If you are moving to Raleigh, North Carolina or the Research Triangle Park area, this information can help you find the best dentist to provide the most appropriate level of care for you and your family.
How accessible are dentists in Raleigh?
In Raleigh, dental care is much more accessible than in many other parts of North Carolina. Raleigh is located in Wake County, which is one of eight counties in North Carolina with dentist-to-patient ratios that exceed the national average. Sadly, the state of North Carolina ranks 47th in the nation in terms of dentist to patient ratio. While the state ranks low in the availability of dental care, Raleigh residents have great access compared to the rest of the United States. Combining June 2009 figures from the North Carolina Dental Board with figures from the 2008 Raleigh Census, it can be extrapolated that there is a ratio of approximately one dentist for every 1,350 residents.
What kind of quality can I expect?
The quality of care (as well as the number of dental providers) in Raleigh is influenced by the nearby University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC. Raleigh, the Research Triangle Park area, and neighboring cities and counties have exceptional access to dental care, thanks in large part to the presence of graduates of this school.
Founded in 1954, the UNC School of Dentistry has a national reputation for both research and education. Each year, the school admits about 80 students into its DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) program, and about 80% of those are in-state admissions. In the United States, dental schools, unlike medical and law schools, do not have official rankings. However, UNC is usually one of the top contenders on the unofficial lists. National respect for the UNC School of Dentistry program helps validate the quality of dental services that graduates of that school provide in Raleigh.
The North Carolina Dental Board is the regulatory body for dental service providers in North Carolina. Their mission is to ensure that the dental profession deserves and receives the public’s trust and that only qualified individuals are allowed to practice dentistry and dental hygiene in the state of North Carolina.
What types of dental providers are there?
While the North Carolina Dental Board is the regulatory body, the North Carolina Dental Society is a professional organization that promotes the improvement of the public’s oral health and the art and science of dentistry. Promotes the maintenance of high standards of practice and competence, and represents the interests of members of the dental profession and the public it serves. While membership in the professional organization is not required, the North Carolina Dental Society provides figures that provide information on the distribution of the different types of dental care providers in Raleigh. Raleigh members include dental providers in these commonly used categories: General Practice (142), Orthodontists (17), Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery (11), Endodontists (9), Pediatrics (8), Periodontists (7). June 2009 figures from the North Carolina Dental Board indicated that 264 dentists in Raleigh were licensed to practice general dentistry. Combining these two sets of numbers should provide a rough extrapolation of the number of specialty providers.
What are the emerging trends in dental care?
In Raleigh, the provision of dental services is beginning to change, thanks to the forward-thinking of some dentists. This change means making a broader range of dental care services available under one roof. General dentists willing to invest in proper training are able to offer a broader range of dental care services, a concept sometimes referred to as Integrative Dentistry. Some also include Cosmetic Dentistry services. Having services provided under one roof also eliminates the need to obtain consents and transfer dental records from one practice to another.
This emerging model for dental care in Raleigh has clear advantages, one of which is that the dentist most familiar with dental care and patient preferences can provide most, if not all, of the necessary services in a familiar setting. A familiar environment can help reduce the anxiety some patients experience when they have to see a (new) specialist for necessary services. (Please be assured that general dentists who provide a broader range of dental services refer very complex cases to appropriate dental care specialists who focus only on a very specific dental care problem and whose skills may be necessary in those particular situations. ).
Since specialists in Raleigh are not as accessible as general dentists (see numbers above), general dentists who offer a broader range of services can help provide more timely treatment for many “non-routine” dental needs (eg eg, extraction of wisdom teeth, periodontal). treatments, orthodontics). Ask any prospective dental care provider in Raleigh to explain the range of services the practice makes available to you, as well as the specific credentials of the dentists. You can also ask if the practice is accredited by the state of North Carolina to perform sedation dentistry, because the state recently promulgated guidelines and an accreditation process to ensure public safety in the administration of sedation dental practices.