General Dentistry Profession: How Interesting Is It?

General dentists are the chief dental care providers for patients of all ages. They are the dentists who take care of the overall oral health of your family. They are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, and general management of dental services. However, general dentists do not specialize in all fields especially when it comes to certain severe diseases of the mouth, gums, and associated tissues. Most likely, general dentists would recommend their patients to a periodontist or another health specialist who could make further diagnosis and treatment.

What are the procedures that general dentists perform? Please note that general dentists’ scope encompasses all dental procedures. They are: dentures, dental implants, crowns and bridges, cosmetic procedures, gum disease treatment, home care instruction, mouthguards, nutrition counseling, oral surgery, orthodontics, partial dentures, restorative care, sealants, root canal therapy, teeth cleanings, tobacco cessation, and TMD or TMJ therapy.

A general dentist requires to have three or more years of undergraduate course related to science and an additional four years of dental school education. To be called as a general dentist, a licensure examination must be taken and passed.

In the US and Canada, there are about 143,000 practitioners in the field of dentistry. These dentists partner or affiliate with other dentists in certain groups of specialization. In terms of career opportunities, general dentists either own their practice, work for government health services, some invest their time in research programs, while others pursue higher education. We would also see dentists in corporations and in the field of military.

Dr. John Ta of Xpress Dental in McAllen, Texas is an example of a reliable provider of general dentistry services. Dr. Tan received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from UCLA School of Dentistry and currently practices general dentistry in McAllen, Texas. Prior to attending UCLA, Dr. Tan received his degree in Biochemistry with honors (Magna Cum Laude). During his tenure in both undergraduate and graduate studies, Dr. Tan was heavily involved in research. Dr. Tan has published several publications in the field of dentistry and chemistry. Dr. Tan moved to Texas in 2011 and has practiced in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Tan is licensed to performed Oral Conscious Sedation and has extensive experience on aesthetic, reconstruction, and pediatric dentistry. With Dr. Tan’s background in research and clinical dentistry, he can provide the latest in top quality dental care.