What makes you think that you are qualified to answer questions about dentistry?

unless you are a dentist, you are giving bad info. that goes especially for you dental assistants. you don't even have college degrees! you hygienists can answer about gums and that's it.





so please, keep the urban legends to yourselves unless you've actually been to school to study dentistry for say, eight years.

What makes you think that you are qualified to answer questions about dentistry?
I AGREE!!!.





This is such a risky business to those asking questions, yet with no risk to those giving advice.





I hope people give good thought to the answers to these sometimes VERY important questions about their health and possibly their life before taking these answers seriously.





In fact, please go see a doctor, dentist, or other medical professional before truly heeding the advice proffered in this venue. Your health is not worth risking on urban legends supplied by someone who only knows enough to hurt you.





I should know, I'm a doctor...or am I? You'll probably never know!
Reply:ashley W.? do you know her? Report It

Reply:Hey Tom, Dental Asst. can have a college degree you idiot. Just makes me sad to think that if you are a dentist then you don't respect the amount of knowledge and help that an asst. brings you! Report It

Reply:I'm a Dental Therapist and I don't even get a mention. Do you know what I do Tom? Report It

Reply:Tom, there is no way you are a dentist, if you were, you would know that CDA's and RDH go to college, you ain't picking anyone up with you fake dental diploma! Loser! Do you even know what CDA and RDH means? Report It

Reply:Props to DT 1986 and Dr. Teeth for giving us the repect we deserve, and yeah to all the other CDA's and RDH's Report It

Reply:no one on this site is to take any answer for a replacement for treatment. but some people have been through the same things and want to offer advice. Stop being a stick in the mud and let people make their own decisions about the advice they receive.
Reply:I agree with daisy. I've been through quite a lot. Including a dentist that pushed way too much filling into a root canal. That doesn't sound qualified to me either. Had to go to an orthodontist to get it fixed.
Reply:Yes some people are giving really bad advice, but you know what? I am a hygienist and I think I have enough knowledge to answer questions about more than "gums". You know we do study more than just periodontal disease. Dentists, hygienists, and certified assistants (in some states) must have a certain number of continuing education every licensing renewal period. Some professionals take the easy way out, but others learn more than just what they have to. I bet there are quite a few hygienists and assistants that know more about dentistry than some dentists!


And anyways, if you have a serious dental issue, you shouldn't be taking anyones advice on a yahoo group, you should make an appointment with a dentist. If you want to ask a question, you must take what you get. You can always see who your dentist agrees with.


Oh and dentists don't study dentistry for 8 years. They go through 'regular' college for 4 years and then go on to dental school for 4-5 years. If they studied dentistry for 8 years then you truely see a specialist with some extra post graduate education!
Reply:obviously this is a chat page.. relax! People give input from experience. If someone wanted to know something more serious they could A) ask Yahoo or B) ask a dentist.. I guess it depends on how serious people are.. No brainer.. No sweat.. you need to take a chill pill? How are you today? Have you tried the psychology section? lol;)


It's like talking to a regular Joe Blow about life.. Socialism 101...
Reply:yeah and dentists know everything, and malpractices never happen, and people are taking this information at their own risks because they're not going to their actually Dentist to get these questions answered.
Reply:If a dentist gave free treatment or at a lower cost ,then I think there won't be much questions here and neither those answers which make you lose points by asking a question like this.
Reply:Obviously you are not a dentist, because if you were you would know that yes, you do go to school for eight years. However, the first four years are focused on a biology/health based batchelor's degree and the remaining four are actually the dental program if you can obtain an accepable DENMAT score and be lucky enough to be accepted to a dental school. You would only attend a dental school program for eight years if you were advancing in the dental field in a speciality such as an orthodontist, periodontist, pedodontist, endodontist or oral surgeon. You are correct that dental assistants do not have degrees but, yes, certified dental assistants do attend classes through technical schools just like your auto mechanic and are required to pass board exams administered by their state before they can legally assist a doctor. They must also be certified to take and develop x-rays. This is another class that must be taken and an additional board exam that must be passed. Hygienist are required to take specific college classes for approximately two years before entering any hygiene program. Potential hygienist go through a rigorous screening process before being accepted in the program and only the best of the best are chosen. Depending upon the school they either complete a two year certificate or three year batchelor's program.


Regardless, they too must pass regional board exams before they can practice. Their education far exceeds "about gums and that's it."


I do agree with you that some do offer "nonsense" as an answer to questions however, some answers are correct. Only those of us with the proper education or those with personal experiences should reply.
Reply:I agree with Jennifer B.





Also, you have to know that thisis a forum, so if someone wants an answer from a real dentist, well then they should go to a dentist!





Hygenist are qualified to answer questions about dentistry. I mean, what those people asking on this forum isn't that complicated to answer, especially for hygienists and assistants. They are answering many of the same questions at work. I know, 'casue people ask me and I have to be knowledgable enough to answer.
Reply:What's your problem?
Reply:from the paintball puppy.my question was designed to stir things up here in the uk where we pay our taxs and other money into our national health service which is supposed to provide free health care.it is increasingly more difficult for people to register for nhs dentists,as more and more do private work for which those who can afford pay.this means that in effect the health service is letting down a lot of people(especially the less well off)who have paid upfront through taxation only to be asked to pay again.and it aint cheap.





so it is not a case of setteling for 2nd best or creossing the border to mexico(bit far from here)just people being given what they have paid for.





i think my dentist is a very nice person,she is very reassuring and treats me well as a more nervous patient,its the trend im criticising not the individual,
Reply:Ok, Mr. Misinformation, as a registered dental hygienist who has been licensed and practicing for 22 years, I AM fully qualified to answer just about any dental question anyone could ask. I have a B.S. in Dental Hygiene, a four-year couse of study. The courses I took in college were, to name just a few, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, General and Oral Pathology, General and Oral Histology, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Oral Diagnosis, Periodontology, Local Anesthesia and Oral Analgesia, etc. After taking those courses and having my hands in people's mouths more days than not over the past 22 years, I think I am fully qualified.