We put an awful lot of trust on our dentists and the delicate nature of the work they do makes many people feel anxious. Dentists spend many years studying to get to where they are as the hover over you in the dentist chair. Dentists generally complete a five year degree programmed which is preceded by excellent A level and GCSE exam results. Of the three A levels at least two has to be science topics. Working as a dentist is more than just treating people with problems in their mouth; it is about educating people about the prevention of these problems. Dentists must also get used to working with children. Some dentists decide to work solely with children, some see this as incredibly important as getting the children into good habits will mean less treatments in later life.
For most dentists the education does not stop once they are finished their studies and they are an officially recognized dental surgeon. Research into new techniques will always happen and these techniques find their way into the standard high street dental practices. Each and every dentist has to be up to date on the newest techniques and safety issues. The General Dental Council states that they feel, ‘the ethical duty of dentists to continue to undertake appropriate continuing education for the duration of their professional practice”. In fact in 2002 it was made mediatory for dentists to continue their professional development, this was a decision of the General Dental Council.
The General Dental Council is a cornerstone of the dental world in the United Kingdom. All dentists, dental nurses/technicians, dental therapist, dental hygienists and orthodontic/cosmetic dentists who wish to practice in the UK need to first be registered with the Council. The General Dental Council is there to support dentists and members of the public so if you have any issues or concerns with your dentist you can raise these with the council, they are there to assist you.
There are other professional bodies that help regulate the dental industry. There are twenty three thousand members of the British Dental Association and this is also the trade union for dentists in the UK. One of the main objectives of the BDA is to ‘improve the nation’s oral health’. The public are welcome to approach the BDA for dental advice so again if you have any questions these are the people to speak to. Via BDA news and the British Dental Journal up-to-the-minute information is at our fingertips. A huge part of what the BDA do revolves around the ethics of the industry. Members are so at their leisure and it is entirely voluntary. The BDA relies heavily upon its membership subscriptions. The BDA supports its members with disputes and holds an annual conference where people in the industry come together to discuss developments.
The British Dental Foundation is different in that it operates as a charity based in the United Kingdom, yet their services are available worldwide. The work mostly revolves around improving the standards of oral health care. The foundation provides lots of information on preventing dental problems as they understand how much distress they can cause. There is also a help line for people who are uncertain about dental issues and this is a very helpful tool.
There are many courses and years of study a dentist needs to have completed before they can look in your mouth but as individuals they need to fit the bill as well. So much goes on in our mouth and actually dentist can spot many different diseases just by looking in your mouth. Things such as some cancers, eating disorders and problems with the kidneys. Any person who practices as a dentist should have meticulous attention to detail. Making people feel comfortable is also incredibly important as many people feel anxious in the dentist chair. A dentist should build rapport with his/her patients and trust is a huge factor, once this is gained the treatments should be easier. Being able to work precisely is a must, some problems will be in hard to reach areas and will require the use of tiny tools, and this is not for the heavy handed. Once you have found the right dentist for you could be visiting them fir years. Finding the right dentist for you is so important as it will improve your overall health.
It is not often that you will find a bad dentist but if you feel uncomfortable at any stage you should begin searching for a new one. If a dentist goes straight into talking about money this may be a bad sign. Of course a treatment cost but first and foremost comes your health, financial arrangements should be able to be put in place. If you feel it’s all about the money you may want a new dentist. If you’re new dentist is suggesting a lot of work that you’re really not sure about, get a second opinion, never just go along with it. Remember health and safety is important so if the surgery does not look clean and maintained find somewhere else. Health, safety and cleanliness really are basic. If you do have a bad experience with a dental surgeon be sure that you report your experience to the relevant authority as it will need investigating. It is unusual that a member of the public should have a bad experience but it is important to know if this does happen there are organizations that can assist you.