It is quite common in the world of dentistry and orthodontics for a professional in this field to only have their practice open for four out of the five business days during the week. For Dr. Sims who I will be shadowing in the upcoming days, this off day is Tuesday. So while I will not be in the office today, I will be doing some research of my own to enlighten myself with some of the basic facts of the world of dentistry and Dr. Sims’ office.
There are several types of dentistry, and at Sims Family Dentistry the main focuses are cosmetic dentistry, fillings, cleanings, crowns, extractions, dentures, partials, and implants. While I understand the basic concepts that are involved in all of these procedures, I am interested to delve deeper into their benefits and long term effects. According to Dr. Rachel Hall, regular teeth cleanings prevent several health issues both in the oral cavity, and throughout the body as a whole. Regular dental cleanings prevent Gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Presence of gum disease increases risk of diabetes because it makes it difficult to control blood glucose levels throughout the body. Dr. Hall also states that poor oral care is likely to cause Dementia or bring it about at a faster pace. Poor oral hygiene can also can stroke or other heart problems because bacteria build up in the mouth can be swallowed down one’s throat and ultimately cause the bacteria to invade the bloodstream. Regular dental check ups and cleanings are important for these reasons and they can also save you from a costly health problem as well. I personally did not know that these severe health problems, especially dealing with the heart, could blossom as a result of poor hygiene. I now find that dental hygiene and check ups are even more important than I already considered them to be.
I have found that it is also important to have cavities filled. Cavities are small holes in teeth caused by bacteria around a tooth that causes decay. If the hole deepens or grows in any way that causes it to reach the center of the tooth, where the nerve is, and a great deal of pain is caused. Cavity fillings prevent tooth decay from occurring as they fill the small holes so that a cavity hole can no longer be filled by the bacteria. However, cavity fillings do not last forever, and cannot always completely stop tooth decay. There are a few types of fillings available, all with their individual advantages and disadvantages, but the group includes: gold, amalgam or silver fillings, composite, and ceramic fillings. Each has different advantages and disadvantages and the type a patient receives depends on your dental providers equipment and level of mastery within the field.
With this newfound knowledge about regular dental cleanings and the common procedure of filling a cavity, I am excited to embark on my adventures at Sims Family Dentistry tomorrow.
A little background information about Dr. Sims before I end my post:
Dr. Sims graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and also attended their School of Dentistry. Dr. Sims has been actively working in serving both the Garner and Clayton communities for 12 years. He and his staff strive to create a welcoming environment for dental care. Dr. Sims has been my family’s dentist since I was young and I can indubitably say that he and the entirety of his staff are successful in creating a work atmosphere where family members of all ages are welcome. That being said, I am excited for my first official day in the office tomorrow, and cannot wait to share my adventures!