There are many different branches of dentistry. General dentists, for example, specialize in diagnosing urgent dental conditions and providing routine exams and cleanings to patients. Go here https://www.drpierre.com.au/ to read more.
Dental Implications
The best way to keep a person’s teeth healthy is to provide them with regular dental visits. A general dentist provides their patients with these preventive services in order to reduce the risk of periodontal disease, tooth decay, oral cancer and other serious mouth health problems.
Just as general doctors may suggest different types of treatment and/or medication, general dentists may also recommend that their patients get root canals, crowns and bridges, tooth removals, fluoride treatments and preventive care. A dentist will generally provide recommendations for the patient to consider with regards to the best methods of maintaining oral health.
The standard dental procedures that are regularly performed with patients who visit a general dentist include:
- Periodontal care. This is the cleaning and treatment of the teeth that are closest to the gum line. It involves cleaning around the tooth and gum tissues, as well as regenerating tissue that has been damaged or removed by decay or trauma. The procedure may involve removing plaque or gingivitis bacteria using a floss with an electric brush, irrigation or suction while cleansing instruments are used on the areas of plaque build-up and gingival inflammation to remove them surgically.
- Oral cancer inspections. This is done by using a rubber/handled brush or an ultrasonic cleaning device to clean the patient’s teeth, while the dentist examines the mouth tissues for signs of oral cancer. During a biopsy, a sample of tissue may be taken (in order to have it examined under a microscope or analyzed in ways that can help determine its nature).
- Crowns and bridges. These are dental prosthetic devices created to replace missing teeth, as well as perform other functions. The procedure involves dentists removing damaged teeth and making impressions of the surrounding area in order to create crowns for the replacement teeth. If a patient desires, they can also have bridgework installed.
- Tooth extractions. This is done in order to treat existing dental problems. The dentist will use local or general anesthesia to sedate the patient before removing the tooth completely. The other option in this situation is to remove only the diseased tissue, leaving behind the root of the tooth so that it can heal over time.
- Dentures and mouth guards. Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and tissue after extractions have been performed and new implants have been inserted into the jaw area.
