When visiting a dentist, most people aren’t aware of the additional services that they can offer you. The majority of us go to the practice to either get our monthly check-ups, teeth cleaned, or a filling replaced. However, the good news is, there are other just as important procedures that they can offer you, and all you need to do is ask. Here are Common Dental Procedures That Dentists Do To Improve Your Oral Health.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Regular Examinations and Cleanings
We begin with the basic services i.e a regular examination and a cleanup. As part of the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. The practitioner will offer a few things:
- They will look for any hidden or visible cavities that you may or may not see or feel.
- They will check for any other issues that in and around your mouth
- They will also inspect the entirety of your mouth for any possible gum diseases or periodontal diseases
- Once the examination is complete they will proceed to a thorough clean-up of the whole mouth, done using a unique toothpaste and a special brush. This includes cleaning, power polishing, and rinsing your mouth using a special fluoride solution created to remove any tartar or plaque that has built up on the surfaces.
A regular exam can take anywhere up to one hour. The recommendation is to do this once every 6 months and usually done by appointment. Click here to get a detailed description of the cleaning process.
Bridges
Another important service they can provide patients is that of inserting bridges. This is done as a procedure to replace missing teeth and fill gaps. It can help to alleviate the stress of biting down food as well as maintain the shape of your face. It comprises an artificial tooth placed in the gap where the natural one has fallen out due to disease or injury.
It can be made from several different and safe materials such as gold, porcelain, and alloys. Bonded onto the gums and the other teeth, the success of this will depend entirely on the foundation and how strong it is. Those who have good oral hygiene also have strong gums in which to place these bridges, and as a result, they will last a lifetime. If you need to get this done, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene so that the dentist can work on a strong area.
Bonding and Cavity Fillings
If you have crooked, slightly chipped, or discolored teeth, this is the best solution to get it fixed, and a conventional one. The process involves the insertion of a white filling onto the tooth to improve the appearance of it. The reason it is called ‘bonding’ is that this white filling, which comes in a variety of different shades to match your natural incisors, bonds to the teeth perfectly.
Silver amalgam or ‘silver fillings’ is also another option that some dentists use to fill any holes or cavities, however, as per this website https://eschenbachdental.com/common-procedures/, the newer options contain plastic or ceramic compounds which are much better for your teeth and overall health. These can be used throughout the mouth in the front and the back. There are two types of categories namely, direct and indirect.
The difference is that the indirect option requires more than one visit, and the direction can be fitted upon the first visit to your dentist. It will depend entirely on the extent of tooth decay and the location in the mouth. They can include anything from veneers to inlays. Porcelain veneers are the better option as bonding tends to stain if not looked after and may break easily. The best thing to do is to consult your dentist on the best route to take.
Crowns
A popular restorative procedure to undergo at the dental practice is that of Crowns. Even better is the concept of the ‘same day crowns’ offered by most. This can help strengthen them as well as improve the shape of your teeth, especially in cases where they may be broken or worn out.
A crown is similar to a cap which is stuck or cemented onto any tooth and will fill in the portion that is missing, as long as it is above the gum line. Made from either metal or porcelain it acts as the outer layer of the incisor and is usually very strong. These are tailored according to the tooth to be filled and are created inside of a dental laboratory. Once inserted you can get back to biting and chewing your food perfectly.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Everyone has got them, and not one wants them. Wisdom teeth can at some point in your life become a nuisance. These molars sit at the extreme back end of your mouth and commonly appear once you have hit your teenage years. Sometimes when there is not much room for them to come out fully, they may cause discomfort and drive you to the dentist to get them removed.
The procedure may take a couple of hours but once they are extracted, and fully healed, you will have more room in your mouth and no discomfort anymore. It is not entirely necessary to remove them however when they get impacted and start to hurt, this is the best thing you can do, while you are still young. If they don’t come out properly, the dentist will remove the portion that is covered by the gums and extract them.
Sometimes ‘sectioning; is required where they will remove one half first then the other half after to reduce any damage or impact to the jaw bone or surrounding incisors. The healing process begins immediately and there are a few ways to bring remediation in the comfort of your own home, for instance, gargling with warm salty water, or using an anti-bacterial mouth wash.
There you have it, the next time you visit your practitioner and the need arises to discuss any of the above, you will have more knowledge and understanding about them.
