Services

Services

Many people only visit the dentist when their teeth ache, or they had an injury to their teeth. For this reason, people cannot describe exactly what a dentist does. There is more to a dentist than tooth extractions and filling. Let’s take a look at some of the services offered by a dentist. We will divide them into three.

1. Restorative dentistry
2. General dentistry
3. Cosmetic dentistry

Restorative Dentistry

When we talk about restorative dentistry, what we are looking at are procedures done by a dentist to ensure one’s mouth and teeth are in good functioning condition. It is usually carried out when the patient’s teeth have damage or break for any reason. Here are some of the procedures that fall under this category:

  • Root Canals: this is when the dentist removes the infected pulp and nerve in the tooth’s root. The dentist will then clean and shape the inside of the root canal and fill and seal the space. It is necessary when the inside of your root decays, yet the crown is not affected.
  • White filling: this type of filling is done when there is a crack in the tooth that causes pain. The dentist fills up this space with white-color composites s that it looks as natural as possible.
  • Crowns and bridges: this procedure is done over damaged teeth. The dentist will map out one’s tooth and create a crown that goes over it. In this way, one can go one using their teeth as normal.
  • Gum Bridges: gum treatment is done to replace missing teeth.
  • Mouth scaling: inflammation and clear out any infections that may be in the gums. Inflamed gums are often painful and can lead to bleeding when one bites int something or brushes their teeth. They also cause the mouth to have a bad odor.

Restorative procedures are often done when there is a necessity. Without these procedures, one might not function properly since many of these conditions tend to cause a lot of pain to the patients.

General Dentistry

As the name suggests, this is a branch of dentistry that offers general services to patients. It is what the dentist will handle on a day to day basis. Many dentists start as general dentists before specializing in the other two categories. Some of the procedures that are carried out here are:

  • Oral health: here, the dentist offers consultation to the patient and lets them know which hygiene practices best suit them. Even though many people find teeth brushing and oral hygiene to be a habit, there are still people who struggle with this. In letting the patients know how they can take care of their teeth better. The patient can prevent issues that might need advanced procedures.
  • Extractions: extractions mean the dentist takes out a tooth, it may be because the tooth is too damaged to be repaired, or in some cases, wisdom teeth are extracted because they are growing facing the wrong direction. It is one of the most common dental procedures.
  • Sealants: sealants are applied to teeth with cracks to seal them up and prevent further damage.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of one’s dental appearance. One can do without these procedures and still be healthy. It is one of the most sought-after categories in dentistry. These are the procedures involved in this branch of dentistry:

  • Teeth whitening: at one point or another, our teeth might get stained. It may be because of the water we take, smoking, or not brushing your teeth. While the discoloration might not cause any pain, it can bring down one’s esteem. During teeth whitening, the dentist will clean the teeth to restore its original color. Many Americans are so obsessed with this procedure that they are known to have the whitest teeth worldwide. When overdone, it increases tooth sensitivity.
  • Veneers: These are materials called veneers that are put on teeth to improve their general appearance.

Even though these procedures are done to improve one’s dental appearance, they should only be done by professionals. It will avoid one getting into accidents that might ruin their entire dental formula.

General Steps to Take Care of your Oral Health

While it might seek something everyone should know, there are still people who have no idea how to take care of their teeth. With these few steps, they should be on the right path to better oral help. It can also help avoid having to pay huge amounts of money at the dentist.

  • Brush your teeth after meals. It will eliminate the food remaining in your teeth and help prevent cavities in the long run.
  • Floss regularly. Flossing will help remove food particles between teeth, which might cause bad odor in the long run or even cavities. Ensure you use dental approved floss and do not overdo this as you might damage your teeth in the process.
  • Avoid eating too many sugary foods. Sugar is the number one cause of tooth decay. Soft drinks have been known to cause tooth decay faster than any other sugars. While this is something, you can still enjoy, limit your sugar intake. Ensure to brush your teeth right after indulging in the sugary snacks.
  • Eat foods rich in calcium. The teeth are made of calcium. In eating foods rich in it, you help your teeth to grow strong. You can also couple this up with fruits and vegetables. Vegetables like carrots offer exercise for the teeth.
  • Schedule regular dental visits. Seeing a dentist often will help you spot any issues as soon as they start, and you can correct them before they get worse.

Oral hygiene is essential to each one of us. While it might not seem so, not taking care of your teeth will have an overall impact on your health. I hope with these few pointers, you now know why you need to see a dentist regularly and what to expect when you get there.