Our teeth are among some of the essential parts of our bodies. They allow us to chew our food and articulate our speech. Most at-home methods of dental care will provide the necessary means to keep our teeth healthy, but in instances where these methods don’t work, we need to call on a professional. The two most common professionals we’ll encounter in a dental clinic are a dentist and their dental hygienist, and we will show their differences.
What Is A Dentist, And What Do They Do?
Dentists are known as Doctors of Dental Surgery and are known best for the surgical procedures they enact during a visit. Dentists require extensive training and education to understand specific issues and how to treat them. There are numerous types of dentists for different dental fields, and we’ll share a few below.
- Pediatric Dentists: These dentists have focused their profession on the care of our youth, providing treatment to children ranging from infants to teens. They offer approaches to daily dental care that will work for our children and monitor the development of our children’s teeth, providing a reference to an orthodontist when needed.
- Orthodontists: Orthodontists have specialized training in adjusting our teeth and jaws utilizing tools such as wires, retainers, braces, and other devices. If your dentist finds that you have an under/overbite, crossbite, or teeth that are misaligned, they may refer you to an Orthodontist.
- Prosthodontists: Prosthodontists are trained in repairing our teeth and jaw bones, providing cosmetic dentistry and treatments to improve the appearance of our teeth. A couple of cosmetic treatments include tooth whitening and veneers. They are also the ones that fit us with dentures, bridges, and crowns.
What Is A Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is commonly the person we see before our dentist. They’re in charge of noting any oral issues while also providing education about products and skills to better how we care for our teeth. They also provide us with treatments that will ensure good oral health, but they cannot diagnose any oral issues we may have. A hygienist will relay their notes on those issues to the dentist.
Dental hygienists go through similar training to that of a dentist. However, the period in which their education and training last is significantly shorter than that of a dentist due to the smaller number of responsibilities tied to their career choice.
The Importance Of Dentists and Hygienists
Despite the differences in responsibilities and training between a dentist and a hygienist, both are important. A hygienist allows a dentist to go over noted issues and formulate a treatment plan based on those issues, allowing for smoother procedures and reliable care. A dentist provides care to our teeth that we cannot enact at home, enabling us to maintain a healthy smile that we can be proud of. Should you find a dental issue that you can’t rectify with at-home methods, it may be time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.