What Services Are Offered In General Dentistry?
General dentists are doctors who are the main providers of dental care to people of all ages. The most common dental care providers, or dentists near you, of course, are general dentists who make up an approximate 80 percent of practitioners.
General Dentistry provides primary dental care and is the arm of dentistry responsible for making diagnoses, proffering treatment, and overall management of your overall oral health care needs.
The services provided by general dentistry also include gum care, root canal, and fillings, as well as oral preventive education. However, that they are referred to as General Dentists doesn’t mean they do not carry out some specialized procedures. Eventually, they get to refer the cases that may seem difficult to handle.
What Services Do General Dentists Provide?
General dentists provide a wide array of services that are vital to your continued health, who unlike specialists like orthodontists or pediatric dentists are mostly focused on a particular aspect of dental practice. Some of these include:
Preventive services:
These services are provided to help you in the maintenance of good oral health by stopping disease before it takes hold in your mouth. These include regular exams (including diagnostic images such as x-rays) and professional teeth cleanings.
Restorative Services:
Services geared at restoration are probably the commonest provided. Dental restoration involves the removal of a decayed tooth and the placement of a filling in the affected tooth. Restorative procedures can be direct or indirect. Direct restorations are repairs made inside the mouth (e.g., cavity fillings). These restorations are also usually placed within one office visit. General dentists also offer indirect restoration procedures (materials made outside of the mouth based on an individual’s teeth impressions). However, unlike direct restoration options, they require at least two dental visits. Composite is a tooth-colored, adhesive bonding material made of acrylic resin. Composite is one of the most common restorative materials for cavity fillings, dental bonds, inlays, and veneers. Amalgam is a mixture of up to 54 percent mercury with silver, tin, and copper. This material is commonly used to restore teeth (premolars and molars).
Cosmetic Procedures:
Many general dentists can help you get the sparkling smile you’ve always wanted with a range of cosmetic procedures. These include teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding—even porcelain veneers. If a brighter smile is what you’re looking for, ask your general dentist about a smile makeover.
What Common Treatments Can I Get From A General Dentist?
Common General Dentist Services include:
Dental exams and teeth cleanings, X-rays, cavity fillings, root canal treatment, oral cancer screenings, tooth sealants, fluoride treatment, cosmetic dentistry procedures, and minor oral surgeries, such as tooth extractions. Other treatments could include: root canal treatment, sleep apnea treatment, gingivitis treatment, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) treatment, and screening for oral cancer.
How Does Someone Become A General Dentist?
General dentists complete their undergraduate education and then follow that up by complete four years at an accredited dental school. In addition to fulfilling the requirements of state licensing boards.
In addition to their standard training, some general dentists receive special training in particular areas—for example, implant placement, cosmetic procedures, or other therapies.
When Should I See The Dentist?
The American Dental Association recommends visiting a dentist every six months for preventative services—and otherwise, whenever you have concerns about your oral health, especially when there are symptoms such as a toothache or bleeding gums. As such, visit a General Dentist near you as soon as possible.
Depending on individual circumstances, your dentist may want to see you twice a year, every three months, or another interval. Whatever it is, honor the appointments as it’s all in your best interest. Keeping up with the recommended schedule of preventive treatment and practicing effective oral hygiene at home are the two best ways to prevent dental disease.
You can visit the Stockton dental office, to see a General Dentist in Stockton, or you search through your local directory to find a dentist near you.