dentist in Provo UT

Older Adults Guide for Dental Check-ups, on Visiting a New Dentist in Provo

Bobbie Horton

Dental check-ups and daily cleaning help in maintaining a healthy mouth. A person getting older may consider changing dentists or may believe visiting dentists is complicated.

An older adult has all the right to visit a new dentist Provo, but a few things should be taken:

  • Check-up reports of the neck, head, mouth, and teeth
  • Review of present and past medical issues
  • Teeth X-rays

What to bring?

  • Physical examination records should be brought that you got from your physician.
  • Medications in a printed or written list form that you are taking currently. It can include over-the-counter medications and prescription, in association with nutrition supplements or vitamins. The list should include the condition and the prescriber, or you may choose to bring medications for easy reference.
  • The dental office may issue a medical history form and before the appointment of the dentist in Provo UT, the form should be completed. It should have the details of past surgeries, medical issues, medications, hospitalizations, drug allergies, and so on. Even if a form is not given to fill, you have to part with this information during your first appointment with the dentist.
  • Give phone numbers and names of your family members who take your healthcare decisions.

How does an older adult need to go prepared?

It is best to schedule an appointment that works best so that the visit is less stressful. It is best to arrive early by 15 minutes to the appointment. 

Caregivers of older adults should give accurate medical information; in case the older adult has issues regarding memory.

In case the older adult is in a wheelchair, check with the dentist in Provo or with the dentist office if wheelchair accessibility is available. Besides, ensure you will receive assistance in transferring the older adult from a wheelchair to the dental chair.

Know the Duties of a Dentist in Provo And their Specialty Areas

Bobbie Horton

Dentist Provo helps people in taking good care of their teeth so that oral health is maintained. There are many specialties existing within this dental field, and they may vary in their responsibilities slightly. The duties of dentists may vary slightly.

Dentist typical duties

The dentists assist their patients in restoring, protecting and maintaining the oral conditions. They diagnose, administer care and treat diseases. They also give importance to the teeth malformations, mouth, and oral tissues. Dentists check the neck and head areas of a patient as it also relates to oral health.

A dentist in Provo includes job duties as restoring and teeth replacing that is not damaged through injury or disease. They advise patients on oral health care so that future problems that may arise is prevented. The dentists teach right from the basic of how to brush teeth and floss, besides choosing a diet. The tasks include extracting teeth, taking molds of teeth, applying to your teeth certain sealants, and also performing the dental cosmetic procedures that improve the appearance of a patient.

Dentists employ various procedures, and types of equipment are used to treat and prevent oral health problem. The dentists use advanced technology to examine the mouth and teeth means such that computer-generated imaging and x-rays are done as a process. Removing the tooth decay using forceps, brush, and drills and also filling cavities is a part of the dentist’s job. They also prescribe other medications and antibiotics, administer anesthetics, and perform oral surgeries, if required.

Specialty Areas

As most dentists practice standard dentistry, some dentists consider choosing additional training so that they work in any of the nine specialties. Among specialist dentists, there are orthodontists using braces and dental appliances to straighten or to move teeth. The Periodontists operate on gums, teeth, and jaws. The pediatrics focus on treating patients and children with required special needs. The Prosthodontists use crowns, bridges, and dentures to help patients to replace their missing teeth and the root canals are handled by endodontists. The specialty other areas include maxillofacial and oral pathology or radiology, and dental health.

Common Tasks

Apart from patient care, a dentist in Provo Ut duties include tasks of administrative and business-oriented that relates to owning a dental practice. You may interact with vendors and suppliers, while based on your practice size, you may consider bookkeeping. You can also hire, train and supervise hygienists and other staff, as a part of your job.

Education and Licensure Needs

Becoming a dentist means you must earn a bachelors degree. There is no need to have a specific major, yet there is a need to take some courses as a prerequisite in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. There is a need for each person to give their dental school four years to get a certificate. If you wish to get into a specialty course, you may complete the training so that you enter the residency for a year or two.

The dentists must be licensed and must have completed graduation from an accredited dental school.