Friday, April 28, 2017

Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Orthodontists… Oh My!

valencia dentist with patient
There are major differences in the care you will receive from a dentist, a dental hygienist, and an orthodontist. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing, but we are going to specifically clarify which services you would visit each of these dental care providers for. Each of these dental care providers are specialists in their own perspective area of care. Just as in a hospital you have doctors and nurses, in your Valencia dental office here at Go Dental, you have dentists and dental hygienists. We work closely with only the best to bring a complete dental care package to you and your family.

Dental Hygienist
The dental hygienist is usually the first person you see during your dental appointment. Their care focuses on the prevention of disease or infection. The dental hygienist performs the routine care and cleanings that maintain your dental health. Routine cleanings include plaque and tartar removal, X-rays, and review of your at-home dental care habits. Your dental hygienist may review your eating habits as well as recommend any tools or routines that might better your dental health. The handoff from dental hygienist to dentist usually happens after the hygienist has a complete understanding of your dental health and will allow the dentist to diagnose and treat any issue you may have.

Dentist
The dentist will spend more time with you if you have a problem or need extensive treatment. Dentists have not only completed the training of a dental hygienist, but have also completed dental school and are licensed by the state to practice performing corrective surgery on bones, gums, and possibly nerves.

Orthodontist
An orthodontist is a specialist who is highly trained to treat crooked or crowded teeth and misaligned bites. This is the specialist you might think of, or go to, when you need braces, spacers, or headgear.

Of course, there are other specialists who can assist in providing a well-rounded dental health care plan, including but not limited to periodontists, endodontists, and maxillofacial surgeons. Usually, these health care specialists aren’t seen unless recommended by your dentist. They specialize in very specific care and procedures that are not required for all patients. Your Valencia dental specialists want to see your dental hygiene be the best it can be, which requires all the dental professionals to work together.


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smile@thedentist.com

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information on the different levels of dentistry for your dental needs. It was a very enjoyable post. Have a fantastic day.
    Dentist Center City Philadelphia

    ReplyDelete