria from the gum infection could make its way to other parts of your body, potentially causing issues like increased risk of stroke, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s. Gum disease can also make diabetes harder to manage. Gum disease in mothers has also been linked to low birthweight babies. Missing, broken, or stained teeth could cause emotional distress as well as social isolation. Fortunately, dentists can treat all these issues to help support your overall health and well-being. Dentists are well aware of the impact of their work on your whole body, and they really do care about it!
