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What does a dentist do? |
Professions
Do you remember your last trip to the dentist?! Chances are you sat in a special chair and opened your mouth wide so the dentist and his staff members could take a look at your teeth. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be a dentist—to be in charge of keeping the smiles of your patients bright and healthy?!
Dentists care for their patients’ teeth by treating problems that exist and by giving patients the knowledge and tools they need to keep their teeth healthy in the future. For example, dentists remind their patients about the importance of brushing, flossing and eating foods that are tooth-friendly! A dentist examines the teeth, gums and mouth tissue of patients with help from equipment such as mouth mirrors and X-rays. Filling cavities, removing tooth decay, fitting patients with crowns and dentures, and pulling teeth when necessary are examples of the many duties of a dentist!
To become a dentist, a person must go to dental school and pass special tests. But all that hard work pays off, as dentists get the reward of helping their patients have beautiful, healthy teeth!
Some dentists work alone in their own practice, while others share their office with a partner or work with a group of dentists. Dentists also have staff members who help them with their tasks. For example, dental hygienists perform duties such as cleaning teeth, taking dental pictures with X-rays, and helping teach patients the importance of taking care of their teeth.
