Who is a Dentist and How to Become One?

A dentist is a specialist branch that performs the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of teeth and gum diseases, and eliminates aesthetic problems in the jaw and mouth. Dentists not only treat teeth and gum diseases but also educate people to protect their oral and dental health. Expert Dentist Emin Serhat Arıkan, who serves his patients in Adana, explained who a dentist (dental doctor) is and how to become a dentist for you.

What Does a Dentist (Dental Doctor) Do?

Dentists primarily focus on protecting oral and dental health in children and adults. In addition to treating existing problems, they also apply preventive treatments against potential health problems that may occur. Furthermore, they help patients protect their oral and dental health by raising awareness. If we need to list the procedures performed by dentists:

Treating cavities in teeth and filling the gaps caused by cavities with filling applications
Applies the most appropriate anesthesia technique according to the situation to ensure the patient's comfort and prevent pain during treatment. Especially prevents the development of fear regarding dental treatment in children.
Applies necessary treatments for the patient's teeth to perform functions such as chewing, biting, and speaking.
Repairs teeth that have experienced trauma, broken, or been damaged for any reason.
Prescribes necessary medications for the treatment of dental diseases.
Ensures patients are aware of oral and dental care and hygiene.
Performs the design and modeling of prostheses and veneers. Takes precise measurements from the patient's mouth and implements the most accurate designs.
Closely follows and applies global developments, new technologies, and new medical approaches in oral, dental, and jaw health.

How to Become a Dentist?

To become a dentist, one must complete a five-year undergraduate education in the Faculty of Dentistry at universities. Students who graduate from the Faculty of Dentistry receive the title of dentist. During the undergraduate education in the Faculty of Dentistry, theoretical and practical training is received, and official internships are completed. During the internship, case experience and practical application experience are gained. Afterwards, by taking the DUS exam, specialization training is received in different dentistry branches, and the title of Expert Dentist is obtained.

What Qualities Should a Dentist (Dental Doctor) Possess?

Being a dentist requires working meticulously and diligently, having high-level manual dexterity, focusing ability, and analytical intelligence. Therefore, dentists;

Must be able to detect health problems and changes occurring in the patient's mouth and evaluate each case in detail.
Must be able to correctly analyze the symptoms observed in the patient's mouth, teeth, and gums. Based on these symptoms, they must be able to implement the most appropriate treatment plan to meet the patient's needs. They are expected to have the necessary knowledge and ability for this.
Dentists exert physical effort for long periods, standing or sitting, during treatment. Therefore, they must have the physical strength and endurance to overcome challenging treatments.
Dentists must be able to establish correct and effective communication with patients of all ages and their relatives.
Their hand coordination must be developed enough to perform precise interventions with small instruments.
It should be noted that dental treatments can be long-lasting and require great care and diligence. Therefore, dentists must have the physical and mental strength and endurance to manage these processes.
They must be meticulous and careful in keeping patient records correctly.

What Does Dental Education Cover?

During the five-year undergraduate dental education, students gain fundamental knowledge and skills in medical sciences and health. In the Faculty of Dentistry, basic education is provided in numerous fields, from human anatomy to microbiology, from physiology to biochemistry. In addition, detailed education is given on oral health and gum diseases, jaw, and tooth structures. Students undergo practical applied training to gain clinical experience and skills. Students are seriously trained in dental treatment methods, patient examination, and diagnostic tools used.

In addition, students gain knowledge and experience in specific topics such as oral and maxillofacial surgery treatments, orthodontic treatments, and aesthetic dentistry. Students get the opportunity to work on real cases in internships and clinical studies. Theoretical knowledge is reinforced with practical applications. Students who successfully complete this long and challenging education process graduate from the faculty as dentists.

What Treatments Do Dentists Perform?

Dentists perform numerous treatment procedures to protect the oral, dental, and gum health of patients. If we need to explain these treatments one by one:

Dental Examination

Dentists evaluate the health status of the mouth and teeth of patients who come to the clinic for examination in detail. They identify existing health problems and potential health issues. Examination of dental caries and gum diseases is performed. Through these examinations, the dentist solves many problems before they even occur.

Dental Cleaning

Plaque and tartar accumulated on tooth surfaces must be cleaned to prevent potential tooth loss and ensure the patient's oral hygiene. Dentists protect the patient's teeth and gum health with professional dental cleaning, greatly preventing the risk of decay.

Filling

After the treatment of dental caries, a filling application is required for functional use. The filling application aims to fill the cavities formed after cleaning the decay with filling material. It prevents the loss of the decayed tooth and preserves its functions.

Root Canal Treatment

Cleaning the infected pulp tissue inside the tooth and subsequently filling the resulting cavities is called root canal treatment. It is used to save the tooth in the treatment of advanced dental caries.

Tooth Extraction

In necessary situations, if the tooth cannot be saved and poses a risk of harming other healthy teeth and tissues in the vicinity, it is decided to extract it to preserve general oral and dental health.

Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment methods such as braces or clear aligners are applied to align the teeth correctly. This makes the teeth look aesthetically straighter.

Dental Prostheses

Prosthetic treatments, i.e., dental prostheses, are used for patients who have lost their natural teeth to regain chewing and speaking functions. There are different types of prostheses, including fixed and removable ones.

Aesthetic Dentistry

Aesthetic dentistry applications such as teeth whitening, pink aesthetics (gum aesthetics), smile design, and laminate veneers ensure the patient has an aesthetically perfect smile.

Gum Treatment

Includes methods applied for the treatment of infections and diseases occurring in the gums.

Implant

Titanium implant screws are placed in the jawbone to compensate for tooth loss. These screws act as an artificial tooth root. It helps restore the patient's oral and dental aesthetics and regain tooth functions. It is a durable and long-term treatment application.

Smile Design

The set of treatments applied to enable the patient to have a healthy and aesthetic smile suitable for their facial features is called smile design.

What Diagnostic and Treatment Tools Do Dentists Use?

Dentists use various diagnostic and treatment tools while serving their patients. These tools are:

X-Ray Devices

X-ray devices, or imaging technologies, are used to analyze the patient's teeth and jaw structure. With X-ray devices, tooth roots, cavities, or infections can be easily diagnosed.

Oral Examination Instruments

Mirrors are used to view all surfaces of the teeth. Examination instruments also include probes and tools used to measure the health and depth of the gums.

Dental Cleaning Instruments

Ultrasonic cleaners and manual instruments are used to clean plaque and tartar accumulated on the tooth surface.

Key and Grasping Instruments

Filling materials and instruments are used in the treatment of decayed or damaged teeth. Root canal treatment instruments allow for the removal of infected tissue inside the teeth and cleaning of root canals.

Anesthesia Equipment

Anesthesia equipment is used to prevent the patient from feeling any pain during treatment. A large portion of dental treatments are performed while the patient is under local anesthesia. However, sedation or general anesthesia may be preferred when necessary.

Dental Implant Instruments

Implant screws, which act as artificial tooth roots, are used for patients experiencing tooth loss. Prostheses are placed on these implants to provide the patient with a strong chewing function.

Orthodontic Instruments

Orthodontic tools such as clear aligners, braces, and brackets are used to align the teeth correctly. All these orthodontic tools aim to improve both the aesthetic appearance and chewing function of patients.

Aesthetic Instruments

In the field of aesthetic dentistry, special bleaches like laminate veneers are used for teeth whitening.

Digital Technologies

Computer-aided digital dentistry tools; three-dimensional scanners, design modeling software, digital imaging systems enable much more successful diagnosis of dental problems. They provide significant advantages, especially in aesthetic dental treatments.

Where Do Dentists Work?

Dentists who graduate from the Faculty of Dentistry can work in their own private clinics, other clinics, and hospitals. They can continue their profession in both public hospitals and private health institutions.