General dentistry is a field that is concerned with the prevention of disorders, diseases and conditions that affect the maxillofacial region of the face, the teeth and gums. It also involves the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, diseases and disorders. The services provided within general dentistry are mainly geared toward general maintenance of dental health and oral hygiene. Because it is largely preventive, visits to a general dentist help save patients from huge costs that would otherwise be incurred if serious dental conditions occur.
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General dentistry is even more important with the modern diet that is largely comprised of junk food, sodas, alcohol as well as habits such as smoking that increase the risk of developing dental problems.
Regular checkups to examine the state of the teeth and gums, and maintain oral health are common in the day of a general dentist; especially since the regular dental checkups and professional cleaning are recommended for everyone. These dental checkups see the general dentist evaluate the efficiency of the patients’ dental hygiene practices, professionally clean teeth and gums to eliminate plaque and tartar. They also use x-rays to spot otherwise hidden dental problems early. They help patients to reap the benefits of exceptional dental health.
They employ various dental procedures to restore teeth that have undergone decay, trauma, and disease or have defects. They incorporate both surgical and non-surgical dental procedures to achieve the purpose of their general dentistry work. A general dentist also works with his/her patients to develop a dental hygiene plan that is customized to the patient. This hygiene plan typically includes dental examination, teeth cleaning and scaling among other procedures to spot and treat dental problems before they advance. They also provide emergency dental care when needed.
Training for a career in general dentistry
General dentists usually have to go through undergraduate education and about 4 years of dental school to be awarded either a DDS or DMD degree title. With this education, general dentists can provide a wide variety of dental care services to patients, regardless of their age. He/she takes charge of all the oral health needs of the patients.
General dentists are usually the first place patients visit when they have dental problems or for regular checkups. If in the course of these the dentist feels that specialized treatment/procedures are necessary, he may work with a specialist to treat it or refer you to one. The specialists usually have general dentistry training but have advanced their education and specialized in one of the many areas of dentistry.
Services offered in general dentistry
The procedures general dentists routinely perform include:
- Placing crowns, bridges, dentures and mouth guards
- Cosmetic dental procedures
- Installing dental implants
- Gum treatments
- Oral surgery
- Orthodontics
- Root canals
- Teeth cleaning and whitening
- Restorative care
- TMD/TMJ therapy
They can also help patients with tobacco cessation and provide home care instructions and counseling on nutrition good oral and general body health. They provide advice regarding dental problems and treatments during pregnancy and in cases where other conditions such as diabetes are involved and screen for serious conditions such as oral cancer.
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