by Roseman Dental | Jul 13, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Dental School, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Becoming a dentist can result in an abundance of professional possibilities. Besides private practice options, dental school graduates can teach future dentists, travel with international health and relief organizations, work in hospital emergency rooms, or conduct advanced laboratory research.
Choosing a Dental School
There are over 65 dental schools in the United States accredited by the ADA’s Commission on Dental Accreditation. Each program is meticulously assessed to ensure compliance with quality and content standards. Typically, DMD and DDS programs take four years to complete. Additional years are necessary for dental specialties such as Pediatric Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. When choosing a dental school, factors to consider include:
• Grading system
• Geographical location
• Combination programs
• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Required laboratory work
• Community-centric vs. larger, clinical experience
Admission to dental school is highly competitive, but the application process is straightforward. In fact, many U.S. dental schools utilize the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service enabling you to submit one online application and send it to a variety of schools.
Researching Dental School Programs
Where you attend dental school is a significant decision requiring a lot of research. Start with the dental school guidebook from the American Dental Association to help you rule out certain schools that don’t meet your criteria. When narrowing down your list of dental schools, don’t rule out your ideal school right away, even if it seems out of reach due to the program cost or academic standards. It may end up being attainable with further research.
Completing the Dental School Application Process
Keep your options open and don’t make a quick decision. Before submitting your applications, make sure to narrow down your options to the dental school programs that best align with your goals and objectives. That way you can realize your dream of achieving a rewarding career as a dentist. The result is a sustainable work-life balance and competitive salary in the health care industry.
Keep Roseman University College of Dental Medicine in Mind
If you are interested in a career in dentistry, Roseman has a 4 year Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree located at our South Jordan, UT campus. The College of Dental Medicine (CODM) utilizes Roseman’s innovative Six-Point Mastery Learning Model, with courses organized in a block curriculum. Rather than competing with other students to achieve high grades on a “curve”, students work together and everyone is expected to achieve competency at a high level in order to progress through the program.
Students at Roseman CODM also experience a unique classroom setting, with interactive and immersive technology, and state-of-the-art equipment that allows students and faculty to connect using a variety of instructional techniques, moving beyond the traditional lecture format. Reimagine your future with Roseman University.
by Roseman Dental | Jun 29, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Even with regular professional oral checkups and taking care of your teeth in between visits at home, bacteria still form in your mouth. Proteins and food byproducts mix to form a film on your teeth called dental plaque.
Prevention Routine for Plaque Buildup
Only a dental professional can remove plaque from your teeth once it has formed. Visiting your dentist every six months eliminates tartar and plaque that might have formed and prevents further problems. Preventing plaque buildup on your teeth is not that hard. It requires following a daily routine, limiting your daily sugar and starch intake, and drinking plenty of water after eating. Here’s how to get started on a daily plaque-prevention routine:
- Brush every day. To remove plaque and prevent tartar, brush regularly with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day for two minutes each time.
- Toothpaste. A tartar-control fluoride toothpaste helps prevent plaque from hardening into tartar. The fluoride helps repair enamel damage.
- Floss. Clean between your teeth. No matter how well you brush, flossing is the only way to remove plaque between your teeth and keep tartar out of hard-to-reach spaces.
- Rinse daily. Rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash daily helps destroy bacteria that leads to plaque.
Plaque can build up if not removed through regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing. The associated bacteria can infect your teeth and gums, and also the bone and gum tissue that support your teeth.
Keeping Dental Plaque at Bay
Dental plaque is a natural result of eating. It will eventually harden into tartar if it’s not removed by a professional. If you cannot brush between meals, rinse your mouth out with water to help reduce plaque acids. Chewing sugarless gum stimulates the flow of saliva and is also beneficial. Choose products containing xylitol, which is a low-calorie sweetener that helps prevent plaque.
by Roseman Dental | Jun 22, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Dental School, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Are you still in high school, or do you have a child still figuring out what career to pursue? The options are limitless, but there are certain advantages to getting into the dentistry field. If you are interested in helping others or playing a key role in your community, then becoming a dentist might be the right career choice for you.
Dentists Help Others
One of the most rewarding things in any career is the knowledge that people depend on you and that you are making a difference in people’s lives. You will be helping people maintain healthier lives and improving their smiles for a better appearance. Additionally, part of the job will include identifying risk factors for disease and working with other healthcare professionals to identify signs of cardiovascular disease, manage diabetes, and spot cancer, so you can even save people’s lives.
Dentists are in High Demand
Every city needs dentists, and people of all ages require dental care. From small children to senior citizens, everyone needs access to high-quality dental procedures. With an aging population in the country, the demand is only going to increase in the coming years, so there will certainly be opportunities available to you once you are out of school.
Be Your Own Boss as a Dentist
Being your own boss is highly desirable to many people, and it is a real possibility when you get into dentistry. If you feel like it is time, then you can open up your own practice. This also makes dentistry a highly lucrative career to get into financially. The amount you will be able to make will depend on where exactly in the country you live, but for the most part, dentists are well paid.
If you have never considered a career as a dentist before, then you should seriously start considering it. The benefits are great, and it is a highly rewarding career. For any high schoolers out there, start looking at the schools you should go to in order to have the biggest leg-up when you graduate.
by Roseman Dental | Jun 8, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
You probably think that as long as you brush and floss every day your oral health should be fine. While brushing and flossing is critical for oral health, there are other actions you can take to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy and avoid bad breath. One of those actions includes scraping your tongue.
Better Dental Health
The reason why you need to brush your teeth every day is so that you can remove harmful plaque. However, bacteria are also capable of building up on your tongue. If too much develops, then you are at an increased risk of having gum disease or receding gums. Scraping your tongue removes bacteria for added protection against these diseases.
Reduced Chance of Halitosis
While halitosis can come from a number of sources, one of the most common is simply a buildup of food and bacteria within your mouth. Brushing helps, but tongue scraping removes bacteria you ordinarily would not get with your toothbrush.
Experience Flavor Better
When bacteria and mucus develop on your tongue, they can block your taste buds and prevent you from fully experiencing the flavor of the food you are eating. This can even lead to false cravings for certain types of unhealthy foods. By opening up your taste buds, you can truly appreciate your meal. This also allows your body to better assimilate food and digest it more effectively.
While at first this may seem like just another thing you have to do in your morning or nightly routine, the benefits are great. It also does not take very long to thoroughly scrape your tongue. Scraping it between five and 10 times is typically all that is needed and you can find a tongue scraper fairly easily by visiting your local pharmacy or seeing your dentist for his or her opinion.
by Roseman Dental | Jun 2, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Many people grind their teeth, a condition known as bruxism, and for many people, it is simply a habit that is hard to break. However, bruxism can lead to numerous dental problems, including jaw pain and loose teeth so as soon as you realize you grind your teeth, there are steps you should take to stop doing it.
Reduce Stress
Stress is a common reason why people end up grinding their teeth. While there is little you can do to eliminate stress altogether, there are things you can do to reduce it that are safe for your mouth and overall health. For instance, you can start exercising more regularly and get plenty of sleep at night or join a meditation class or support group.
Perform Jaw Exercises
If you still notice you have bruxism, consider seeing a dental professional about getting some physical therapy. There are a number of jaw exercises you can perform on your own at home. This will relax your jaw and strengthen the muscles around it.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
A cup of coffee first thing in the morning is fine, and for some people it’s essential, but you should be careful not to overdo it. Too much caffeine can much you jumpy and jittery, increasing your odds of grinding your teeth. Alcohol also increases your desire to clench your jaw.
Wear a Custom Mouth Guard
There may be nothing you can really do to eliminate bruxism altogether. However, you can see your dentist about getting a mouth guard to wear at night. This device will protect your teeth from the effects of the grinding. You can get one custom built so that it fits perfectly over your teeth.
Bruxism may not seem like much at first, but it can lead to serious dental complications down the road. Nip the problem in the bud as soon as you notice it. By taking the necessary actions now, you will be doing yourself a lot of good in the future.
by Roseman Dental | May 23, 2016 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
Having bad breath can be a major cause of embarrassment and social isolation. It may just be the result of eating something strong (such as onions or garlic), or it could be a symptom of an underlying health problem. Regardless of the reason, there are steps you can take to make your breath pleasant once again.
Brush and Floss
Poor dental hygiene is one of the most common reasons why people develop bad breath. Food gets caught between teeth and bacteria build up, leading to halitosis—the dental term for “bad breath”. You should brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and also brush your tongue to help remove bacteria in that area.
Stay Hydrated
Bad breath can also be the result of dry mouth. When your mouth is not producing sufficient saliva, you should drink water or chew sugarless gum in order to stimulate production. If your saliva is low because of medications or a medical condition, talk to your dentist about it because there may be ways they can help.
See Your Dentist
You should be seeing your dentist at least twice a year. Everything may feel fine, but it never hurts to get a professional cleaning. This is especially important if you wear braces or dentures. If these devices are not cleaned properly, then your breath can begin can be impacted negatively. A dentist can show you how to properly clean teeth and remove plaque deposits that build up and can’t be removed with a toothbrush.
Quit Tobacco
A big cause for bad breath is frequent tobacco use. There is a huge list of reasons why you should quit tobacco, and this is yet another one you can add to the list.
Address a Medical Condition
Sometimes halitosis is a symptom of a much larger problem such as diabetes or a sinus infection. In these instances, you will need to address the underlying issue. Seek the necessary medical treatment from your dentist if needed for these conditions.
Taking some steps now to help improve your breath can ensure that you won’t have to stress about it right before that big meeting at work or that hot date. There are plenty of ways to make your breath smell minty fresh once more.
