You know your dentist likes you when they build a personal connection by remembering details, greet you warmly, explain things clearly, respect your time with punctuality, and focus on your long-term health rather than just upselling treatments, creating a comfortable, trusting environment. It's less about "liking" you romantically and more about showing they value you as a patient through attentive, personalized care.
10 Signs You Have the Best Dentist
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in dentistry means 80% of results come from 20% of efforts, applying to patient outcomes (daily habits vs. treatments) and practice management (top patients generating most revenue). For patients, it means daily brushing/flossing are key; for practices, focusing on high-value, consistent patients drives profits, though some argue neglecting other patients can harm growth, suggesting all patients need excellent care.
The "Rule of 7" in dentistry is a pediatric guideline highlighting key milestones: a child should have their first dental visit by age 7, when their first permanent molars typically emerge and the first permanent teeth start to come in, prompting an orthodontic evaluation to catch early bite/crowding issues. It helps ensure early intervention for lifelong oral health, focusing on the transition from baby to permanent teeth around age 7, and even mentions seeing an orthodontist by 7 and evaluating wisdom teeth around 21.
This article includes dental care recommendations that could help you impress your dentist during your next appointment.
Not-So-Secret Secrets for Good Oral Health:
The 50-40-30 rule in dentistry refers to the ideal proportions for the interproximal contact areas (IPCA) between front teeth (maxillary incisors) for a natural, aesthetic smile: 50% contact between the two central incisors, 40% between the central and lateral incisor, and 30% between the lateral incisor and canine, creating a soft, youthful look and preventing dark "black triangles". This guideline helps cosmetic dentists design veneers, crowns, or smile makeovers to achieve balance and harmony in the front teeth.
During your check up, the hygienist uses a tiny ruler like tool called a "probe" to gently measure the depth of this space all around each tooth. The numbers they are calling out are the measurements in millimeters. These measurements are often called "pocket depths."
Golden Rule #1: Brush Twice Daily
Brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the simplest and most effective ways to maintain dental health. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, you should gently brush your teeth for at least two minutes in the morning and before bed.
According to the BULL rule, modification should be made to the buccal cusps of the upper posterior teeth and the lingual cusps of the lower posterior teeth. BULL stands for buccal upper, lower lingual.
An acronym (Same Lingual Opposite Buccal) describing a parallax radiographic technique used to identify the position of ectopic teeth (usually maxillary canines). It compares the object movement with the x-ray tube head movement.
The 3-3-3 rule for toothache is a temporary pain management strategy: take 3 ibuprofen (200mg each) three times a day for 3 days, but 3 hours apart (or every 8 hours), to reduce inflammation and pain until you can see a dentist; it's crucial to consult a doctor first, especially with underlying conditions, as it's not a cure but a short-term fix for inflammation.
The strongest indicator of attraction is often considered sustained, meaningful eye contact, especially when combined with other cues like leaning in or pupil dilation, as it signals interest and intimacy, but the most reliable confirmation is always direct communication like verbal consent or expressing interest. Other key indicators include positive body language (leaning in, mirroring), increased physical closeness, frequent smiling, and a strong desire to learn about the other person, with biological factors like scent also playing a role.
Rewarding Career
It's our mission to change that, as shown by our smile gallery. Helping patients feel confident with their smile can make a huge difference in their self-confidence. So of course knowing we get to be a part of that is one of our favorite parts of the job.
A physician must terminate the patient-physician relationship before initiating a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship with a patient. Likewise, sexual or romantic relationships between a physician and a former patient may be unduly influenced by the previous physician-patient relationship.
The "333 dental rule" refers to two different concepts: a hygiene guideline (brush 3 times a day for 3 minutes, replace brush every 3 months) and a temporary toothache relief method (take 3 ibuprofen tablets, 3 times a day, for 3 days). The hygiene rule promotes better habits, while the pain management rule helps control inflammation and pain before a dental visit, but requires caution as it's not a cure.
Dentists have even been known to use gold as a material for fillings and still do. There was a time when gold fillings were very common. However, gold fillings have become less common in recent years due to advances in other technologies that are more cost-efficient like composites and silver amalgam.
You should not stop brushing with toothpaste and a toothbrush when you no longer have any teeth. You should continue brushing to keep your gums clean. However, you must use an extra-soft toothbrush to clean your gums.
At the dentist, "7" usually refers to either the second molar tooth (in the Universal Numbering System, like tooth 1-7 or 2-7) or, more commonly when poked, a 7mm gum pocket depth, signaling advanced gum disease or significant bone loss, indicating a need for treatment. Dentists also use numbers to identify specific teeth for charting, so a "7" could mean the upper right lateral incisor (tooth #7 in the Universal System) or another specific tooth in the quadrant system, depending on context.
Each number represents the depth of the pocket at a specific tooth or location. For instance, if your dentist calls out “3-3-2-4,” they're indicating that the pockets measured at your first, second, third, and fourth teeth are 3mm, 3mm, 2mm, and 4mm deep, respectively.
Code 0 – Healthy gums, no bleeding when probed, no calculus or gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 1 – Slight bleeding when probed, no calculus or gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 2 – Slight bleeding when probed, Calculus or Plaque present and gingival pockets under 3.5mm.
1 – Slight bleeding when checked: early sign of gum inflammation (gingivitis). 2 – Some plaque or tartar deposits are present that need removing. 3 – The probe shows deeper pockets around the teeth (4–5mm), which means gum disease may be starting. 4 – Deeper pockets (6mm or more): a sign of more advanced gum disease.
Is scaling better than a deep clean? They are the same procedure. “Scaling and root planing” is the clinical term for what's commonly called a “deep cleaning.” It's not about being “better” but about being the appropriate treatment when gum disease is present.
Dentists have to plan treatments following the “platinum rule” in dentistry: “Treat every patient the way they want to be treated” (obviously, within the appropriate medical protocols and guidelines).