Like the rest of your body, the best path leading to good dental health is prevention. The best prevention requires regular visits to the general dentist, who monitors what’s going on in your mouth. As the gatekeeper of your overall oral health, the general dentist is the first line of defense against serious dental problems.
What They Do
General dentists diagnose, treat, and manage a patient’s oral health care needs. They provide the services you associate with most dental issues.
- Gum care
- Root canals
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Regular cleaning, and
- Preventive education.
Veneers
Dental veneers are thin layers placed over teeth to improve a tooth’s appearance and protect it from further damage. Veneers are the best corrective option for chipped, stained, cracked, or misaligned teeth. For older patients, veneers provide the perfect answer to tooth yellowing brought on by lost enamel. Most dentists offer veneers as part of their treatment menu and can recommend if veneers are right for you.
Veneers have the added advantage of improving the health of your teeth and gums beyond their cosmetic value.
- Aligned teeth are easier to brush and floss.
- Teeth with worn enamel are more susceptible to decay.
- Worn enamel leaves dentin layers exposed and subject to tooth sensitivity.
An Ounce of Prevention
General dentists recommend dental checkups every six months. “But my teeth are fine,” you say. While that may be true for now, regular checkups head off potential problems before they start. Anyone who has ever experienced a toothache in the middle of the night understands the importance of nipping problems in the bud.
Cleaning is essential. In the interest of good dental hygiene, your dentist will recommend regular six-month cleanings. This is particularly vital to controlling plague, which builds up over time and results in gum disease; the primary culprit in tooth loss. Plague buildup also harbors bacteria that cause both tooth decay and bad breath.
Limitations of General Dentistry
Beyond what dentists do some more involved treatments are better dealt with by specialists. They may suggest a periodontist for advanced gum disease, an endodontist for tricky root canals, or an orthodontist to fit braces.
General dentistry represents your primary defense against tooth loss. Your dentist is an integral part of your overall oral and physical health. Choose wisely.
The Douglas Family Dentistry Experience
If you live in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or the surrounding communities, Douglas Family Dentistry offers the best in general dentistry in a friendly professional atmosphere for patients from kids to adults and seniors. Call us at 480-948-3680 or go to our website to schedule a free consultation.
