Introduction
Do you enjoy smiling all the time? Of course, who doesn’t enjoy smiling and being joyful? Would you say that you love food? In particular, sweets? Yes, everyone likes sweets. However, most people are worried about consuming sweets because they could damage teeth. Some people are even worried about flashing their teeth when they laugh and smile. However, if you take care of your teeth with a dentist’s assistance, you don’t have to be.
Teeth play an important role in eating, chewing, speaking, and overall health. They are of different sizes and shapes. They help you form sound and speak clearly and are an important part of a person’s smile. In this aspect, teeth are related to a person’s confidence and social engagement. Now you know why it is important to take care of your teeth. So, the first person to see if you have dental problems is a dentist who helps you take care of your dental health. This article discusses the importance of dental science to a person’s general health.
Teeth: A brief note
Teeth initiate the process of digestion by breaking food into pieces small enough to swallow. Teeth also give shape to the face and help you pronounce sounds when you speak. Humans grow two sets of teeth in their entire lifetime. The first set of teeth is the milk teeth. They start to develop at the age of 6. Later, the second set of teeth, which are permanent, starts to emerge. At the same time, the roots of the milk teeth are absorbed into the body, causing the milk teeth to fall out.
Tooth arrangement
Differently shaped teeth perform different tasks. The sharp-edged incisors cut the food into pieces. The pointed canines help tear apart the food. The food is then pushed back to the molars and premolars, which help in grinding and chewing.
Chewing power
When you bite and chew food, three sets of powerful muscles work together to move the lower jaw. The food is ground by the molars as the muscles move the jaw up and down.
Dental science
Dentistry is the area of medicine that mainly focuses on teeth, gums, and mouth. It is also referred to as dental medicine and oral medicine. It includes the investigation, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of illnesses, ailments, and disorders related to the mouth, with a common emphasis on dentition (the growth and placement of teeth) and oral mucosa. Dental science also deals with the temporomandibular joints, the two joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull and other components of the craniofacial complex, which comprises the head, face, and oral cavity.
A dental team, including a dentist and dental auxiliary professionals like assistants, hygienists, technicians, and therapists, performs dental treatments. Most dentists are employed by dental hospitals, private offices, or organizations such as prisons, army-based forces, and military sites that provide secondary sites.
Role of dental professions in dental science
- Dentist: A dentist is also referred to as a dental surgeon, a medical specialist who specializes in dental science. The main aim of a dentist is to provide oral healthcare service. A licensed dentist can carry out dental treatments, such as root canal (also referred to as endodontic therapy), oral surgery (teeth extraction), prosthodontics (crown/bridge), periodontal therapy (gum therapy), and many other disorders. They also perform examinations like taking X-rays, radiographs, and other diagnoses. They are also involved in oral surgery procedures, like dental implant placement. They also give treatment by giving medications, like antibiotics, fluorides, local anesthetics, and sedatives, while performing surgeries, etc.
- Dental assistants: They assist the dentist in delivering more effective dental care. Their responsibility is to be supportive of the dentist by passing instruments during dental procedures, helping patients with their oral hygiene, getting them ready for treatment, and sanitizing the equipment required for dental procedures, like dental surgery and dental examinations. They also help with a general anesthesia-based dental procedure, setting up suction devices, exposing radiographs, taking impressions, documenting patient’s information, and performing administrative roles like making patient’s appointments.
- Dental technicians: Their responsibilities are to set up teeth by making removable prosthetics made of resin or metals and molding the neck of the tooth. They are also in charge of casting dental rods and designing the wax patterns of removable prosthetics like bridges and crowns.
- Dental therapists: They treat adults and children in need of preventive and restorative dentistry. Their specific function varies and depends on the training of the therapists and the national dental laws and policies that vary from country to country.
Dental care
Dental care is essentially maintaining healthy teeth and oral cavity. It is essential for everyone to maintain oral hygiene. Good oral health helps you to prevent oral/dental disorders. There are several ways of maintaining oral hygiene, the practice of keeping mouth and teeth clean. Some of the primary ways are as follows:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day, in the morning and when going to bed.
- Occasional visits to dentists for routine check-ups and professional cleaning.
- Taking a balanced diet, eating nutritious food, and avoiding eating too much sugar or sweets.
- Drinking fluoridated water, which protects the teeth.
- Cleaning between the teeth and removing plaque.
- Brushing gently using gentle brushes in a circular motion.
- Cleaning the tongue.
- Drinking more water.
- Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables is good exercise for the teeth, rather than only eating soft foods.
- Using therapeutic mouthwashes.
- Adding more calcium and vitamins to your diet.
In summary, dental health is vital for a person’s general well-being because it is essential for eating, chewing food, speaking, smiling, and a host of other bodily functions. Regular dental care at Fortis, Best Hospital in India, ensures that individuals maintain optimal oral health and overall quality of life.
