What does a dentist do?

There are many different procedures that a dentist dumfries virginia might do when it comes to your upcoming appointment. A licensed dentist must have completed a minimum of four years of studying the sciences in undergraduate school before moving on and studying for four more years focusing on a specific discipline in the dental sciences.  The ADA, or America Dental Association, recognizes nine special branches or disciplines in dentistry. Let’s start with your general family dentist and the efforts this office makes to maintain preventive dental care for your oral hygiene and then we’ll briefly address some of the most common specialty areas and procedures.

What Procedures will your Family Dentist Perform?

It has been proven and reinforced by the health industry that two visits a year to your family dentist is a good start to exercising preventive dental measures. The examinations each visit will include a full evaluation of the condition of your teeth, your gums, your tongue and any soft tissue. A set of x-rays is encouraged to monitor what is going on below the gumline. The office will continue a history to document your exams such that any changes can be recorded or addressed. The next step in the exam is the probing of the teeth to see if any enamel is becoming soft which is the result of disease and cavities. Your bite pattern is checked which is important with the development of children. They will examine the condition of your gums and the depth of the pockets around each tooth. If they find a pocket that exceeds the desired depth it is a first indicator of gum disease. The dentist will always do an oral screening checking your tongue, cheeks, neck and lips for any sign of oral cancer.

Your visit will wrap up with a professional cleaning of your teeth, removing the unwanted buildup of plaque. Plaque results in cavities and gum disease.

Common Specific Procedures

Many patients chose to have their teeth whitened at the dental office. The results are better and quicker than any at home kits. If it has been determined that you have a cavity the dentist will remove the diseased tissue and fill the hole with a filling. If you have progressive gum disease the dentist may refer you to a periodontist who specializes in the soft tissue who may do deep scaling and root planing to remove the plaque that is the source of the gum disease. You may need an endodontist to perform a root canal procedure if you have a cracked tooth that has become infected.

An orthodontist will specialize in the proper alignment of the teeth and will apply orthodontic braces that move the teeth or introduce you to computer generated trays that can relocate your teeth as well.

You might have a dentist suggest that a gap be addressed between two teeth, or a crack or chip to be covered up. A cosmetic dentist will specialize in the application of porcelain veneers, or the procedures associated with dental implants, or dental bridges or the multitude of dentures available today.

Your oral health plays a large role in who you are and is an integral part of your entire body makeup. Your dentist is a valuable member of your health team.

More on General Dentistry : Holistic Dentistry

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