The dentist is the specialist in dental problems. It intervenes as a preventive measure but also in the detection and treatment of dental and periodontal diseases (everything that surrounds the tooth). When should you consult it? What pathologies can it treat? Here’s everything you need to know about the dentist.

The dentist: what does his profession consist of?

The dental surgeon is a health professional who treats tooth, mouth, gum and jaw pain (the bones that make up the jaw). He can intervene as a preventive measure during a follow-up consultation by administering care to reduce the risk of dental and periodontal problems, in particular thanks to scaling. He can also intervene to detect and treat an already existing disorder

This specialist can also perform care to repair, replace and correct teeth positioning defects, provided they have a specialty in orthodontics.

What pathologies does the dentist treat?

Its role is to treat ailments that affect the teeth, gums, and mouth.

Caries

The dental surgeon treats cavities, that is to say the progressive destruction of the tissues of the tooth by bacteria. To do this, he can either fill the tissues of the tooth eaten away by bacteria by placing a dental dressing, or devitalize the tooth (disinfect the inside of the tooth, remove the dental pulp and plug the roots) if the decay is deep and that it has reached the nerves.

Tartar

The dental surgeon removes tartar, a risk factor for caries and periodontal disease. Scaling consists of passing a vibrating device over the inside of the teeth and between the teeth and the gums. Under the effect of the vibration, the dental plaque is removed to leave the teeth smooth. In addition to impeccable oral hygiene (brushing your teeth at least twice a day after each meal), it is recommended to have a dental scaling done by a dentist every six months to about a year.

Placement of a crown, implant or bridge

The dental surgeon can place a crown, an implant or a bridge. This equipment makes it possible to cover and protect damaged teeth or to replace a torn tooth. The crown is a prosthesis that the dentist places on a damaged tooth (decayed or malformed) still in place to protect it. This care avoids the extraction of the tooth. In case of extraction of a tooth, it can be replaced by a dental implant: it is an artificial root (kind of screw) implanted in the bone of the tooth on which a crown is fixed. . The bridge is also a dental prosthesis which is generally used to replace one or more missing teeth, relying on the adjacent teeth.

Periodontal diseases

Finally, the dentist treats periodontal diseases, bacterial infections that destroy the supporting tissues of the teeth (gums and bone). Periodontal pathologies evolve slowly but once established they cannot be cured, they can only be stabilized. Hence the importance of preventive measures: regular and thorough brushing of the teeth morning and evening, the passage of dental floss or brushes between the teeth after each meal, the elimination of dental plaque by chewing chewing- sugar-free gum and regular in-office dental scaling and polishing.

If scale is present, careful descaling should be performed. It is reimbursed by health insurance.

When to consult a dentist?

It is recommended to consult a dentist at least once a year to have the condition of your teeth and mouth checked and to detect any problems, but also to carry out a scaling and a polishing of the teeth.

Consultation with a dentist is essential in case of toothache or pain in the mouth. The consultation time will depend on the urgency of the problem.

In case of occasional tooth sensitivity

If you are prone to occasional tooth sensitivity, your gums are red and sometimes bleed when brushing, or the growth of a wisdom tooth bothers you, schedule a dental appointment in the coming weeks.

For toothache and sensitivity

If you have pain in one or more teeth, your teeth are sensitive to hot and/or cold, you have suffered an impact on a tooth without it being broken or you have an injury to the gum due to braces, make an appointment with your dentist in the coming days and relieve your pain with painkillers in the meantime.