In the last 15 years, dentistry has reaped significant benefits from technological advances that now provide patients better short- and long-term care. General dentistry is a term used to encompass a broad range of services that involve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions, disorders and diseases affecting the teeth, gums and maxillofacial (associated with the jaw and face) regions of the body.
Common General Dentistry Treatments
Teeth Cleaning
Plaque is the bacteria that accumulates on teeth. While small amounts of plaque are harmless, as plaque builds, it starts to release acids that eat away at the teeth. With all the crevices and fissures in normal teeth, it is very difficult to remove plague through brushing alone.
Removing dental plaque, or tartar, from the teeth by regular teeth cleanings can significantly reduce a person’s risk of developing cavities, gingivitis and gum disease. When left untreated for too long, plaque starts to work its way beneath the gum line making it impossible to remove through brushing or a normal cleaning.
In the cases where plaque has built up underneath the gum line, a procedure known as deep cleaning may be required. During a deep cleaning, the plaque is removed from underneath the gums.
Sealants
Sealants have only been available for dental treatment since the 1970′s so many patients have never had the chance to benefit from their use. Sealants are a transparent plastic coating over the biting surfaces of the teeth that protect them from bacteria and resulting cavities. The ideal time to apply sealants is when the adult teeth first show up in children, typically around the ages of 5 to 7. But, sealants can be applied at any age to healthy teeth. Sealants provide low-cost prevention and greatly reduce future dental problems.
Metal-free Fillings
Though teeth may look smooth from the front, the biting surfaces of teeth are very rough and provide a great place for bacteria to collect and eat away at the tooth enamel. When this happens, a filling provides a relatively easy solution and prevents additional problems that can lead to a root canal and crown. Improvements in dental materials means that fillings are now tooth colored making them not only effective but cosmetically attractive.
X-Rays and Panoramic X-Rays
Because teeth are bones, they are much easier to diagnose with the use of X-Rays. Highland Park Dental makes use of traditional X-Rays for examining a single tooth, but we also make good use of Panoramic X-Rays that give us a picture of the entire jaw. For kids, this is especially important to help understand how adult teeth are forming.
Bite Guard
Bite guards, also called night guards or Occlusal splints, help protect teeth at night from clenched jaws and teeth grinding. These problems easily lead to rapid teeth wear and headaches.
