General dentistry refers to the dental treatments used to maintain and improve your oral health. These treatments address common dental issues.
What Is General Dentistry?
General dentistry focuses on providing preventative care as well as routine restorative dental care. For this reason, general dentists are often called family dentists or primary care dentists. They generally offer services like teeth cleanings, tooth fillings, root canals, and dental crowns.
People of all ages should visit a general dentist on a regular basis for cleanings and examinations to check for tooth decay and general oral health issues. Children who are at higher risk for cavities may require fluoride treatments or other preventive treatments to reduce their risk of cavities. In addition, patients may need extractions of wisdom teeth, teeth grinding treatment, dental prosthetics, and other dental services to maintain their good oral health.
By visiting the dentist regularly for checkups, people can keep their smiles healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Common General Dentistry Procedures
General dentistry involves routine checkups and preventative care for the teeth. This usually includes an oral exam, teeth cleanings, dental X-rays, fluoride treatments, and other preventive services. These services are recommended twice per year or more frequently for patients with a high risk for tooth decay or other oral health issues.
Routine dental exams focus on monitoring the overall health of the mouth, including looking for signs of decay, gingivitis, oral cancer, and other issues.
Teeth cleaning is recommended at least twice annually to prevent plaque buildup. Plaque is a sticky film that builds up on the teeth and can lead to cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and other problems. Dental cleaning involves a deep cleaning between the gums and tooth structure, often with an ultrasonic instrument or handheld scaler. Dental sealants are also available to protect the molars from forming plaque buildup.
Fluoride treatments are also commonly provided during routine visits. These treatments are administered in the form of a rinse, foam, gel, varnish, or solution to strengthen the enamel and prevent the formation of cavities. In-office fluoride treatments and take-home mouthwashes are also available for patients to use daily at home.
Other general dentistry services include fillings to repair minor cavities and repair damaged areas of the tooth. Bonding is another common procedure that uses a tooth-colored resin material to fill in small gaps between teeth, repair chips in the teeth, and even conceal stains on the tooth enamel. Sealants and bonding are both cost-effective options when compared to veneers or crowns.
What Are The Benefits Of General Dentistry?
General dentistry exists to ensure patients maintain dental health throughout their lives. The benefits of general dentistry include the following:
- Detecting cavities before they become larger problems
- Treating tooth decay early on for a high success rate in the treatment
- Addressing gum disease in its earliest stages to avoid tooth loss or the need for extractions
- Preserving and restoring damaged teeth, including fillings and crowns
- Improving overall oral health with routine cleanings and exams
- Providing patients with education on proper at-home care routines
Please reach out to our Premier Arts Dental in Freehold, NJ, to have a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Shah. Please call us at (732) 334-7816 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.
