Dentistry is a medical practice that aims to prevent, diagnose, and treat all conditions and issues affecting the gums, teeth, and jaws. Apart from having an option to get general dental care, you may also receive specialized preventive care. We will give you further insight into general dentistry and preventive dentistry.
Laytonsville Dentists Office
A general dentist is a primary caregiver who caters to your oral health needs. General dentists are highly trained and well-educated healthcare professionals who can provide you with a range of dental care services as follows:
- Complete exams
- Dental cleaning
- Tooth fillings and root canal treatment
- Extractions
- Cosmetic dentistry procedures (teeth whitening, porcelain, and veneers)
- Dental implants
- Crowns and bridges
- Full and partial dentures
- Implants
- Orthodontics
- Oral appliances for control of sleep apnea and bruxism
- Preventive care
- Periodontal therapy
- Nutritional counseling
Preventive Dentistry
A more specialized form of dental care is preventive dentistry that general dentists do on a regular basis. Preventive dentistry is vital for proper dental maintenance, and it aims to prevent a patient’s need for extensive restorative or cosmetic procedures. Preventive dentistry utilizes regular maintenance procedures to restore your oral health that is affected by tooth decay and other diseases.
Standard maintenance procedures applied in preventive dentistry are professional cleaning, comprehensive examinations, gum disease treatment, dental fillings, sealants, and oral cancer screening.
Teeth Cleaning
Professional teeth cleaning involves the polishing and scaling of the teeth. The primary objective of this procedure is to remove plaque build up. Since the process is done very simply, it can be carried out by a dentist or dental hygienist. Depending on your hygiene and quality of saliva, treatment should be done every six to twelve months. One session last 30 minutes and it is completely painless.
Comprehensive Dental Exams
A comprehensive dental exam is carried out by using x-rays. Sometimes, tooth decay and other dental issues are hidden and cannot be noticed by the naked eye. A comprehensive exam is an effective method of monitoring the condition of your teeth and identifying tooth decay as early as possible. This type of exam also helps in detecting and treating periodontal disease early on.
Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal disease is an infection of the bone and tissues that support the teeth. If this is left untreated, it might lead to teeth crooked or loss of a tooth. Since neglecting treatment of gum disease may also result in extraction or surgery, early treatment of gum disease plays a critical role in preventive dentistry.
It is important to know that gingivitis is the less severe form of the periodontal disease. Gingivitis is characterized by swollen and red gums that may start bleeding easily when they are touched or when you brush your teeth. The main cause of this form of gum disease is poor or inadequate oral care. Gingivitis can be cured at home through proper and regular oral care.
Dental Fillings
Cracks and spaces in your teeth are susceptible to bacteria build up that may further damage tour teeth or cause tooth decay. To prevent this, your dentist will sturdy up the cracks and spaces in your teeth with dental fillings.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are protective coverings that cover the chewing surface of teeth, especially of the more prominent teeth such as premolars and molars. The primary purpose is to prevent tooth decay by sealing all the gaps and depressions on the surface of the tooth that cannot be cleaned adequately with brushing alone.
Sealants are mostly applied to children’s teeth. Since small children often don’t know how to brush their teeth thoroughly and adequately, dental sealants prevent the decaying of their teeth and the constant hassle or treating cavities.