Dentist: what he treats, specialties and when to consult

A dentist, or dental surgeon, is a healthcare professional who specializes in promoting oral hygiene and treating problems in the mouth and salivary glands, including bones, teeth, gums, cheeks, lips and tongue.

Some of the dentist’s specialties are implant dentistry, which is responsible for tooth reconstruction through dental implants, pediatric dentistry, which is responsible for preventing and restoring a child’s oral health, and orthodontics, which is responsible for preventing and correcting misaligned teeth. .

The dentist can work in private offices, health centers and hospitals, and some of the problems treated by this professional include cavities, toothache, gingivitis, crossbite and mouth cancer.

What diseases does the dentist treat

The dentist is responsible for promoting oral hygiene, preventing and treating some situations, such as:

• Caries: an infection in the teeth caused by bacteria that accumulate and form plaque, which pierces the tooth enamel, causing pain and discomfort;
• Gingivitis: gum inflammation that can be caused by poor dental hygiene;
• Tartarus: is the calcification of the bacterial plaque that covers the teeth and part of the gums, which can promote the formation of cavities, gingivitis and bad breath;
• Crossbite: is the misalignment of the teeth, which can facilitate the emergence of situations such as cavities and gum disease:
• Mouth cancer: a type of tumor that can be caused by situations such as smoking, frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages and poor oral hygiene, for example;
• Periodontitis: a bacterial infection that, if not treated properly, can lead to tooth loss;
• Canker sores: small lesions that can appear in the mouth, tongue or throat, causing pain and discomfort when talking and eating.

In addition, the dentist also treats other problems, such as mucocele, tooth fractures and bruxism, which is the act of pressing or grinding the teeth and which can cause headaches, wear and tear and softening of the teeth. Better understand the causes and symptoms of bruxism.

The treatments recommended by the dentist vary according to the problem and may include surgery, implants, root canals, whitening and restoration, in addition to the use of medications, such as antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatories.

Dentist specialties

Some of the dentist’s specialties are implant dentistry, pediatric dentistry, radiology and geriatric dentistry, which is the area of ​​dentistry responsible for taking care of the oral health of the elderly.

In addition, the dentist can also work in orthodontics, the specialty responsible for preventing and correcting poor positions of the teeth and jaws.

When to make an appointment

As soon as the baby’s first tooth emerges, it is recommended to make an appointment with a pediatric dentist, who will guide parents or guardians on how to properly clean the child’s teeth.

For adults, it is recommended to make an appointment with the dentist once a year to prevent problems in the mouth. In addition, you should go to the dentist whenever signs and symptoms appear, such as pain or sensitivity in the teeth, swollen gums, wounds or mouth ulcers, and sores on the neck, for example.

During the consultation, the dentist evaluates the health history, signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to being able to request additional tests that help in diagnosing problems, such as X-ray, blood test and MRI.