Preventive dentistry is a branch of dentistry that train students on practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy. This helps to avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and more. There are many forms of preventive dentistry, such as daily brushing and dental cleanings.
A dentist’s primary duties and responsibilities include examining the dental and oral health of patients of all ages and administering treatment accordingly. A general dentist’s role is similar to that of a primary care physician in that they care for the overall dental needs of patients.
Depending on their specialty, students after the programme will have to specialize on major professional responsibilities: include diagnosing, treating and providing preventative and restorative care for problems that affect their patients’ mouths and teeth.
Many dentists work as self-employed practitioners in general practice. Others work in a variety of specialties in hospital dentistry, community dentistry, the armed forces or in cooperative dental practice groups.
A dentist’s duties and responsibilities typically include:
- Patient education regarding best oral health habits
- Satisfactory and timely (same-day) treatment
- Cleaning and repairing teeth, extracting teeth when necessary, fitting crowns and administering anesthesia prior to dental procedures
- Leading dental staff in patient care
- Referring patients to specialists when required
Some dentists who manage their own practice are also responsible for office management. Responsibilities for a dentist with his or her own practice usually include:
- Maintaining patients’ dental records
- Recruiting, training and managing staff
- Managing budgets and maintaining stocks of equipment
- Marketing services to potential clients