Most people will come face-to-face with perhaps their biggest fear—their dentist—in the dental chair. Of course, this is the person who pokes around in their mouth, causes them discomfort, or worse, pain, and judges their dental hygiene. For a dentist, it’s not just filling cavities and performing cleaning on a daily basis. There is a whole world of stories, people, and unexpected moments below the surface that only dentists fully know. Behind the pristine white walls of the dental office, many stories go unspoken.
Dentistry is way more complicated than it seems. From the awkward chit-chats with a patient who doesn’t want to be there to the random surprises in a mouth that can challenge a professional. The dentist will not just focus on their medical precision, but also on human interaction, problem-solving, and sometimes some fun. Many people are unaware of what happens behind the dental chair.
In this article, we unveil the secrets only a dentist knows.
The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health
Many people do not understand the close relationship between oral health and the rest of the body. A lot of the time, doctors can see things in your mouth that they will use to determine if you have a health issue. Diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, and even some types of cancer can affect the teeth, gums, and tissue inside the mouth.
Dentists who spend hours each day looking inside patients’ mouths often notice things other health care providers do not.
For example, expert dentists in Georgetown Indiana may uncover signs that a patient has the beginnings of gum disease, meaning their risk of heart disease or stroke may be increased. This is why many dentists take a holistic approach to their patients’ health and provide valuable advice that extends beyond oral health. Dental problems can lead to pain and tooth loss.
However, you may not be aware that they can also contribute to more serious conditions in the body. Due to their essential role in spotting dangerous health problems like mouth and throat cancer, dentists are much more than tooth doctors.
The Unspoken Anxiety of Dental Visits
Many people feel anxious when they visit the dentist’s office. Some patients express severe fear or phobia of the dental chair due to their experience with a dentist or a doctor, or due to the fear of needles, drills, or what the dentist will do. A dentist’s job involves addressing the anxiety of their patients.
Most dentists have stories about patients who shake so much they literally can’t stop, or show up to their appointment with tear-filled eyes, ready to get it over with.
The Struggle of Balancing Perfection and Time Constraints
Dentistry is an art form, and every dentist knows that perfection is often the aim. However, perfection takes time, and time is something we rarely have in dentistry. Dentists often feel pressured to work efficiently while maintaining high-quality work. There is a constant balancing act between providing the best possible care to each patient and working within the time constraints of seeing a large number of patients each day.
It’s a common complaint voiced by dentists: the effort to execute a filling, a crown, or even a root canal can be complicated by the ticking clock. It’s quite common for a dentist to feel torn between doing a job that requires precision and completing the work on time. These stresses may result in moments of internal conflict, in which the physician must weigh the need to provide the best possible care for a patient against the need to keep the office open for business.
The Impact of Social Media on Dental Trends
Social media has risen and has impacted many industries, including the dental industry. Patients are coming into dental offices with requests due to Instagram, TikTok, or celebrity inspiration, more than ever before. Social media has set new standards in beauty that have altered perceptions of what is “normal” in must-have dental aesthetics, like a perfect smile and whitening.
While some trends aren’t dangerous, a dentist is often caught in a battle of sorts. That is, to give the patients what they want vs. what they need. For instance, a patient comes to you asking for veneers after seeing a celebrity with them. What they usually do not know is how to properly care for veneers.
To ensure a focus on long-term health, dentists must straddle the roles of clinicians and educators, assisting patients in achieving the “perfect” smile they desire.
The Oddest Things Found in Patients’ Mouths
One of the most exciting and challenging aspects of a dentist’s day is determining what’s inside the mouth. Many of us don’t think of anything more than teeth and gum when we think of our mouths. However, it is not uncommon for a dentist to find foreign objects in strange places. Candy wrapper and a sprouting tomato plant are among some of the weirdest finds, while objects like staples or food have been lodged in someone’s throat for days or weeks.
Many times, dentists have found chewing gum in cavities. Likewise, leftover food can also not be adequately cleaned. It can be a shock to both the dentist and the patient, as the unexpected appointment is often due to neglect or pure forgetfulness.
Even the most experienced dentist will smile (or shake his head) at these findings. Dentists know how hard it is for patients to maintain oral hygiene when items can appear out of nowhere.
The Joy of Transforming Lives One Smile at a Time
Despite the challenges, there is no doubt that being a dentist is a very fulfilling profession. Nothing can match the happiness of seeing the patient walk out of the office full of joy and confidence, willing to show off their beautiful smile. The work of a dentist extends far beyond just a procedure, whether it is restoring a tooth to its natural state or helping a patient overcome their fear of dental anxiety.
This is why many dentists continue to practice their profession. It’s all worth the struggle and tight schedule when you hear the stories of their personal transformation, smile, and the thank you patients give for overcoming significant dental problems.
Conclusion
There are many stories behind every dental chair we are not aware of; they reveal unexpected discoveries, nervous patients, and much more.
A dentist’s job is more than fixing cavities and teaching good brushing techniques. It involves providing emotional support and helping to change lives for the better. Patients may only see the tip of the iceberg in the dental chair, but dentists are treated to the whole expanse of the complex, often-unseen world of dental healthcare.
