General dentistry focuses on preventative and restorative treatments that help keep your teeth and gums healthy. The American Dental Association recommends visiting a dentist at least twice a year. These visits combined with good oral hygiene make up the foundation of preventative dentistry.
Let us take a look at a few ways that general dentistry helps keep the teeth and gums healthy during routine dental visits.
Teeth cleaning treatments involve removing plaque and tartar from teeth surfaces. Plaque is a film that builds up in the mouth, and it contains bacteria and acids. It can be removed by brushing and flossing, but its calcified version, tartar, cannot.
A general dentist removes tartar from teeth during teeth cleaning treatments with a tool called a scaler. The procedure also involves polishing the patient’s teeth to make it harder for tartar deposits to build up on their teeth.
Most people will deal with issues like tooth decay at some point in their lives, regardless of how well they take care of their teeth. Regular dental appointments enable the dentist to notice such issues because they cause significant damage to teeth.
The early detection of dental problems can also lead to lower dental bills because it is harder to treat dental issues that have been allowed to fester. For example, the early stage of tooth decay can be reversed with fluoride treatments, one of the most affordable treatments provided by dentists. However, unchecked tooth decay can leave a tooth’s pulp chamber compromised, requiring expensive treatments, like a root canal and the placement of a crown.
Oral cancer screens are often performed during routine dental checkups. The dentist does this by looking for abnormal growths or tumors in the patient’s mouth. Oral cancer can be a life-threatening condition, but that rarely is the case when it is detected early.
Regular visits to a dentist allow for the early detection of periodontal disease, which is linked to health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and pneumonia. Gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, can be reversed with improved oral hygiene and deep cleanings, so early detection is crucial.
Gingivitis can eventually evolve into periodontitis, a chronic inflammation of the gum tissues that cannot be reversed. It makes the patient vulnerable to health issues like cardiovascular disease, and it is the primary cause of adult tooth loss.
The routine dental appointment gives the dentist a chance to address cosmetic issues and any existing damage to the patient’s teeth. As a result, the patient gets a healthy-looking smile that they can be proud of, which can give them a confidence boost.
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