Understanding General Dentistry – Types of Treatment Procedures

Do you know that your mouth has a deep impact on many other parts of your body so much so that illnesses often get detected when you suffer the issue of inflamed or infected gums? Many dental problems affect both the teeth and gums, but some conditions also affect other aspects of one’s health. It is essential to get your dental health checked by a dentist. Dentists help keep your teeth and gums healthy by examining the mouth’s oral cavity and other anomalies. Typically, there are two types of dentists – general dentists, who have almost 80 percent presence in this field, and specialists. 

The teeth usually wear down every day, but you can keep a healthy smile with good maintenance from a dentist for a lifetime. As mentioned, your oral health often hints at the state of your overall health. So it’s essential to make regular visits to your favorite dentist for professional cleaning, exams, and other things to ensure that you have a great-looking white smile and excellent oral hygiene. A Plainview general dentist can be recommendable for cleaning and different dental needs. If they detect any major issue, they can even refer you to specialists, who can be a Periodontist or Orthodontist, depending on your oral health. Let’s learn about general dentists and their areas of expertise.

What do general dentists do?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Americans spend over USD 40 billion on dental care. They visit their dentist’s office for routine cleanings and checkups to prevent tooth loss and protect against serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and pneumonia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 65% of all dental treatments tend to be diagnostic or preventive. Regular visits to your trusted family dentist can help reduce oral disease from developing in the first place if strictly maintained. In most cases, these include a comprehensive investigation of your oral health – teeth, gums, and other structures. Cleaning and guidance around healthy teeth also form a part of the session.

You can classify the focus areas of general dentistry or your general dentist into the following:

Restorative procedures

Your dentist provides you with the support to deal with dental problems, whether you’ve broken a tooth or something lodged in one of your gums. Since not all dental issues need handling from dental specialists (who are better at dealing with complex cases), you can come to a general dentist for procedures like fillings and crowns/bridges specifically designed to replace an entire group of teeth. While common, that’s just one of many treatments offered by general dentists.

General dentists can verify any dental issues and then help to resolve them. They usually check up on each of your teeth, fix cavities, and ensure no other teeth problems are there. They also give estimates based on what options you have and may be able to work with you so that you have little to no out-of-pocket expenses. Some general dentists offer more advanced dental care options such as root canals and even dental implants.

Preventive services

Dentists are a lifesaver for keeping your teeth healthy and strong. They help you keep good oral health by bringing an end to disease before it takes hold in your mouth. Regular testing, including diagnostic images and professional dental cleanings, creates a strong foundation for preventing infections. They can also provide dental sealants to stop the issue of tooth decay from worsening. Your dentist may also instruct you about at-home oral care and maintenance plans. 

Cosmetic treatments

Many people dream of getting a sparkling smile. But not everyone gets what they’re looking for because their teeth aren’t naturally very white or because they have permanent and minor staining, among many other reasons. Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much. General dentists can help you with various cosmetic procedures to make your smile as beautiful as ever. These can include cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers, and teeth whitening. Custom dental whitening trays can be the most accessible and affordable option for fighting discoloration and staining challenges. Still, it can be ideal to allow the expert to do it for you instead of opting for them. 

While whitening trays are growing in popularity, they cannot make all your teeth sparkling clean and white, especially those in the back. You would also not know whether they are clean because of the limited view of those areas. However, when you let the dentist perform this task, they use all the right tools to give your teeth the desired appearance from the front to the back. More precisely, you can depend on them to provide your teeth with the best care and attention they need to remain healthy and trouble-free for a long time, causing fewer or no issues even when you age.

In many ways, your oral health has a connection to your general wellbeing. Similar issues may exist in both areas and could indicate underlying problems that require appropriate treatment and attention. For example, some dental infections can aggravate diabetes or affect cardiovascular health. Complications in pregnancy might arise as a result of untreated oral issues. Because of their training, general dentists can diagnose different problems and treat what they can to protect your oral and overall wellbeing. They can even recommend specialists where needed. Hence, it makes sense to make an appointment with them and get yourself checked regularly.

Some general dentists also offer family dental care services because some diseases occur due to hereditary conditions. Knowing the family history of medical conditions allows them to provide better attention to you and your members. They can suggest what you all need to be wary of and how. In essence, you can rely on your dentist to help you keep your teeth and gums safe from any ailment for a small fee, unless something significant accidentally happens. Either way, you don’t have to fret and feel frustrated when you have someone trusted by your side. You can directly approach them for a solution and get it fixed before it’s late.