General dentistry has come a long way from when it began ages ago. The way dental treatments and procedures are carried out has improved heaps from when Colgate used to mass produce toothpaste for the general public without too much emphasis on different kinds of utility for the product.
Modern general dentistry services are advanced and more nuanced, and health professionals have defined each sub-field more vividly. Today, general dentistry is all about fundamental procedures emphasizing tooth maintenance, comfortable dental care practices, and bio-compatible methods of tooth repair and preservation.
General dentists are the first to receive patients before they are referred to specialists in the profession. They cater to everything from dental consultations, oral examinations, and gum care to root canal therapies, teeth fillings, and many other dental treatments.
General dentists are also responsible for taking down important details when first attending to a patient while considering their overall health, so seeing a specialist is easier down the line. They are responsible for diagnosis, procedures and treatments, and management of the services provided for good oral health.
In this post, we will discuss what General Dentistry Services West Hills entail and how its different branches deal with different problems.
General Dentistry Services
General dentistry is broken down into four major sub-fields that deal with different types and levels of oral issues. Let’s take a look at each of them:
1. Preventive dentistry
Preventive dental care is all about routine checkups and maintenance of oral health. This branch of dentistry deals with regular dentist visits and healthy oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day and flossing. Some common services covered by preventive dentistry are:
- Regular oral examinations
- Oral screenings
- Teeth cleaning or scaling
- Routine X-Rays
Preventive dental care starts with the patient. A doctor will tell you about healthy dental care habits and how to implement them. Your oral health depends on the consistency of these habits.
Poor dental hygiene is the quickest way for a person to lose their health. Poor gum and teeth conditions can lead to tooth-damaging cavities, periodontitis, and gingivitis.
Preventative Dentistry Benefits
- Reduced risk for serious diseases such as gum decay
- Early identification of problems
- Reduces the risk of dental problems related to health issues such as diabetes, cancers, and other chronic illnesses.
2. Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is all about replacing or restoring damaged teeth to maintain the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your teeth. Restorative procedures include dental implants, veneers, dental crowns, bridges, and dentures.
With this branch of general dentistry, dentists recommend regular methods of dental care but even more so now that a foreign object has been inserted into the mouth. While porcelain and ceramic options for teeth replacement are the best out there, they still need extra care to make them last longer.
Even after such surgical procedures, you must visit your dentists bi-annually or quarterly to ensure no infections or inflammation issues occur. It is common for patients to experience pain and bleeding around the gums after failed restorative surgeries.
3. Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics has to do with making dental prosthetics for damaged or lost teeth. The word ‘prostho’ means replacement, while ‘dontist’ means teeth.
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist trained in aesthetical designing and crafting crowns, porcelain veneers, implants, and bridges. They also make mock-up mandibles and dentures for patients who require such surgeries and materials.
A general dentist might refer a patient to a prosthodontist when they have:
- Damaged teeth
- Missing teeth
- Facial pain
- Cosmetic worries or concerns
- TMJ disorders
Prosthodontics cosmetically and aesthetically improves an individual’s teeth and smile zone. Some benefits of a prosthodontic procedure include:
- Repairing damaged teeth
- Replacing missing teeth
- Improving the bite
- Resolving TMJ issues
4. Orthodontics
Orthodontics has strictly to do with fixing the teeth to straighten and align them with the rest of the mouth. This process fixes malocclusions, misaligned teeth, and even a gummy smile. Orthodontists help patients with abnormal teeth positions by treating the jaws and the face overall.
Orthodontics and Orthodontists specifically deal with providing services for cosmetic correction and aesthetically improving the symmetry of the face. In the long run, regular checkups and teeth alignment also help patients get rid of oral and dental diseases.
- Some benefits of orthodontic treatments are:
- Reducing the overcrowding of teeth for a more put-together smile
- Improving tooth function for a better bite and clearer speech
- Better self-esteem due to a brighter smile
General dentistry also provides general hygiene services, such as removing plaque and tartar from the teeth to prevent many serious periodontal diseases. A general dentist also takes care of dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and referrals to specialists such as orthodontists, prosthodontists, periodontologists, and even cosmetic specialists. Each branch of general dentistry deals with different types of issues but operates on the common principle of healthy oral and hygiene habits.
At West Hills Smiles, patient health and comfort are a top priority. Our team of experts works with cutting-edge technology to ensure minimally invasive procedures so patients can heal quicker. We offer general and Cosmetic Dental Services West Hills and have Emergency Dentist Woodland Hills at our clinic after business hours for patients in need.
We make sure to abide by the cleaning and sanitation standards of the American Dental Association, so you don’t have to worry about a thing when visiting us! We focus on quality experiences and have multiple relaxing amenities for adults and kids alike to relax at the clinic before or after surgery. We believe that a comfortable customer is a happy customer!
You can contact us to book an appointment or learn more about our general dentistry services here.