Dental Related Careers

Include Dentistry in Your Employment Options.

     When you and your child or teen are talking about what they would like to do with their future, consider mentioning the Dental Field.  There are multiple areas of Dentistry including: Dentists, Hygienists, Dental Assistants, Office Team Members, and Lab Technicians.  Related careers would include sales representatives from Dental Supply companies and Repair Technicians as well.

     Dentists have such a rewarding job.  They are able to change lives through the skills they learn and perfect.  There are many different categories of dentistry that you may be unaware of.


     General Dentist - Practices all phases of dentistry including placing fillings, preparing  teeth for crowns, bridges or porcelain facings, working with dentures and perform root canals.  The General Dentist also works with a hygienist to promote healthy teeth and gums.  The general dentist and the following specialists work together to provide the optimum oral health and patient care.

The American Dental Association recognizes the following 9 dental specialties:

• Dental Public Health - the specialty concerned with the prevention of dental disease.  The public health dentist works with the community to promote dental health.
• Endodontics - concerned with the pathology and morphology of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues due to injury or disease.  
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology - the specialty concerned with the diagnosis and nature of diseases affecting the oral cavity.  A patient with a lesion may be referred to the oral pathologist.
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology - the specialty of dentistry and the discipline of radiology concerned with the production and interpretation of images and data (X-ray) for the diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral and maxillofacial region.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery - concerned with diagnosis and treatment of the oral and maxillofacial region due to injury, disease or defects.  If you need wisdom teeth removed you will often see an oral surgeon.
• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics - concerned with the diagnosis, supervision, guidance and correction of malocclusion in the dentofacial structure (mouth/head).
• Pediatric Dentistry - concerned with the prevention of oral disease and the diagnosis and treatment of oral care in children, from birth through adolescence.  Other patients requiring special care due to emotional, mental, or physical problems are often referred to a pediatric dentist.
• Periodontics - concerned with diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth.
• Prosthodontics - concerned with the diagnosis, restoration and maintencance of oral functions.  This specialty is also concerned with the replacement of missing teeth through artificial means

There is another area that would require additional training which is forensic dentistry.  This is a newer area of dentistry that deals with many services, such as the identification of bite marks on a body and or the identification of an individual using dental records.  

Hygienists are a vital component of Dentistry.   This is a licensed position that requires graduation from a two- or four- year dental hygiene school and passing written and clinical tests in the state in which they will practice.  Once this is completed they receive the title registered dental hygienist (RDH).
     The Dental Hygienist is responsible for dental prophylaxis which includes removing plaque, stains and calculus from the teeth, along with patient education.  In some states the dental hygienist is allowed to take and develop dental x-rays, place sealants on teeth, chart conditions in the mouth, place restorative materials and administer local anesthetics.  Lasers are also becoming more frequently used by the dental hygienist in certain circumstances.



Dental Assistants    Depending on the state and licensing of the assistant a wide range of responsibilities can be assigned to the dental assistant.  Certification can be obtained by individuals who pass a comprehensive written exam from DANB, The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.  Other specialized certification can be obtained in areas including certified orthodontic assisting and certified dental practice management.
     Some states allow assistants to obtain the credential of RDA, or Registered Dental Assistant or Registered Dental Assistant in Expanded Functions (EDAEF)


 Dental Laboratory Technicians - some dental lab techs are employed by the dentist, however, others work in privately owned dental laboratories.  These technicians provide extraoral services such as fabricating gold and porcelain restorations (crowns, bridges, etc) as well as partial and complete dentures.

Office Team Members  - responsible for scheduling patients, working with insurance companies and possibly marketing and accounting.  This position is becoming more specialized with the use of computers and computerized dental claims.

Other Members of the Dental Team - Other important members of the Dental practice include dental service technicians, dental supply companies and their representatives and dental software representatives.

Defending Dental Films

Recently in the news you may have heard a lot about the possible link between dental x-rays and brain tumors.  You may NOT have heard that the research was poorly conducted and no direct link could be proven. 

            Fourteen hundred people with a certain type of benign brain tumor were asked to “recall” how many bitewing and panoramic x-rays they had over their lifetime.  Keep in mind traditional x-rays had more radiation exposure than the digital x-rays that most modern dental offices use today.  In addition, no other comparisons were made as to physical or environmental factors with these patients.  There did seem to be a slight increase of tumors in those patients that had yearly bitewing x-rays and panoramic x-rays before age 10.

            The American Dental Association recommends adults with low risk of dental disease be x-rayed every 2-3 years.  Children should have films taken every 1-2 years.  Without dental films (x-rays) your dentist can not properly detect infections of the teeth and gums, many cavities, abcessed teeth, tumors or cysts. 

            To minimize your exposure to dental films and get the proper treatment it is important to establish yourself with a dentist.  This will allow you to develop a history with that dentist so that problems can be minimized by early prevention and maintenance. 

            If you still have questions or concerns feel free to ask myself or Dr. Berard.  We want you to be comfortable with your dental care here at ENVISION.  - Lynne

Vitamin D Is Essential for Healthy Teeth

     Did you know that bone growth and the development of healthy teeth are directly related to vitamin D in the body?  Vitamin D can be manufactured by the body when exposed to ultraviolet rays.  We all need vitamin D to ensure healthy bones and tooth development.  The best food sources of vitamin D include eggs, liver and fortified milk.

Fear-Free Dental Visits for your child!

ENVISION Dental wants to help your child remain cavity-free for life.  We recommend your child's first visit be around age 1.  Early prevention is very important so that painful cavities do not lead to dental office fears. 


At the first visit, Dr. Berard will examine the teeth to ensure proper growth and development.  To help make this a smooth visit we provide a Knee-to-Knee exam allowing you to hold your child or sit in the dental chair holding your child so that they feel secure.


Our knowledgeable team will share facts on how cavities are formed and how diet effects the growth of cavities.  We will answer any questions such as "is flouride appropriate for my child?". 


It is a good idea to let your child watch you brush your teeth.   You should also be brushing your child's teeth and then allow them to brush on their own too!  Be a good example your little ones are wathching.


The last thing I want to say is PLEASE DO NOT try to scare your child into brushing his or her teeth by telling them, "if you don't brush you will have to get a SHOT when you go to the dentist."  This back-fires when they do end up with a cavity and they are scared to come get it fixed.  They become fearful of the dentist and can develop life-long dental related anxiety.  If a "shot" is necessary we call it "sleepy juice" and we call the drill, "Mr. Bumpy".  Be careful of what you say because our kids are listening too!

     I never believed that an oral appliance could ever reduce the amount of migraines a person had.  I am now a true believer.  I had experienced bad migraines most of my life.  When I would start to get one I knew my day was over.  I would try just about everything to make it just go away.  NOTHING worked!  I would have to take a nap, or more less go to bed for the night.  Having three children and a very busy lifestyle we all know that it is impossible to just go to bed at 3 or 5 in the afternoon because you can’t handle noise, light, or any sort of movement.  The migraines took over my life, in a way that I could not function on a daily basis without anticipating I would soon have one. 

     I started working for Dr. Berard in November of 2008.  Soon after we opened I went through all the new patient exam questions with him and when asked if I had headaches or migraines, I told him I have them all the time, horrible ones, to the point of ruining my plans for the day (sometimes for a couple of days).  He told me we could do some TENSing and run the K-7 (computer jaw tracking system) scans on me to check how my facial and neck muscles are.  I was a little nervous, only because I was unsure of the procedures outcome.  Sooner than later, by choice, I was hooked up to the K-7 for some pre-scans and then TENSed for 1 hour.  After the hour of TENSing, he ran the post tensing scans.  We took a few different impressions of where he wanted my bite to be and that was it.  Dr. Berard sent everything out to the lab for them to create the orthotic, which I was going to have to wear all day except when I ate.  I was ok with it only because Dr. Berard said it could reduce my migraines.  I did believe him, after all, I was up for anything that would take these migraines away!!  

    About three weeks later, my orthotic was here!  Can you imagine how very anxious I was?  SO…..  Dr. Berard TENSed me again for another hour, and tried in the orthotic, which fit perfectly to my teeth, with a little adjusting, and was made of hard acrylic material.  It felt a little strange, but like I said, I was up for anything!!  So I wore the orthotic, which did take a little getting used to, for a week or so.  Dr. Berard then asked how I was doing with it.  I thought about it for a minute and replied, “I haven’t had a migraine or even a slight feeling of a headache this whole week.”  As time has gone on, over 3 years, I have had about a handful of headaches, and who doesn’t?  When you have a stressful day, kids are acting crazy, or just in need of that sugar fix!!!  That is about the only time I get one.

      I am now going to be getting all of my upper teeth restored in porcelain so that I do not have to wear the orthotic anymore, because my new porcelain crowns will put my jaw where it was when wearing the orthotic.  We will open my bite just a couple of millimeters.  Can you imagine that my "bite" is what was causing the horrible migraines?  My bite!  About 80% of the population has a misaligned bite, which may cause a variety of issues.  TMD, Migraines and Headaches, and Muscle tension from clenching and grinding are just a few I want to mention.

 

     I have a great deal of appreciation and respect for what Dr. Berard has done for me and have recommended him to many of my friends and family members, and always will.  He understands Nueromuscular Dentistry in a way that I believe no other Doctor in Traverse City does.  The continuing education he has put himself, and us as team members through, is truly remarkable.  

Denture Care

     Dentures are a vital part of the every day lives of many adults.  Often referred to as false teeth or a plate, dentures help give a more youthful appearance to those who have no teeth and help with speach and chewing food as well.   A complete denture replaces all the teeth on either the top or bottom or both.  A partial denture replaces missing teeth with some teeth remaining in the mouth. 

     Dentures need to be cared for as you should teeth.  They should be rinsed after eating if you are not able to brush them.  Using a soft bristle brush with denture cleaner will help preserve the denture and keep it in the best condition possible.  You may use a mild hand or dish soap to clean your denture, however, avoid using toothpaste and other household cleansers as they may be too abrasive.  This can cause small scratches in the tooth or acrylic material allowing bacteria to become trapped.

     Many people choose to wear their denture or partial all day and then take them out at bed time.  That is a good idea as it gives the tissue inside of the mouth a chance to "breathe".  Continue to brush the gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every day with a soft bristled brush and a mild toothpaste if you wish.  When you remove the denture make sure that you store it in a container with water to avoid drying the denture out.  Also remember that dogs love to chew on dentures so if you live with a Rex, Rover or Fido make sure that you are storing it up out of their reach as well.   

     Many people with dentures are under the false impression that once they have dentures there is no need to return to the dentist, however, it should still be a very important part of your life. Your jaw bones and gums can shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing.  You should plan on having your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once a year and your dentist should do an oral cancer screening, checking the mouth for sores and bumps that should not be there.  This yearly exam will let us know when relining or rebasing your denture is necessary.  Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease.  Even dentures that "fit" comfortably need to be evaluated and replaced, usually after 5-10 years.                                              Smiles, Holly


  

Suffering from a Cracked Tooth?

You may have a very common problem in your mouth!

Teeth may crack when subjected to the stress of chewing hard foods or ice or by biting on an unexpected hard object.  Teeth with or without restorations may exhibit this problem, but teeth restored with typical "silver" alloy restorations are the most susceptible.

Symptoms and Signs of Cracked-Tooth Syndrome may include the following:

• PAIN ON CHEWING
• PAIN ON COLD AIR APPLICATION
• UNSOLICITED PAIN ( USUALLY LEAKAGE OF SUGAR INTO TOOTH CRACK)
• NO X-RAY EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM
• EASY VERIFICATION OF CRACK WHEN TOOTH IS PREPARED FOR RESTORATION

Treatment of Cracked Teeth:

1.  Simple Crack:  The majority of cracked teeth (about 9 out of 10) can be treated by placement of a simple crown (cap) on the tooth.  When the tooth is prepared for the crown and a temporary restoration is placed your symptoms usually leave immediately.  If this is the case with your tooth we will place the final crown at your next appointment. 

2.  Complex Crack:  Occasionally, (about 1 out of 10) the tooth cracks into the pulp (nerve) of the tooth.  If the pain persists after placement of the temporary crown, you may have a crack into the nerve of the affected tooth.  This tooth may then require root canal therapy before the final crown is placed.  On occassion a tooth may crack or fracture to the point where it is no longer able to be saved and will have to be removed.  That is why it is so important to see the dentist on a regular basis. 

Please be sure to visit us if you are showing any of the above listed symptons.