Tuesday, May 26, 2015

News You Can Use

Frequently Asked Questions: What is Dentistry?

For the next few posts, I thought I would touch on some frequently asked (or more regularly, frequently thought) questions that patients may have.  Many of these questions are pretty basic but may help you to better understand why seeing a dentist on a regular basis, along with routine oral hygiene, is important.

The first question is: What is dentistry? Dentistry is the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and other conditions in the oral cavity.  Dentistry is not limited to the mouth but includes the teeth, gums, jaw, and surrounding tissue.  It is becoming widely understood that good oral hygiene is necessary for good overall health, making dentistry increasingly important.

Dentistry is typically practiced in a team approach, promoting continuity of care in a setting that is comprehensive, convenient, efficient, and cost-effective.  The dental team includes the dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and lab technicians.  Dentists have either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry) degree that indicates their completion of at least 4 years of post-undergraduate education at an ADA (American Dental Association) accredited institution. 

The next post in this series will include information on what a dentist is and what exactly they do.


Source: http://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/dentists-doctors-of-oral-health


R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental

2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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