Dentistry has changed a lot in recent years and with it dentists have also changed. The figure of the dentist has evolved, and this has been possible thanks to new knowledge, new patient demands and even advances in technology.
Dentist is like in 2023 with more education
Education plays a key role in the careers of dentists today. After completing five years of undergraduate studies, the training process continues, as dentistry encompasses multiple disciplines, areas of knowledge and specialties. Thus, the specialization of the dentist has become a crucial aspect today, as it allows for highly specialized patient care and in-depth knowledge of a particular area.
There are several specialties in dentistry, each of which focuses on specific aspects of oral health. Some examples of these specialties include:
- Periodontics: This specialty focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the tissues that support teeth and dental implants, especially the gums.
- Orthodontics: Orthodontists are dedicated to correcting malocclusions and improving the alignment of the teeth and jaw.
- Oral Surgery: Oral surgeons treat pathologies of the oral cavity through surgical procedures.
- Endodontics: This specialty treats infections of the dental nerve, also known as the root canal.
- Pediatric Dentistry: Pediatric dentists focus on the oral care of children, as well as the prevention and treatment of oral conditions in young patients.
- Prosthodontics and Dental Esthetics: Professionals in this specialty plan and perform oral rehabilitation procedures, especially in cases of tooth loss, and focus on improving dental esthetics.
Although all of these specialties work in the same oral environment, their approaches are notoriously different. Therefore, having a variety of specialized dentists is essential to optimally address the diverse needs and problems of patients in the field of dentistry. Specialization not only allows for more accurate and effective care, but also contributes to the constant advancement and improvement of oral health in today’s society.
Likewise, dentistry is constantly evolving. That is why continuing education is necessary, even after specialization, since scientific knowledge advances daily and must be applied in the dental clinic.
The importance of technology in dental clinics
The equipment or incorporation of technology, as we mentioned before, is also an important factor in dentistry today, as it helps us a lot to detect, prevent and treat problems in the oral cavity. Tools such as CT or CBCT (Computerized Axial Tomography, 3D) or the intraoral scanner allow us to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the patient’s mouth. These two mentioned are only current examples in the dental clinic that allow us to diagnose and plan. But there are many more procedures with multiple difficulties that require an added study by the dentist both to make them work and to interpret them.
In the dental practice, we have evolved significantly from invasive dentistry characterized by extensive incisional procedures and considerable blood loss to minimally invasive dentistry. This transformation has been made possible by the use of magnifying loupes, microscopes and miniaturized or microscopic tools. The main objective of this evolution is to minimize trauma to the patient, promoting a faster and pain-free recovery, and without interfering with the patient’s daily life.
It is important to note that dentists are also trained to understand the implications that infections or inflammation in the oral cavity can have on the patient’s entire body. Likewise, they are aware of how a patient’s pre-existing medical conditions can affect oral health. This comprehensive understanding of oral health in relation to the patient’s overall health is essential to providing comprehensive and effective dental care.
Therefore, as we have seen, today’s dentist is a health professional with a high level of specialist knowledge, and also in technology with a very low invasive approach, who also has a great concern for the patient. Health care professional with a high level of specialist knowledge, and also in technology with a very minimally invasive approach, who also has a great concern for the patient.
Today’s dentists don’t just treat teeth, they treat people. At Nart Dental Clinic Barcelona we have a team of highly qualified specialized dentists, with the equipment and technology to perform a modern and very minimally invasive dentistry.
