Dentists In Las Vegas perform examinations of the mouth and teeth and diagnose and treat oral diseases and conditions. They are a part of a healthcare team that also includes dental assistants and hygienists.
The power imbalance between dentist and patient is palpable, as a masked figure scrutinizes your recumbent body. It’s easy to understand why dentists, hoping to buoy their income, would promote elective procedures–a filling here, a crown there.
Dental hygienists help patients maintain healthy mouths. They can perform routine oral care like brushing and flossing, or provide more advanced procedures such as cleaning teeth and removing tartar. Dental hygienists also work with patients to develop healthy habits and educate them on how their oral health affects the rest of their body. They can also administer local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide to alleviate anxiety for their patients.
Hygienists must be able to communicate effectively with patients from all walks of life, and the profession has many different challenges. Some of these include working with people who are afraid or reluctant to schedule preventative visits due to financial concerns, fears and anxieties, or a lack of understanding about the importance of these appointments for overall health.
Many dental hygienists are employed by private dentist offices, but others work in specialty practices, hospital and industrial clinics, correctional institutions, public health agencies, government health departments, insurance companies and military services. Others may be employed in school systems to teach students about dental and hygiene-related subjects, or they may be involved in research and development.
To become a dental hygienist, an individual must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They should also complete an accredited dental hygiene program that offers an associate degree in science or a bachelor’s degree in a related subject, such as health sciences. The programs are offered at vocational schools, community colleges, and some four-year universities.
Preventative Care
Preventative dental care includes oral examinations, teeth cleaning, preventive procedures such as fluoride applications and sealants, education, and anticipatory guidance. It is a crucial component of oral health and helps to lower a patient’s risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and other serious dental problems. Preventive dental treatments also help to promote good oral hygiene habits such as brushing twice a day and flossing. Practicing good oral hygiene reduces the need for expensive, time-consuming, and painful restorative procedures like fillings, crowns, root canals, or dental implants.
Regular dental exams and cleanings are usually covered by insurance or at a very low cost to patients. In addition to these treatments, it is recommended that patients have a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that supports healthy teeth and gums. This diet should also include limited amounts of sugary foods and beverages.
Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene can save patients a lot of money in the long run. The American Dental Association recommends at least one preventative cleaning per year for low-risk adults. Several studies have shown that individuals who regularly utilize preventive dental services spend less on their total dental costs than those who do not. In fact, a recent study showed an inverse relationship between years of preventive dental care and average annual dental costs for Medicaid-enrolled adults. In addition, individuals with prior preventive dental care had lower rates of ED-NTDC visits, oral surgeries, and dental-related opioid prescriptions.
Restorative Care
Restorative care is a holistic health approach that recognizes the human side of recovery. It involves a wide range of services designed to help patients recover and regain their quality of life, including physical therapy designed to refresh muscles and improve mobility, occupational therapy to retrain skills needed for daily tasks, speech therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation.
Several studies have shown that restorative care can help patients achieve improved outcomes in ADLs and physical activity, as well as decreasing pain, anxiety, and disruptive behavior. These improvements are generally measured through a variety of physiological and psychosocial measures, such as quality of life and depression.
A key component of restorative care is a team approach, with each member of the interdisciplinary team collaborating to ensure that all aspects of the patient’s needs are addressed. Depending on the patient’s specific condition, these team members may include physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers.
The team’s goal is to provide patients with a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan that will help them meet their personal and functional goals. A team of health care professionals will also support the patient through regular communication and collaboration with family, friends, and community resources.
Wright’s company requires that restorative nurses be willing to study for certification from the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN). This is not an option, but a requirement for new employees. She says that the investment of time and money in the preparation materials and exam pays off as the nurses learn to perform their job more effectively. The resulting improved health outcomes are rewarding for the entire staff and, in turn, improve care for residents. The system has also decreased costs, as it allows fewer therapists to make visits.
Periodontal Care
Taking care of the teeth is important, but it is equally important to care for the tissue and bone that support them. When patients neglect the health of their gums, they can develop periodontal disease. This infection can destroy the tooth and bone tissue, lead to loose teeth, and increase your risk for serious systemic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, and even stroke.
Periodontal disease is a result of infection caused by plaque, a sticky substance that constantly forms on the teeth and releases toxins that damage the gums and bone. It is important to visit the dentist regularly and follow good oral hygiene habits at home. In addition to brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily, avoiding smoking and eating a balanced diet are also key in preventing gum disease.
The dentist will examine your mouth and gums for signs of inflammation. Using a small ruler called a probe, they will measure the pockets around your teeth. In a healthy mouth, the pockets should be 1 to 3 millimeters deep. Pockets deeper than this indicate the presence of gum disease. They will also take x-rays to assess the extent of any bone loss. The dentist will also discuss any risk factors for gum disease, like smoking or other forms of tobacco use, and ask questions about your medical history.
If you have moderate to advanced gum disease, a special procedure called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) may be recommended. During this treatment, the dental hygienist removes tartar and plaque above and below the gum line and smoothes out rough spots on the tooth roots to prevent bacteria from reattaching to them. This is usually done one quadrant of the mouth at a time while you are numb. Medications and a special brushing routine are often recommended to control infection and promote healing.
Emergency Care
Dental emergencies are severe, urgent oral problems that threaten a patient’s entire oral health. They are typically unpredictable and come without warning. As such, it is important for patients to have access to emergency care. Emergency dentists are uniquely positioned to provide the care that patients need when they need it most.
In addition to helping with immediate pain relief, emergency dentistry also provides patients with an array of treatment options that can help them regain normal function. These options include root canal therapy, tooth extractions, and emergency repairs. These procedures can all help patients recover faster and return to their regular routines.
Patients with untreated dental emergencies may experience complications that require more extensive medical care. For example, infection from an untreated cavity can spread to other parts of the body. This can lead to a number of conditions, including heart disease and osteoporosis. Emergency dental care can prevent this by identifying and treating infections promptly.
Many patients visit hospital emergency departments (EDs) for dental-related issues. However, these visits are costly and can have negative consequences for the patient’s overall health. The ADA’s Emergency Department Referral Program helps to improve interprofessional collaboration in order to better manage these patients and reduce the burden on our healthcare system.
Fortunately, most dental insurance plans cover emergency services. This means that employees can receive the emergency dental care they need without having to pay out-of-pocket costs. Employees should be sure to review their coverage before they need emergency care so that they know what to expect in the event of a dental-related ER visit. They should also be aware of any restrictions on their coverage, such as deductibles, annual maximums, and co-pays.