What it means
A doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or dental medicine (DMD). Good mouth health matters for the rest of the body: gum disease is linked to heart disease, diabetes control and pregnancy problems, and mouth germs can cause pneumonia when breathed into the lungs.
For the nurse
Encourage a dental visit about every six months, a child's first visit by age one, and a dental check before treatments such as heart valve surgery or IV bisphosphonates, when the provider advises it.
At a glance
| Also written | dentists |
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Related terms
bisphosphonate
A drug that slows the breakdown of bone.