How General Is General When It Comes To Dentistry? All Of The Basic Services Offered
General dentistry is akin to a family doctor or general physician. These fields cover a lot of services, but they only cover the most basic services. Still, when it comes to general dentistry, you can get a lot done on your teeth or a family member's teeth. All of the following falls under general dentist services.
Oral Hygiene
Your teeth are cleaned, flossed, and polished. The hygienist working with the dentist may also give you mouthwash to freshen your breath. If you suffer from halitosis as a result of tonsiliths, the hygienist will express your tonsils to remove the tonsil stones that are causing the foul breath. The back of your tongue may be brushed or scraped to reduce bacteria, which contributes to bad breath and oral hygiene issues.
Fluoride Services
Fluoride services are reserved for kids between the ages of six and twelve. However, teens and adults may request fluoride treatments if they feel they could benefit from them and/or they just want the treatments because they know that they do not brush enough or drink enough treated city water. Dental trays are filled with flavored fluoride treatment gel, and you do have to sit in the dental chair for up to thirty minutes to complete this service. If you do not need or want the service for yourself, you can still expect this service from a general dentist when you bring your children in for hygiene appointments. Tooth varnish also falls under this particular service and is reserved for kids only.
X-Rays
X-rays are taken every six months to a year to detect cavities. Cavities appear as dark spots on and between teeth. A panoramic x-ray, which takes a picture of all of your teeth from one side of your mouth to the other, is typically taken once a year. The panoramic x-ray shows cavities, restored teeth from prior cavities, fractures or cracks in the teeth, chipped or broken teeth, and any teeth that have not yet erupted from the gums or are impacted under other teeth.
Tooth Restoration Services
Tooth restoration typically refers to the repair and filing of cavities. However, crowns, caps, and fillers for chipped teeth also fall under tooth restoration. A general dentist can perform all of these in the office when you need them, but they are almost always scheduled for another day and time. Most dentists have specific days/times for performing and completing restoration services.
Contact a general dentist near you in order to learn more about these and other services that they can offer.