During regular dental visits, a general dentist can identify signs of oral disease and treat them before they worsen. This helps you avoid costly treatments in the future, such as tooth restoration. Aesthetic procedures are a great way to improve the overall look of your smile, and they can help you boost your confidence and self-esteem. However, it’s important to note that there are some significant differences between aesthetic and cosmetic general dentistry.
General dentists also monitor broader health issues, such as diabetes and respiratory problems. They can offer nutritional guidance and advice on quitting smoking to improve your overall health.
Cost-effective treatment options
General dentists emphasize regular examinations and cleanings to identify dental problems early on. This prevents the progression of oral diseases, which could cause pain and lost time at work or school. It also saves patients money in the long run, as more extensive treatment is avoided.
Besides routine exams and cleanings, general dentists offer a variety of restorative procedures like fillings and crowns. In addition, they provide more advanced sedation options such as intravenous (IV) sedation. This is a more controlled and predictable method of sedation, which makes it ideal for complex dental procedures or severe dental anxiety.
Some general dentists are also trained in oral surgery and can perform simple tooth extractions. However, a more extensive surgical procedure may require the expertise of an oral surgeon or prosthodontist, who specialize in the creation and fitting of dental prosthetics like dentures. This is particularly true if the patient requires a replacement for an entire arch of teeth or needs to address problems caused by a missing tooth.
Comprehensive care
Unlike specialist dentists who focus on certain areas of oral health, general dentists are trained to deal with a wide range of issues. They can do everything from filling cavities to removing impacted wisdom teeth. They can also help you get dental implants, restore chipped teeth, and provide root canal treatment.
The first step is an oral exam, which is performed using specialised tools to assess the condition of your mouth and teeth. This is essential as it allows the dentist to spot any problems early and respond to them before they worsen.
This is especially important as many oral diseases progress slowly and only become noticeable when they are in the advanced stages. Moreover, the earlier these diseases are caught, the easier it is to treat them. Thus, regular visits to the dentist can save you from having to spend a lot of money on costly treatment later.
Preventive care
General dentists offer a wide range of preventive services that aim to improve the oral health of patients and reduce the risk of developing more invasive dental concerns. Some of these procedures include dental fillings and dental crowns to repair cavities, gum disease treatments, and professional cleanings. They also provide teeth whitening and veneers to restore the appearance of natural teeth and help patients feel confident about their smiles. In addition, they offer dental implants and dentures to replace missing teeth and promote oral health.
Regular dental visits and comprehensive exams are essential for optimal oral health. They allow dentists to monitor your oral health, spot problems early on, and provide guidance and tips on how to better care for your teeth at home. Some of the most common preventive procedures performed by general dentists include dental fillings to treat mild to moderate cavities, and tooth restoration with dental crowns for severe cavities. They also perform extractions to remove troublesome or damaged teeth and impacted wisdom teeth that cannot break through the gum.
Aesthetics
When it comes to your smile, you want to be sure that it not only looks healthy and functional but also displays your personality. This is why many general dentists offer a range of cosmetic procedures, including teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, and porcelain veneers.
Aesthetic dentists are skilled in delivering results that are natural-looking and pleasing to the eye. Aesthetic procedures can address problems like broken, chipped, misaligned, or misshapen teeth. They can also correct gummy smiles (when more tooth surface is exposed than you’d prefer) and dental gaps.