When you choose a dentist in Roselle Park, you’re putting your oral health in their hands – and that’s no small thing! Just like you’d want a skilled mechanic to work on your car or a knowledgeable tutor to help your children, you should be able to put full faith in the person meant to keep your smile healthy. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check whether your dentist is board-certified.
What Does It Mean If a Dentist is Board-Certified?
All dentists hold either a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree (both of which take at least a total of six years of formal education), but if a dentist is board-certified in a specific aspect of oral health care, it means they’ve formally shown mastery of the knowledge and skills required in that field. Generally, this is done through some kind of written, oral, practical and/or simulator-based test administered by a board recognized by the American Dental Association. For example, if a dentist wants to specialize in dental implants, they would have to pass the exams set forth by the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry
Why Should I Find a Board-Certified Dentist?
Many dentists offer a wide variety of treatments, but if you’re looking for a specific kind of care, it’s better to find someone who has had formal training in that specific field. That way you can ensure that you receive the benefits of care from an expert who:
- Has had extensive experience performing this procedure effectively and safely.
- Is up to date with the latest technologies (since many boards make it a point to keep their members current and might even require additional testing for them to keep their certification).
- Has had training in performing this procedure.
- Is among the top percentage of dentists in the country or even the world.
Basically, if you’re looking for someone to take care of or improve your pearly whites, board-certification is a good clue as far as their qualifications go.
What Else Should I Look For?
Of course, while board-certification is a strong point in any dentist’s favor, there are a few other factors you should take into account. What sort of technology is used at the practice? Are their hours convenient for your schedule? Does one dentist do everything, or is there a team of specialists that can offer higher quality care in multiple fields? These are just some of the questions you should be asking.
You can check a practice’s website for information about a dentist’s qualifications, or you can call them to ask directly. Take the extra step to make sure your partner in oral health care is someone you can completely trust your smile to!
About the Author
Dr. Jamie Oshidar is an implant dentist at Roselle Park Dental & Implants. He is Northeast Board-Certified and is currently study for certification in Implantology. He’s highly skilled in placing dental implants and has started teaching other dentists about implementing them at their own practices. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Oshidar or one of our other specialists, visit our website or call (908) 245-1745.