3 Ways Your General Dentist Protects Your Teeth

General dentistry is the practice of preventing, identifying, diagnosing, and treating conditions that affect the teeth, gums, and jaw. To practice general dentistry, dentist must complete dental school and pass state licensing exams. This education enables them to have a broad knowledge about the oral and maxillofacial region. 

Much of general dentistry is devoted to preventing dental issues from occurring. In fact, the best way of dealing with dental issues is simply to prevent them or to catch and treat them as soon as possible. Preventative treatments decrease the risk of developing dental issues, as well as decrease the severity if a dental issue were to occur. Here are three ways that general dentistry protects your teeth: 

Regular Dental Exams

The American Dental Association recommends that you should visit your dentist’s office at least once every six months. This is because regular dental exams allow your dentist to become familiar with your oral health so that they can notice the first signs of possible dental issues. Additionally, some dental issues do not have immediate or recognizable symptoms, so you may not even know that something is wrong. General dentists are able to identify these unrecognizable symptoms and can correct the problem before it causes you any trouble. Although some types of restorative dental treatments can be costly, the sooner treatment is performed, the less treatment is required, meaning that the treatment will also be more affordable. 

Dental X-Rays

Just as your general dentist protects your teeth by regularly examining the outer structures, they will also need to examine the underlying structures. As mentioned before, not all dental issues cause immediate or recognizable symptoms. Some dental issues are also not immediately visible during an oral exam and can only be identified by examining a dental x-ray. For example, impacted wisdom teeth may not be visible during an exam, but they are immediately visible in an x-ray. There are also cases where a cavity may be between two teeth and can only be found through a dental x-ray. For these reasons, dental x-rays are regularly performed during your semi-annual dental appointment. For more information on dental x-rays, see “2 Types of Dental X-Rays”.

Professional Teeth Cleaning

The final way your general dentist protects your teeth is through professional teeth cleanings performed at your semi-annual dental appointment. Teeth cleanings are usually performed by a dental hygienist and consist of them removing plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. Both plaque and tartar provide an ideal living environment for the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Therefore, the more plaque and tartar you have, the higher the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. By reducing the amount of plaque and tartar, your dentist is decreasing your risk of developing these two major dental issues. Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed, a fluoride polish is often applied. Fluoride works to strengthen the enamel, making it more resistant to decay. It also makes it harder for future plaque to adhere to the enamel. 

Overall, general dentistry is devoted to protecting your teeth and maintaining your oral health. Regular dental exams, x-rays, and professional cleanings are three main ways that your general dentist protects your teeth and preserves your oral health. You only get one set of permanent teeth, so it is important to let your local general dentist take care of them.