Keeping yourself healthy takes planning and effort. To stay healthy, you must be intentional with your diet, activities, and interactions. However, your body also needs help to stay in top shape. When you’re injured or ill, visiting these healthcare professionals can turn you back toward health.
Chiropractor
A chiropractor is a healthcare pro who believes the body can be helped to heal itself. Chiropractic service involves the alignment of the spine and other muscles, bones, and joints to restore the body to its optimal state of wellness. Chiropractors achieve this goal with spinal adjustments, massage, and recommendations for healthy food choices.
Chiropractors focus on the spine because its position and function are crucial to many body functions. The spinal column shelters the spinal cord and its associated nerves. Any misalignment to the spinal bones and discs will cause pain and difficulty moving. By performing manipulation, the chiropractor allows the body to return to alignment and health.
For example, one of the most common spinal problems is called a herniated disc. This condition occurs when one of the gel-like discs between spinal bones bulges outward from its proper place – causing pain and immobility. The chiropractor places their hands on the body near the location of the misplaced disc and pushes on the muscles. The pressure causes the muscles to move so that the disc can flow back into its correct place and restore wellness.
General Dentist
Dentists are responsible for helping their clients maintain or regain healthy teeth and gums. Problems with teeth can cause pain or difficulty chewing and can also lead to problems with other body systems. A general dentist is a healthcare professional sometimes referred to as a family dentist because they care for a wide variety of dental problems for all family members. The most frequent duties of a general dentist include dental exams, dental X-rays, removing problematic teeth, and filling cavities.
At a visit to a general dentist, a client will have dental x-rays and be examined by the dentist. The dentist would then provide information about any dental problems detected in the x-rays and general dental education. The dentist will produce a dental care plan outlining upcoming dental procedures the client will need. In future dental visits, the client will follow the dental care plan with dental cleanings and preventative treatments like fluoride.
Cavity fillings are completed when cavities (decayed areas of a tooth) are removed through a dental procedure. The space from which the cavity was taken is filled with amalgam, which provides a replacement surface for the tooth. A root canal removes infected tissue from the root of a tooth, and then that space is filled in with an antibacterial filling. After the space is filled, that tooth is covered by a porcelain crown.
Cosmetic Dentist
A cosmetic dentist is an experienced healthcare professional specializing in procedures to improve the appearance of their client’s teeth. These dentists work to change the appearance of a client’s existing teeth or to replace extracted teeth with dental implants. After first obtaining general dentistry experience, dentists work with an experienced cosmetic dentist to learn about cosmetic procedures.
Cosmetic dentists frequently perform inlays and onlays, which place fillings on the top or side of the tooth. If a client has discolored teeth, the dentist will repair the teeth with composite bonding, returning the tooth to its standard color. A similar result is achieved with veneers and tooth-colored caps that fit over the teeth.
Cosmetic dentists replace lost or damaged teeth by using dental implants. In this procedure, the dentist inserts a screw into the jawbone and then covers that screw with a tooth-colored crown. Dental crowns will resemble the lost tooth and restore the smile and the dental integrity of that group of teeth. The most popular cosmetic dental treatment is teeth whitening, which makes your teeth appear whiter.
Orthodontist
Orthodontists are also dentists who specialize in helping clients whose teeth are not correctly aligned. When your teeth are not correctly aligned, it affects your appearance and your ability to chew. Misalignment can also negatively impact your speech. Some people have conditions called overbite or underbite. Orthodontists can also help clients with these conditions.
Orthodontists are most frequently thought of as the healthcare pro who prescribe braces, which is true. These dental professionals also assist with retainers and correctional bands to return the teeth to their normal position. The purpose of braces is to move your teeth into their proper places slowly. The movement is made possible by the braces pressing against the teeth, forcing them to move.
Orthodontic braces used to be made exclusively of metal, but clear plastic braces are available today. Some clients have alignment problems that are so severe they need additional pressure on the teeth from headgear. After the braces have done their job, the orthodontist will order a retainer for the client, so their teeth remain in place. Although most clients with braces are in their teens, almost all ages may need braces.
Plastic Surgeon
A plastic surgeon is a healthcare pro who performs procedures to change a client’s appearance. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Institute, the term “plastic surgeon” comes from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means to form or mold. These procedures can be done when a client wants to change how they look for cosmetic reasons: to make their nose smaller or their breasts larger. Other clients have plastic surgery to correct the results of trauma, illness, or a condition they were born with (like a cleft palate.)
To become a plastic surgeon, you must first get a 4-year degree, graduate from medical school, and then complete six years of residency. At least part of their residency must include working with experienced plastic surgeons. To practice independently, they must be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Although plastic surgeons can potentially do any plastic surgery, some doctors will specialize in a specific type. For example, clients who have had a mastectomy can have reconstructive surgery to recreate their breasts. Transsexual clients who are transitioning will be able to have gender-affirming surgery. Plastic surgery procedures can be performed at a hospital or a plastic surgery center (typically owned by a hospital or a group of doctors.)
Medical Spa Doctor
One newer type of healthcare pro that has been gaining popularity is a medical spa doctor. A medical spa is a facility where you can receive appearance-improving procedures in an environment where you can relax and be pampered. These facilities have a less clinical atmosphere than an outpatient clinic and provide services that need to be supervised by medical personnel. Although online training courses for medical aesthetics procedures exist, the requirements for becoming a medical spa doctor vary by state.
Some of the most popular procedures done at medical spas are Botox injections. According to Prime Aesthetica, the FDA approved Botox injections 20 years ago to reduce wrinkles within a few days. Clients with irregular areas of pigment or sun damage often go to medical spas for chemical peels. Chemical peels apply a solution to the skin that will remove the outer layer of the skin – allowing the skin to emerge with a more radiant appearance when the new skin appears.
Another popular medical spa treatment is dermal fillers. When people age, their skin loses collagen, which decreases its elasticity. Dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid (a solution naturally found in the body) to attract water to the places where elasticity has decreased. The water drawn by the solution will initiate new collagen production, which restores radiance and a more youthful appearance to the skin.
Optometrist
An optometrist is a licensed healthcare pro that provides eye exams and diagnoses eye diseases and abnormalities. Although an optometrist is not a medical doctor, they are an eye doctor because they can prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Optometrists can conduct vision tests and eye tests and will monitor conditions that affect eyesight, such as diabetes. During eye exams, optometrists can detect eye conditions like cataracts or glaucoma.
The requirements to become an optometrist begin with a bachelor’s degree in pre-med. Candidates must then pass a test called the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) and graduate from a 4-year optometry school with a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. The last step in the optometry preparation process is to pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) exam to be licensed.
Taking care of your eyes is an essential part of your overall health. Optometrists may have a private office, work in an office with other eye doctors, or work at a retail store that sells eyeglasses. If you have vision problems or a disease that compromises your eyesight (like diabetes), visit an optometrist at least every two years. If your eye problem becomes serious, or you need eye surgery, the optometrist may refer you to an ophthalmologist.
Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats problems with the ears, hearing, and balance. These workers can determine if a client is hard of hearing and, if so, how severe the client’s hearing loss may be. If a listening device (like a hearing aid) can help the client, the audiologist can prescribe a hearing aid. When a client wonders about a company’s hearing aids price, they will discover that it depends on the type of hearing aid.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, someone who wants to become an audiologist will get a doctorate in audiology. They would then take an exam called a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A.) After being certified, they would become licensed and work in a solo practice or with another doctor.
Many people don’t realize that audiologists also work with people with balance problems. Our balance is controlled within the inner ear, and a problem or infection in the ear can interfere with it. An audiologist can prescribe medication to correct dizziness. For ongoing balance problems, an audiologist may refer you to a specialist in balance disorders who can prescribe exercises or corrective movement recommendations to decrease the balance disorder.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist is a healthcare pro who helps clients who are injured or who have conditions that cause them chronic pain. Physical therapists use their knowledge of the body to provide treatment plans, which use exercise to help their clients regain their maximum mobility.
Some exercises done in a physical therapy treatment occur on machines, much like the exercise machines in a gym. Physical therapy treatment plans may begin with small movements that help the client work toward optimum mobility. Physical therapists also use heat or cold to help the muscles heal before and after exercise. Part of the program will include the therapist teaching you how to continue the exercise program at home.
Preparation to be a physical therapist requires a doctoral degree in physical therapy. Some physical therapy courses are designed so that an undergraduate course lasts three years and then connects directly to a three-year doctorate course. After those six years of study, the physical therapist will be able to work in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or physical therapy clinic.
Veterinarian
If you have a pet, you know how much it means to you, and how essential it is to your mental health. Therefore, although a veterinarian doesn’t treat your health, their care for your furry friends will be important. Most people know a veterinarian is a healthcare professional who examines and provides care for animals. As a pet owner, you will be responsible for choosing from local veterinarians to find one for your pet.
New pet parents must bring their animals to a veterinarian as soon as possible after arriving at your home. Pets need shots from the pet doctor to keep them safe and healthy. After their initial visit, pets should have annual checkups. Pet parents can also bring their pets in case of injury or illness.
As you can see, keeping yourself healthy can take some effort. However, now you know there is more than one healthcare pro you can count on to help or guide you. You may not need all these healthcare professionals, but it’s good to understand what they can do for you, in case you need them in the future. Here’s to your good health!
