Dental therapist: what kind of doctor is this doctor, what he does, to whom to address

March 2, 2023 Reading time ~ 5 min Number of reads: 16275

The doctor who deals with the treatment of dental caries, its complications, diagnosis, prevention of diseases of mucosal tissues is called a dental therapist. The doctor’s duties include examination, interpretation of results and diagnosis. If it is in his competence, the treatment is carried out by a therapist. If it is an area of related specialty (bite disorder, missing teeth, the need for extraction), then gives referrals to specialists in this area.

When to turn to a dental therapist

Most often, the therapist is the first doctor we visit in dentistry. An appointment is made with him if:

• A toothache;
• There is a chip in the enamel or a crack;
• A filling has fallen out or crumbled;
• There is discolorite (discoloration) of enamel or stains on it;
• Teeth react to touch, cold, hot;
• Gums bleed when brushing, brushing causes pain;
• Plaque has accumulated on the surface;
• The mouth smells bad;
• There are problems in the oral cavity and you don’t know who to turn to;

What a general dentist does

A dentist’s work begins with an examination to look for dental or oral health problems. The doctor performs:

• Diagnosis. This is a collection of anamnesis, during which the doctor finds out what the patient complains about, how long ago the complaints appeared. Whether the patient has allergies. Clinical examination of the mouth includes an assessment of the condition of mucous membranes, soft and hard tissues. The doctor examines the teeth using a dental probe. This helps to determine the size of the lesion, the presence of a cavity. Palpation and percussion (tapping) are also used.
• Treatment. Removes the affected tissue, disinfects the cavity. If necessary, removes the pulp, conducts canal obturation.
• Filling (installation, correction and replacement of fillings). The main emphasis is on restoring the functions of the tooth.
• Artistic restoration. Restoration of the shape and color of teeth so that they fully correspond to natural teeth. The main attention is paid to the aesthetics of appearance.
• Enamel whitening. Using chemical reagents, therapists perform painless, effective, safe enamel whitening, making it lighter by 8-10 shades.
• Infiltration, intrapulpary, conduction anesthesia. It is after the examination of the therapist it is decided in what form the anesthesia will be carried out.
• Preventive examinations and educational work. The advice to visit the dentist 2 times a year is just about a visit to the therapist. It is he who is able to determine the level of health of the teeth and gums, to carry out the necessary treatment or referral to another specialist.

All dentists are skilled in first aid, including anaphylactic shock. However, it is best to alert your doctor to any allergic reactions prior to treatment.

Are a therapist and an endodontist the same thing?

Yes and no. An endodontist is a general dentist who specializes in treating canals. In larger clinics, this is done by individual doctors who have specialized in this area. In smaller or public clinics, this work is often done by a general dentist.

Endodontists are the jewelers of therapy. They use fine and precise instruments, often resorting to treatment under a microscope. They are the ones who usually treat complications: pulpitis and periodontitis. There, careful preparation, disinfection and obturation (filling) of the canals are required.

But the general practitioner has enough skills to carry out such treatment.

What diseases are treated by a general dentist?

• Cavities; Carious lesions often lead to tooth loss, so timely treatment plays a huge role in preserving the tooth.

• Complications of tooth decay; These are pulpitis, inflammation of the pulp (nerve) or periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue around the root). Treatment of these diseases always involves filling canals. Depulped (pulpless) teeth become brittle and need additional protection. They are covered with crowns made of metal-ceramic, ceramic or zirconium dioxide. This is handled by an orthopedic surgeon. In cases of periodontitis, tooth-preserving operations are often indicated. This is where the surgeon comes in. He cuts off part of the root or even amputates it completely. But it all starts with the therapist’s office.

• Inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes and gums; Stomatitis, cheilitis, glossitis – the prerogative of the therapist. Also, where there is no periodontal dentist, it is the therapist who treats inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), ligamentous apparatus (periodontitis) and tissue dystrophy (periodontal disease).

The therapist gives an opinion to the extraction of a tooth if it is impossible to treat it.

Will it hurt?

During treatment – no. The standards of modern therapeutic treatment provide for the use of anesthesia during procedures. Usually, this is a simple injection into the gum. New generation anesthetics are very effective, and their effect is sufficient even for prolonged manipulations.

In cases of increased gag reflex, uncontrollable fear of the dental chair, sedation is possible. This is a deep sleep, in which the patient retains basic vital reflexes, but does not feel pain. Sedation should be treated with caution and used strictly when indicated. Treatment should take place in the presence of an anesthesiologist.

Pain sensations (from mild to moderate) after treatment are considered a normal reaction of the body to external intervention. Pain is easily relieved with over-the-counter pharmacy medications.

Opinion of the doctor