What Procedures Are Done in General Dentistry?

General dentists are considered the master of all trades in dentistry, offering a comprehensive line-up of procedures and treating patients of all ages. In addition, general dentists continue educating themselves after dental school but pursue additional education by attending webinars, seminars, lectures, and other courses.

You may think every dental problem needs help from a specialist with experience in the field. Unfortunately, most dentists specializing in orthodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, et cetera acquire extra training after dental school investing two or three years before they become specialists in the particular field. General dentists receive the training needed to manage and perform various dental procedures and begin practicing soon after graduating from dental school and acquiring a license. Therefore visiting a specialist for any dental issue doesn’t serve the purpose because they may not have the time or may need a referral from a general dentist before offering any treatments.

Who Are General Dentists?

General dentists are professionals in dentistry that start practicing soon after graduating from dental school instead of pursuing higher education, requiring additional investment of time and money. Approximately 80 percent of dentists in America are general dentists, and the other 20 percent include specialists in different divisions catering to the specific needs of patients. A general dentist can also perform most dental procedures that you think are better handled by specialists.

General dentists are your primary dental care providers whenever you need six monthly or more frequent dental exams, cleanings, or any other treatments, for your family’s needs. In reality, general dentists are the dental care providers you meet most often for problems related to your dental and oral health.

Which Dental Treatments Fall under General Dentistry?

When you visit general dentistry in Westchase, Houston, TX, you expect the dentist to perform visual exams to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, besides cleaning them to ensure dental plaque and tartar removal to prevent infections like tooth decay and gum disease. However, general dentists perform many other treatments beneficial for you and your family.

Besides examining and cleaning your teeth and gums, general dentists also take x-rays to detect infections between your teeth and in places invisible to the naked eye. In addition, they can provide fluoride treatments to adults and children, besides dental sealants on children’s molars, to prevent cavities from forming on their teeth.

Restoring teeth damaged by cavities is also a procedure general dentists perform routinely. For example, if you have silver fillings in your teeth which you feel are not aesthetic, you do not need to visit the cosmetic dentist near me to improve their appearance. Instead, the Westchase general dentistry facility can remove the silver fillings to replace them with tooth-colored fillers resembling your natural teeth to enhance your smile. In situations where you have deep decay in a tooth, professionals can perform root canals and restore the tooth with dental crowns.

Besides, general dentists might refer you to specialists if you need maxillofacial procedures, laser dentistry, or therapeutic procedures to replace missing teeth. Therefore the methods falling under general dentistry are numerous to benefit your and your family’s dental health.

Restorative Procedures

General dentists routinely perform many restorative procedures like dental fillings to fix permanent damage in your tooth cavities. If your tooth is severely damaged to require fortification, dentists can provide dental crowns or tooth-shaped caps to restore its strength, appearance, aesthetics, and functionality.

If your teenager has developed impacted wisdom teeth, Westchase dentists can help them remove the tooth in a surgical procedure requiring about 40 minutes or more for the removal. Similarly, if they have crowded and crooked teeth, general dentists can provide clearer aligners to straighten teeth and prevent infections from affecting them.

Preventive Care

General dentists emphasize preventive care such as brushing and flossing your teeth daily and getting six monthly exams and things to prevent infections from developing in your mouth to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. In addition, they advise you to have a nutritious diet to provide your teeth with the vitamins and minerals essential for them to remain in optimal shape.

Visiting general dentists as recommended by them at six months or earlier intervals helps prevent damage to your teeth while helping you save plenty of money on expensive and intensive dental treatments. In addition, if you have a general dentist for the entire family, you do not have to visit different practitioners for aesthetic, orthodontic, restorative, and routine exams and cleanings. All it requires is confidence in the professional because they can perform most procedures on patients to help them maintain excellent dental health.

Armstrong Katzmark, DDS, performs many dental procedures on patients visiting frequently or during emergencies. If you want a family dentist providing comprehensive treatment to all family members, kindly do not hesitate to see them for a free consultation today.