General dentistry services are designed to improve a patient’s long-term oral health. Although the services offered by general dentists vary, common services include routine cleanings, cavity fillings, scaling and root planing, dental crowns, and root canal therapy.
On the first visit with a general dentist, they will conduct an oral examination and determine what treatments are necessary. They can put together a long-term treatment and prevention plan to not only restore any issues with the patient's oral health but also reduce the risk of future complications.
A routine dental cleaning is one of the most common dental procedures. If the general dentist determines that there are no oral health concerns that require treatment after examining the patient’s mouth and their dental X-rays, then they typically recommend a routine cleaning. This involves gently removing plaque and tartar build-up on the surface of teeth enamel and along the gum line. Routine cleanings are recommended once every four to six months.
Doing cavity fillings is relatively common among general dentistry practices. This is necessary when teeth enamel weakens and eventually erodes away. For weakened enamel only, the dentist may recommend a fluoride treatment. For more severe cavities, the dentist may recommend a root canal procedure. However, most cavities are treated through dental fillings, which involve removing the decay, filling the tooth with a tooth-colored material, and hardening the material.
Scaling and root planing, also called a deep dental cleaning, is necessary if periodontitis develops and threatens the patient's long-term oral health. The procedure involves cleaning below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar build-up, whereas a routine cleaning only involves cleaning at and above the gum line.
A dental crown can restore a severely weakened or damaged tooth for the long term. Different types of crown material can be chosen based on the location of the tooth and the patient’s preference. It is a relatively non-invasive procedure and can save a tooth from becoming lost. Crowns can last for more than a decade with proper care.
Root canal therapy is performed in general dentistry to treat deep tooth decay or an oral infection that extends to the tooth root. The procedure involves drilling to access the root of the tooth, removing the infected pulp inside the pulp chamber found in the tooth root, and filling the cavity with a material known as gutta-percha. The general dentist then places a dental crown on the tooth to protect it from further harm and restore its appearance.
If you have not been to the dentist in more than six months, then contact our general dentistry practice today to arrange a visit. We would be glad to determine what your treatment needs are for ideal oral health and answer any questions or concerns that you may have about caring for your oral health between visits.
Request an appointment here: https://stunningsmilesoflakeforest.com or call Stunning Smiles of Lake Forest at (949) 258-7433 for an appointment in our Lake Forest office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentistry in Lake Forest, CA.
In general dentistry, tooth pain is a common problem that individuals deal with. Oftentimes, pain is the result of a different problem; however, the average person is not likely to be able to know what that problem is. Of course, the help of a general dentist will be required at some point. Nonetheless, it is…
Patients often want to know how they can take better care of their teeth. Along with treating and cleaning a patient's teeth, we will also use this time to educate the patient on proper at-home care techniques. The bottom line is that proper oral hygiene takes both the dentist and patient providing care. Proper dental…
As a dentist, we are often asked for different ways people can help boost their dental and oral health. This is a natural question, given that most people do not like spending a great deal of time at the dentist. While we definitely have a few ideas on the subject, it stands to reason that…
In our local dental office, we understand that most of our patients live on a budget and saving money is important. The larger your family is; the more important this can be as paying for medical bills for one person can be difficult, paying for six is even harder. As a family dentist, we want…
Wondering whether you can get cosmetic dentist treatments from a general dentist? Read on to…
Most people who use dentures will need denture repair at some point. Read on to…
Understanding the process that dentists use with dental bonding should help you decide if treatment…
How a Dental Sealant Protects Teeth from Cavities | Tooth decay tends to affect the…
If you want to find out why good everyday dental hygiene is important for preventive…
Find out how a filling works as a dental restoration. This article highlights some important…
