Four Reasons to Consider the Dental Profession

Considering a career in the dental field? Those who opt to become a dentist can enjoy a fulfilling career through helping others and learning the latest techniques with exciting technologies. In fact, U.S. News and World Report even placed this profession at the top of its list of best jobs for 2017. Here are four reasons why dentistry is a great field to pursue.

1. Rapidly Increasing Job Prospects 

Those who enter the dental field will be in high demand. Many dentists who were educated in the 1960s and 1970s are now poised to retire, and the need for additional dental care for the aging baby boomer population will only increase. Projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that there will be more than 26,000 job openings for new dentists by 2024.

2. The Ability to Transform Lives

Dentists can provide a tangible, positive change in the oral health of their patients. Whether through promoting oral hygiene, transforming a damaged smile, or eliminating pain, dentists can truly make a difference in the lives of their patients.

3. Independence and Flexibility

Dentistry is an ideal career for anyone who has dreamed of owning a business, as up to 80 percent of dentists open a private practice shortly after completing residency. Private practices provide flexible hours that allow professionals to set a schedule that fits their lifestyle. For this reason, dentistry is often named as a great career for those who want to start a family. Career opportunities also abound for dentists in research and academics.

4. High Salary

While the cost of dental school is significant, graduates who become a dentist earn a substantial salary when they enter practice. According to a 2014 survey from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, those who own a stake in an independent practice earned an average annual salary of $183,340; for specialists, the average was $344,740.

For family-oriented dental care in Independence, MO, trust Dr. Robert Hanson at Hanson Dentistry. He strives to treat each patient like family. We offer general and cosmetic dentistry along with treatment for sleep apnea. Contact us online or call 816-373-5606 to schedule an appointment today.

How Metal-Free Dentistry Has Affected Once-Traditional Treatments

25 years ago, dentists used metal, silver, and gold to fill a cavity or crown a patient's tooth. Today, the more effective resin fillings have prevailed over the once-traditional metal mainstays of general dental services. Here's why metal-free dentistry is so popular and recommended.

Disadvantages of Metal Dentistry 

Silver amalgam contains mercury and tends to contract and expand when exposed to heat and cold. Over time, these changes can weaken or crack the tooth structure, causing bacterial decay, infection, fractures, and chips while contributing to gum disease. When a filling breaks, a tooth is no longer sealed, and a cavity can form beneath it. Amalgams can also corrode and leak, staining the teeth and gums.

Benefits of Metal-Free Dentistry

Composite fillings are a cosmetically pleasing and safer choice for treating tooth decay. They are stronger than metal, last longer, and will remain in place for many years without discomfort. They contain no mercury, do not discolor, stabilize the tooth, reduce tooth sensitivity, and are an attractive option for minor tooth decay.

Brighter, More Natural Teeth and Smile

Metal-free fillings are designed to match the color of the patient's teeth, creating more natural-looking results. If a tooth is broken or discolored, bonding a porcelain veneer or crown to it will produce a brighter, more natural appearance. The shade of the veneer can be matched to teeth that have undergone a whitening procedure.

The Structure of Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are made up of glass, quartz, and resin. They restore teeth as close to the tooth's original tensile strength as is technically possible.

An Emphasis on Safer Teeth

With their adhesive that helps maintain the structure of teeth, metal-free fillings can reduce the amount of drilling needed when repairing cavities. Also, the American Dental Association has cited journals and examples that underscore the safety of metal-free dentistry.

The Potential of Lower Costs

The price of metal-free fillings, veneers, and crowns in traditional dental services is typically less than metal due to cheaper materials needed and the shortened time required to treat the teeth appropriately.

Dr. Robert Hanson and his associates at Hanson Dentistry are specialists in metal-free dentistry. If you live in the Independence area and are seeking an alternative to metal fillings or crowns, please call us at 816-373-5605 to learn about the dental services our team can provide you.

Components of a Great Smile

Without a spoken word, an attractive smile communicates an upbeat, friendly, and welcoming personality. Conversely, a person concerned about his or her smile may reflect timidity, hesitancy, and reluctance. Recent advances in cosmetic dentistry, however, have made getting an ideal smile easier than ever.

Elements of an Attractive Smile

Attractive smiles are highlighted by white, straight teeth that are evenly spaced with no gaps. The gums should be vibrant with no swelling, inflammation, or bleeding, and the gum tissues should be formed naturally around the necks of the teeth. A healthy, attractive smile reveals the top teeth fully and in compatible proportion to the gums.

Achieving the Perfect Shade

Cosmetic dentistry is often employed to improve the color and shading of a patient's teeth. Dull or stained teeth can be whitened, and amalgam or silver fillings can be replaced with tooth-colored composites.

Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

In addition to in-office whitening, a dentist can improve the shape and size of teeth with crowns, bridges, or porcelain veneers. Missing teeth can also be replaced with bridges and dental implants. The most rewarding examples of cosmetic dentistry are those in which the results closely resemble the qualities of natural teeth.

If you are interested in cosmetic dental services to improve your smile, contact us at 816-373-5606 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation.

Are Dental X-rays Really Necessary?

Like a teeth cleaning or annual checkup, x-rays are a vital element of preventative dental services. X-rays enable a dentist to see inside teeth and beneath the gums to diagnose cavities, gum disease, and some types of infection. X-rays can also prevent big problems through early detection. As for radiation, patients can rest assured that dental x-rays are safe.

X-rays at Work

Dental x-rays can expose dental decay, dental abscess, and tumors or cysts. They can reveal impacted or extra teeth, while also determining the condition of fillings, bridges, crowns, and root canals. Also, they can show any bone loss from periodontal disease, identify plaque and tartar build-up, and determine if sufficient bone exists for dental implants. Essentially, they are the first step for a dentist to get a comprehensive look at the overall mouth health of a patient.

X-rays and Children's Teeth

X-rays play a major role in pediatric dental services, guiding the development of a child's teeth and mouth. In addition to locating decay, they can determine whether the incoming permanent teeth will fit and align properly. X-rays can also track the development of a child's wisdom teeth and identify those impacted or prevented from emerging by gum tissue.

Frequency of X-rays

How often teeth should be x-rayed depends on their current condition and the patient's oral and medical history. Typically, patients require x-rays only once per year. New patients should always expect the dentist to order x-rays to diagnose any current problems and establish a baseline for future developments.

Radiation From X-rays

Dental x-rays only expose a patient to low levels of radiation. In fact, new digital x-rays reduce radiation by as much as 80 percent. While x-rays should only be used when necessary, the exposure and radiation level is safe, and x-rays are an essential element of clinical diagnosis.

Dental x-rays are the foundation of which dental and gum problems are diagnosed or verified, procedures are planned and performed, and oral baselines are established for future dental services. X-rays should not be avoided for fear of radiation exposure.