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Quite a few school leavers and friends have been asking about the roles of a dentist and what is involved so is this blog post have attempted to outline the main roles.

The dentist has many responsibilities and duties towards his patients and the public in general. He has to be dedicated to his profession. The primary thing a dentist does is provide oral care. This includes providing preventive care in the form of patient education on tooth, gum, and mouth, while a dentist typically does not conduct the routine cleaning that their patients receive. This is the job of the dental hygienist. At Lifestyle dental we examine the teeth, gums and mouth as well as performing a variety of dental procedures including.

Responsibilities of a Dentist

The responsibility of a dentist extends to the dental profession. In Preston, this is outlined by The General Dental Association’s Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct. This code primarily works to guide dentists to uphold a certain level of trust, accuracy, authority, and responsibility to their patients. Additionally, like medical doctors (GPs), dentists are required to comply with continuing education requirements imposed by their professional regulation bodies. The professional responsibilities are the responsibilities of a dentist that pertain to his role as health care provider to the public.

A dentist, also takes the primary resposibility  in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist’s supporting team aides in providing oral health services. His dental team includes dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and in some states, dental therapists. He can also prescribe medications such as antibiotics, fluorides, pain killers, sedatives and any other medication that serve in the treatment of the various conditions that arise in the head and neck. He has to be a qualified doctor holding a medical degree to do so.

Professional Treatment

By nature of their general training, a  dentist can carry out the majority of dental treatments such as dental restorations, crowns, bridges, orthodontics braces, prosthetic dentures, endodontic root canal therapy, periodontal gum therapy, and extraction of teeth, as well as performing examinations, taking radiographs, x-rays and diagnosis. Dentists need to take additional qualifications or training to carry out more complex procedures such as General anesthesia, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and implants. Sometimes conditions in the oral cavity may be indicative of systemic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, or cancer.

While many oral diseases are unique and self limiting, poor conditions in the oral cavity can lead to poor general health and vice versa. Thus a dentist has to specialize in certain special fields.

• Dental public health – The study of dental epidemiology and social health policies.
• Endodontic,
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery
• Implants and Maxillofacial surgery
• Orthodontics and dent facial orthopedics
• Pediatric dentistry, dentistry for children
• Prosthodontics – Dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants

So I hope that helps if you would like to know more have a look at the related articles below

Related articles

• Tooth Replacement Options: Dental Implants, Bridges, and Dentures (everydayhealth.com)
• How Dental Bonding Can Alter the Look and Feel of Your Teeth (everydayhealth.com)
• October is National Dental Hygiene Month: Celebrity Dentist Dr. Catrise Austin Encourages a Dental Visit This Month (prweb.com)