Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth and tissues in the mouth, along with giving advice and administering care to help prevent future problems. They provide instruction on diet, brushing, flossing, the use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care. They remove tooth decay, fill cavities, examine x rays, place protective plastic sealants on children's teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth. They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases. Dentists extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. They also administer anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications.
Dentists use a variety of equipment, including x-ray machines, drills, mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, and scalpels. They wear masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases.
Dentists in private practice oversee a variety of administrative tasks, including bookkeeping and the buying of equipment and supplies. They may employ and supervise dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians, and receptionists. (These occupations are described elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of dental needs. Other dentists practice in any of nine specialty areas. Orthodontists, the largest group of specialists, straighten teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers. The next largest group, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, operates on the mouth and jaws. The remainder may specialize as pediatric dentists (focusing on dentistry for children); periodontists (treating gums and bone supporting the teeth); prosthodontists (replacing missing teeth with permanent fixtures, such as crowns and bridges, or with removable fixtures such as dentures); endodontists (performing root canal therapy); public health dentists (promoting good dental health and preventing dental diseases within the community); oral pathologists (studying oral diseases); or oral and maxillofacial radiologists (diagnosing diseases in the head and neck through the use of imaging technologies).
Work environment. Most dentists are solo practitioners, meaning that they own their own businesses and work alone or with a small staff. Some dentists have partners, and a few work for other dentists as associate dentists.
Most dentists work 4 or 5 days a week. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients' needs. The number of hours worked varies greatly among dentists. Most full-time dentists work between 35 and 40 hours a week. However, others, especially those who are trying to establish a new practice, work more. Also, experienced dentists often work fewer hours. It is common for dentists to continue in part-time practice well beyond the usual retirement age.
| 1. | Use masks, gloves and safety glasses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases. |
| 2. | Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures. |
| 3. | Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, and other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments. |
| 4. | Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue. |
| 5. | Use air turbine and hand instruments, dental appliances and surgical implements. |
| 6. | Advise and instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, and oral health care services. |
| 7. | Design, make, and fit prosthodontic appliances such as space maintainers, bridges, and dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists and dental technicians. |
| 8. | Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth, gums and related oral structures, and provide preventive and corrective services. |
| 9. | Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials. |
| 10. | Write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications. |
| 11. | Analyze and evaluate dental needs to determine changes and trends in patterns of dental disease. |
| 12. | Treat exposure of pulp by pulp capping, removal of pulp from pulp chamber, or root canal, using dental instruments. |
| 13. | Eliminate irritating margins of fillings and correct occlusions, using dental instruments. |
| 14. | Perform oral and periodontal surgery on the jaw or mouth. |
| 15. | Remove diseased tissue using surgical instruments. |
| 16. | Apply fluoride and sealants to teeth. |
| 17. | Manage business, employing and supervising staff and handling paperwork and insurance claims. |
| 18. | Bleach, clean or polish teeth to restore natural color. |
| 19. | Plan, organize, and maintain dental health programs. |
| 20. | Produce and evaluate dental health educational materials. |
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