General Dentist `

Your ` General Dentist is your Defense Against Oral Diseases

Dentistry is the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions, disorders as well as diseases regarding the teeth, gums and maxillofacial (area regarding the face and jaw) parts of the body. Services provided by dentists concern the general maintenance of oral hygiene and tooth preservation.

Your ` General dentist is preferred to be preventative which is why regular checkups and maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial in preventing more serious dental problems from developing. The American Dental Association (ADA), the world’s largest and oldest dental association, advises that visits should be made to your dentist at least once every six months. These regular visits ensure proper hygiene and functionality in taking steps necessary to prevent costly treatment required for more serious problems concerning oral hygiene.

In order to diagnose and treat any problems as early as possible your ` general dentist will customize a dental hygiene plan best suited for you with dental examination, tooth cleaning, scaling if necessary, X-ray etc. In the case you may be susceptible to tooth decay or disease within the mouth, gums and/or tongue, your dentist may also chose to incorporate a variety of restorative procedures to prevent or repair effects of tooth decay, trauma and disease within your treatment plan.

Your ` General dentist is your primary defense against preventing and detecting problems concerning oral health. However, general dentistry does not end with preventative and restorative treatment; services include cosmetic solutions as well as many other dental care options. Should you require additional treatment that is not provided by your general dentist, you will be referred to a specialist who can best take care of your specific needs.

Dental Examination:

Your examination will be conducted by your ` dentist with the use of instruments, radiographs, tests paired with clinical knowledge to diagnose any future or existing disease and pathologies. Your individual plan is then devised to prevent and/or treat any oral hygiene problems detected. Patients who are interested in cosmetic dentistry will then be able identify and establish esthetic goals provided by their dentist.

Dental Procedures:

Dental Fillings: Treatment providing restoration to existing structural tooth damage which may be caused by tooth decay, trauma or wear and tear.  The affected tooth structure is removed and the tooth is then restored with a filling material such as amalgam, gold, composite resin which is the (tooth colored filling material), or porcelain. Every filling material comes with its own advantages and disadvantage which your dentist may then explain to help you determine which option is best suited for you

Bonding: The process is used to adhere materials such as composite resin to the tooth’s surface for restorative purposes. In cases of cracked or chipped teeth, a composite similar to the tooth’s enamel is applied to the surface of the tooth, esthetically sculpted, contoured and then polished making any imperfections virtually invisible.

Orthodontics: Both a functional and cosmetic treatment, orthodontics is a strategy used to straighten and correct deep bites or misaligned teeth with dental braces and retainers.

Root Canal: A treatment involving the removal of pulp tissue within the tooth’s roots that has become infected. To prevent further infection, the empty spaces where the pulp once existed is then filled with anti-bacterial filling and topped with a crown for protection. Dentists who specialize in root canals are known as endodontists. However, general dentists often perform this restorative procedure.

Dental Crown: The process used to restore severely decayed or damaged teeth may be comprised of gold materials, metal, porcelain or a combination of porcelain and metal. Ask your dentist if the crown procedure is available in office, if not you will likely be referred to a specialist.

Dental Bridge: A treatment used to replace missing teeth with artificial restorations known as pontics. The pontic is kept in place with composite material that is permanently fixed to the surrounding teeth.

Dentures: Prosthetic devices designed to replace missing or damaged teeth which cannot be restored otherwise. Conventional dentures are removable, yet there are many different designs some of which utilize bonding whereas others simply clasp onto teeth or are implanted by your dentist.

Periodontal (Gum Disease) and Treatment: Our mouths are full of bacteria which combine with mucus and other particles to form colorless and sticky plaque on our teeth. When brushing and flossing is not done regularly, plaque builds up and hardens on the teeth forming tartar which can only be removed by your dentist. Early treatment for periodontal disease may include a combination tooth cleaning, and scaling every three months to remove sub-gingival calculus (tartar) along with the use of medicated mouthwash such as Peridex and regular flossing. In later stages treatment may require deep plane scaling or even periodontal and laser surgery.

Laser Procedures: Laser dentistry can be used as an alternative to drilling teeth and procedures requiring more invasive equipment. Dental lasers are sometimes used in bonding teeth, the removal of tooth decay, as an alternative to scaling, tooth whitening, and even periodontal surgery.  Specialized treatment is always a factor in treating infant patients, young children, elderly or special needs.