When it comes to our overall health and well-being, one of the most overlooked areas is oral health. Did you know that many diseases first appear in the mouth? Regular dental visits can not only help to prevent cavities but also inform you of things that might be happening in another part of your body. It is important to find a dentist who is thorough and provides a high quality of care. Here are a few questions to consider when choosing a dentist:
1. DOES THE DENTAL PRACTICE HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF CARE?
Quality of care is the degree to which the dentist or dental hygienist will go to ensure they support you in your journey to have a healthy mouth. Oral cancer screenings, measuring bone levels around your teeth and listening to your oral health goals are just a few signs that demonstrate the dental practice is striving to provide quality care.
2. DOES THE DENTAL PRACTICE HAVE A DENTAL HYGIENIST?
A dental hygienist is extensively trained to perform a dental cleaning. Although dentists can perform dental cleanings, a dental hygienist has a specialized skillset that is solely focused on professionally cleaning your teeth.
3. DOES THE DENTAL PRACTICE IMPLEMENT INFECTION CONTROL?
Infection Control is a set of guidelines that dental practices must follow to prevent the spread of infection when performing dental procedures. Washing hands or using hand sanitizer, wearing gloves and a mask, and using pouched or wrapped dental instruments are good indicators the dental office is implementing safe protocols that protect patients.
Remember, choosing the right dental practice is important because oral health is critical to your overall well-being. Choose wisely!
India R. Chance is a Registered Dental Hygienist, Certified Infection Control Educator and Authorized OSHA Trainer who provides continuing education courses for dental healthcare providers to improve their knowledge of infection prevention & safety in the workplace. Her mission is to equip dental healthcare providers with tools to deliver the safest dental visit possible. She is featured on national podcasts, a speaker at dental conferences across the country, a former healthcare subject matter expert writer for the USA TODAY Educator's Blog, has trained hundreds of dental practice teams on compliance program creation and implementation, and has worked on several committees for various CDC dental industry projects. Currently, she serves as a CDC Inspector for the Maryland State Dental Board and is an Infection Control Consultant for the Maryland State Dental Association Mission of Mercy Outreach. Learn2Prevent.com