Why Choose a Dentist?
If you haven’t found your dental ‘home’ or oral health family yet, we can help get you started.
Dentists and dental specialists are your oral health advocates, and actively lead in prevention of disease and treatment of your individual health needs. In contrast to consumer-direct service, a dentist or dental specialist is actually part of your primary health care team.
Dental visits are for much more than cleaning. A dental exam is a medical exam. Dentists take a comprehensive look at the entire oral health of your mouth, teeth and jaw, including the soft tissue and structure. They diagnose and treat diseases and disorders, from the simple to the complex.
Even before you feel pain or discomfort, a dentist or dental specialist can diagnose and prevent things like decay, gum disease, infection, and disorders of the structures of the head and neck.
Why is Oral Health Important?
Have you ever heard the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? There’s a reason you have!
Oral health is as much a part of your personal care and maintenance as getting a physical or taking prescribed medication.
Good oral health not only prevents tooth decay and gum disease, it can also help to prevent serious disorders or diseases that affect the health of your body as a whole.
Current research has linked poor oral health to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as other conditions that affect your overall health. Your dentist looks for signs or issues that may cause poor health outcomes in the future. As part of your regular visits, your dentist is trained to perform an oral cancer exam.
Prevention and Personalized Care
Dentists and dental specialists not only provide you with the care and attention you need for check-ups, they are a part of your health care team.
Your visit will be personalized to take your individual needs and circumstances into consideration. Your dentist or dental specialist will create a schedule with you, based on a list of risk factors, family history, and personal rates of decay and oral history.
Your Oral Health Care Team
The General Dentist
As the leader of the oral health care team, your dentist works closely with the dental team which may include dental assistants, hygienists, therapists and other team members. Each member plays an important role on the oral health care team.
Your general dentist is an oral health expert and knows how the health of your teeth, gums and mouth relates to your general health.
Dental Specialists
A general dentist will refer to, or work with, a specialist to complement or enhance the oral care a person is receiving. The referral is often for both diagnosis and treatment, and occasionally for a diagnosis and a professional opinion.
Many dental specialists can be seen without first getting a referral from a general dentist.
There are nine nationally recognized dental specialties in Canada. The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) reviews and accredits the education programs in the nine dental specialties.
The Dental Team
The Dental Assistant
The dental assistant helps the dentist during patient examinations and treatment procedures. They prepare patients for treatment, pass instruments and materials to the dentist and keep the mouth dry using suction during treatment procedures. The dental assistant sterilizes dental instruments and may take X-rays, make dental impressions or polish and apply fluoride to your teeth.
For more information, please visit the: Saskatchewan Dental Assistants’ Association.
The Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are primary oral health care professionals who provide clinical assessments about the health of the supporting structures for the teeth, periodontal therapy, oral health education, and offer health promotion strategies to people of all ages. They work with patients and communities to provide professional treatment and advice to help prevent oral disease, as well as to support and promote total wellness. As a member of a self-regulating profession, a registered dental hygienist must practice safely, ethically and effectively for the promotion of the oral health and well-being of the public of Saskatchewan.
The dental hygienist will assess the health of your teeth and gums, and be part of the comprehensive care you receive. Your dental hygienist may routinely take X-rays, make dental impressions, remove hard and soft deposits from your teeth, polish, desensitize and apply fluoride to your teeth.
For more information, please visit the: Saskatchewan Dental Hygienists Association.
The Dental Therapist
Dental therapists are primary oral health care professionals who are trained to perform basic clinical dental treatment and preventive services within a variety of practice settings. Dental therapists provide restorative dental treatment services, disease prevention and oral health promotion programs to maintain and improve health. Dental therapists also refer patients to other health professionals including dentists and dental specialists for services beyond the scope of the dental therapist’s practice.
For more information, please visit the: Saskatchewan Dental Therapists’ Association.
Learn more about dental specialities including pediatrics and periodontists, here
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Find a Saskatchewan Dentist
All dentists are required to be licensed by meeting specific requirements and training and it is often a matter of taking the time to find the best “fit” for you. A phone call to the office or a visit to the dentist’s website may provide help with regard to language options, location, accessibility, insurance and payment options, hours of operation, recall programs, and more.
Find a dentist
Choosing a dentist can be a daunting task. The best resources when choosing a new dentist are your friends, relatives or work colleagues who may be able to make recommendations. Other health professionals, such as your doctor or pharmacist, may also be able to make recommendations. Remember, all dentists are required to be licensed by meeting specific requirements and training and it is often a matter of taking the time to find the best “fit” for you. A phone call to the office or a visit to the dentists website may provide help with regard to language options, location, accessibility, insurance and payment options, hours of operation, recall programs, etc. If your general dentist is unable to provide some of the services that you require, he or she may refer you to a general dentist colleague or a specialist.
When choosing a dentist you may wish to consider if the practice offers the services you are looking for. A general dentist’s service may include:
- Routine checkups, fillings and teeth cleaning
- Prosthodontics (Crowns, bridges, dentures)
- Endodontics (‘Root canal’) treatments
- Oral surgery (‘Extractions’, etc.)
- Periodontal (Gum) treatment
- Orthodontics (‘Straightening of teeth’)
- Pediatric (‘Children’s’) dentistry services
