General dentistry is the primary branch of dentistry that focuses on general oral health.
It covers various therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive procedures to preserve, enhance, and protect oral health.
Importance of regular dental checkups
Your dentist carefully examines your teeth, gums, and oral tissues during regular dental checkups.
Scheduling regular visits allows you to:
Prevent dental problems: These routine visits help prevent dental issues by early identifying and treating gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer.
Maintain oral hygiene: Your dentist will guide you on brushing, flossing, and other practices. However, you must follow these instructions and maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine at home.
Regular appointments develop a trustworthy relationship with your dentist, making it easier to address concerns, discuss treatment options, and ask questions about your oral health.
The numbers below show just how common dental problems really are, which explains why general dentists play such a crucial role in maintaining oral health:
- 1 in 5 adults (21%) aged 20-64 have untreated cavities
- 45.8% of youth aged 2-19 have dental caries (treated or untreated)
- 91% of US adults aged 20-64 have had dental caries
- 13.2% of adults 65+ have complete tooth loss
Role of general dentists in oral health
General dentists serve as your first line of defense against oral health problems. They focus on protecting teeth and gums through preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
Preventive care General dentists offer a full range of services, starting with preventive care like routine checkups, cleanings, and oral cancer screening.
Diagnostic services. When problems are found, they provide diagnostic services to identify conditions like gum disease and cavities.
Restorative treatments include fillings, crowns, and bridges to repair and restore damaged teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of your smile through teeth whitening, veneers, and composite bonding procedures.
Oral Surgery: Extracting teeth and taking biopsies
Treatment Planning: Preparing detailed treatment plans to address your oral health needs.
General dentists are dedicated to helping you achieve and preserve your best possible dental health for life.
Benefits of General Dentistry
Regular dental checkups and professional care offer numerous advantages:
Early detection of oral health problems
Early Detection: Regular checkups let your dentist catch problems like cavities or gum disease before they become serious.
Proactive Care: Preventive treatments like sealants, fluoride applications, and regular cleanings help you control your oral health by preventing decay and disease before they start.
Maintenance of overall well-being
The link between oral and Systemic health: General and oral health are closely related. Regular dental care reduces the risk of developing systemic diseases like diabetes and heart disease and helps prevent the spread of bacteria.
Improved Quality of Life: Healthy teeth and gums help people live better lives by reducing pain, discomfort, and humiliation related to dental issues.
Increased Self-Confidence: A healthy and attractive smile boosts self-esteem and confidence.
People can benefit from a healthy smile and improved general well-being by prioritizing their dental health.
Common General Dentistry Procedures
Dental cleanings and exams
Preventive dental care mainly involves regular cleanings and checkups. Your teeth, gums, and oral tissues are thoroughly examined during these visits.
Early Detection saves money and discomfort. A small cavity caught early might need just a simple filling, while one that’s ignored could require a root canal.
Professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar buildup that brushing and flossing alone can’t eliminate.
Oral cancer screening, a component of routine examinations, allows for early detection and treatment of oral cancer.
Oral Hygiene advice helps you know about appropriate brushing, flossing, and maintaining good oral health.
Fillings and restorations
Dental fillings repair cavities or restore minor chips and cracks in teeth. By discussing your treatment options, your dentist can help you decide which kind of tooth filling is best for your case.
There are many different types of dental fillings, which are classified as either indirect or Direct. Direct fillings are created and placed in your mouth during a single office visit, while indirect fillings are made in a lab and then inserted into your mouth by your dentist.
Direct fillings
Dentists create and place direct fillings in your mouth without needing a dental laboratory or temporary restoration. A direct filling is done during a single visit.
What are the commonly used direct fillings?
Amalgam, a silver-colored filling material, contains mercury combined with copper, tin, zinc, and silver.
Composite Resin is tooth-colored. It has a resin base with powdered quartz, silica, or glass.
Glass ionomer is white in color. It’s composed of powdered silica glass.
Indirect Fillings
Indirect fillings are custom-made restorations created in a dental laboratory. Unlike direct fillings, which are placed during your appointment, indirect fillings require two visits—one for impressions and another for placement.
However, if your dentist uses CAD/CAM technology, they may be able to create and place your indirect filling in a single appointment.
Inlays and onlays are two common types of indirect fillings. Dentists use them when a tooth has extensive damage that is too much to warrant a dental crown. Indirect dental fillings are made with metal alloys, ceramics, resin-based composites, and metal-ceramics.
Root canals
When tooth decay reaches the inner pulp, root canal treatment becomes necessary. During this procedure, your dentist removes the infected tissue, thoroughly cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals it to prevent further infection.
Eliminating bacteria from the infected root canal prevents the infection from spreading and preserves the natural tooth. Despite their reputation, modern root canals are typically painless and highly effective. Once complete, your tooth will function normally for chewing and look natural.
Your dentist will examine the tooth, apply a local anesthetic, make an opening in the crown, clean the pulp and root, fill the canals with a biocompatible substance, and seal them with adhesive cement. After the treatment, a crown or restoration is needed to protect and restore the tooth to full function.
Tooth extractions
Extraction becomes necessary when a tooth is impacted (unable to erupt) or badly damaged/ decayed beyond repair.
What are some of the common reasons for Tooth Extraction?
Impacted Teeth: Wisdom teeth that are impacted or causing issues must be extracted.
Severe Tooth Decay: A tooth is severely damaged and cannot be restored or repaired with a filling or crown.
Injury: A severely damaged tooth due to trauma may require extraction. Gum Disease: In the later stages of gum disease, teeth with significant bone loss may require extraction.
Treatment for Orthodontics: Sometimes, a tooth must be extracted to allow other teeth to align correctly.
The extraction procedure
Local anesthesia is used to numb the area surrounding the tooth. The dentist then loosens the tooth from the socket and extracts it. Sometimes, the dentist might contour the bone and gum tissue to encourage appropriate healing. In certain situations, stitches might be required to close the extraction site.
Recovering after dental extraction
Over-the-counter pain medicines can help manage the pain and discomfort. Eat a soft diet for the first few days to avoid irritating the extraction site. After a few days, gently brush and floss the area surrounding the extraction site.
Gum disease treatment
There are two stages of gum disease:
Gingivitis is an early stage marked by red, swollen, and bleeding gums
Periodontitis is an advanced stage involving bone loss and loosening of the teeth
Treatment options include scaling and root planing, antibiotics, and surgery for more severe instances. Regular dental examinations, proper oral hygiene, and giving up smoking are all important in preventing gum disease.
Similarly, excellent dental hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing twice a day and using mouthwash, helps prevent plaque development, and regular checkups and cleaning can help in the early detection of gum disease.
Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups
Routine dental examinations are necessary to maintain good oral health and avoid major dental issues. By making regular appointments, you invest in your general health.
Frequency of dental visits
Different dental checkup frequencies are advised depending on each person’s unique oral health needs. Dental experts recommend a cleaning and checkup at least twice a year.
Oral cancer screenings
During your dental check-up, your dentist will perform an oral cancer screening, which involves a thorough examination of your mouth, lips, tongue, and throat for any signs of abnormalities. Early detection of oral cancer increases the chances of a successful treatment.
Monitoring of oral health changes
Regular exams allow your dentist to monitor your oral health over time, such as the development of cavities, gum disease, and other oral problems. Catching problems early often means simpler, less expensive treatment—a small filling instead of a root canal, for example.
FAQS
How often should I visit the dentist?
Dentists recommend a checkup and cleaning at least twice a year. However, this can vary depending on individual oral health needs.
What happens during a dental checkup?
A dental checkup typically includes a complete teeth, gums, and oral tissues assessment. Your dentist may also take X-rays, clean your teeth, and apply fluoride if needed.
Both Amalgam and Composite fillings can fail over time. Fractures and secondary caries are the main reasons for their failure (Alanazi et al., 2019).
Conclusion
Dental health is essential for overall health and well-being. Routine dental exams and professional care can avoid major dental issues, improve your smile, and raise your quality of life.
Early detection and treatment are the key to preventing problems and costly procedures. Remember that a healthy smile represents your general health and is not simply about looks. To enjoy the benefits of a confident and healthy smile, schedule routine dental exams and prioritize good oral hygiene.
