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Frequently Asked Questions: Who is a Dentist?

Dentists are medical professionals that specialize in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral healthcare concerns. They receive at least 8 years of post-secondary schooling and obtain either a DDS or DMD degree (for a description of these degrees, please see the previous post).  

Before entering dental school, dental students have completed a Bachelors of Science degree or an equivalent and passed a rigorous admissions exam called the DAT (Dental Admissions Test).

Dental school itself is very similar to medical schools with the first two years curriculum being essentially the same.  Dental students complete biomedical science courses, including: histology, anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, physiology, and pathology.  Dentists take the same courses as medical students during this period but receive information specific to the head and neck area, ultimately receiving more specialized training in this area than a medical student. The second two years of dental training focuses on clinical practice.  After earning their dental degree, dentists must pass a rigorous national written exam and a state licensing exam to be able to practice.  The license requires that dentists meet continuing education requirements to keep them up to date on the latest developments in the field.

A dentist's education and expertise extends beyond a patient's teeth and gums.  Areas covered by dentists include the muscles of the head, neck, and jaw, the salivary glands, the tongue, and the nervous system in the head and neck.  Part of a routine dental check-up includes an exam by the dentist during which the dentist looks at the teeth and gums but also checks for swelling, lumps, discolorations, or ulcerations in and around the mouth.  This examination allows for early diagnosis of diseases, screenings for oral cancer, and identification of other possible health concerns that manifest in the whole body.


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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