A Closer Look at Preventive and Cosmetic Dentistry

Although every dentist’s main objective is your mouth’s healthy structure and function, there are many specialties within their field. During the regular bi-monthly consultations with dental practitioners, preventive dentistry usually occurs. With proper preventive dental care, many clients can avoid the referrals to more costly and invasive restorative or cosmetic treatments.

As pointed out earlier, there are many specializations in dental care; however, only preventive and cosmetic dentistry will be reviewed in this article. Continue reading to learn more about these fields.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry is likewise called preventative or general dental services. As the name suggests, it means any method to avoid having dental concerns. You often encounter the term at a dental clinic or being talked about online; it’s not a very common term to regular people due to its clinical nature.

The primary focus of preventive dental care is to keep you from having any dental concerns like tartar, periodontal disease, and other oral health concerns. You might be practicing good dental hygiene at home to keep your teeth healthy, but there are things that only your dentist can handle to maintain excellent oral health.

Many dentists recommend dental check-ups every six months; at these appointments, your dentist will likely perform the following procedures:

• Examine your teeth, gums, tongue, and other mouth areas for any issues.
• Perform oral cleaning to remove plaque and tartar deposits.
• Conduct screening for signs of oral cancer and other health problems.
• If needed, the dentist may apply specialized treatments such as fluoride treatment.
• The Southampton tooth extractions procedure will be necessary for decayed teeth that cannot be salvaged.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry takes care of improving the general appearance of your teeth. Although the procedures are generally elective rather than necessary, some methods can provide restorative advantages. Here are some standard cosmetic procedures:

• Inlays and Onlays – this treatment is likewise referred to as indirect fillings, which a dental laboratory makes. This is used when a tooth has mild to moderate decay and insufficient structure to support filling. Nevertheless, if a considerable section of the tooth is damaged, dental onlay is used to cover the tooth’s entire surface.
• Bonding – refers to repairing decayed, damaged, or tarnished teeth using a material with the same enamel color. The treatment includes drilling out dental caries, applying the composite on the tooth’s surface, and finishing off with high-intensity light curing.
• Veneers – generally made from medical-grade ceramic, dental veneers are custom-made caps that go over your natural teeth. It looks so realistic that it’s often used to solve cosmetic issues such as jagged or cracked teeth, noticeable gaps between two teeth, etc.
• Teeth Whitening – teeth may get a darker discoloration from foods, drinks, or clinical conditions over the years. A dental hygienist will first remove plaque, tartar, and other particles from your teeth; to resolve discoloration, the hygienist will apply some bleach agents to achieve a lighter color than the previous shade of your teeth.
• Braces – the goal is to correct the alignment of crooked teeth because straighter teeth are often healthier and a lot easier to take care of. Orthodontists usually use metal materials for braces to tighten up teeth back slowly.
• Implants – are used to replace lost or damaged teeth. A small titanium screw is inserted into the jaw at the gap site; this supports the crown. These implants are virtually indistinguishable from surrounding natural teeth.

Conclusion

Many dentists practice preventive or general dentistry; some specialize further in cosmetic, restorative, or implant dentistry. Going to consultation with dentists could be a little daunting. Nonetheless, a little research on what they do and what to expect for specific procedures will help you relax, and you’re less likely to think of a painful process.

A good dentist will always be mindful that you don’t have stressful experiences because he always wants you to return and entrust your oral care.