How Can General Dentistry Improve the Health of Your Teeth?

Taking good care of your teeth involves regular dental visits and receiving treatments to treat infections. Although you might follow all the guidelines your dentist provides, you need a regularly available dentist to cater to your dental needs. Dr. Scott Young provides a wide variety of dental procedures to ensure you have a healthy and beautiful smile.

What procedures does general dentistry involve?

General dentistry procedures aim to prevent dental problems and provide treatments for existing concerns. 

Professional dental cleanings

It will help if you have regular professional dental cleanings to remove plaque buildup in hard-to-reach areas. Before starting the procedure, your specialist will first examine your mouth to check for signs of infection. Then, using special devices, they will remove the plaque and tartar buildup in your teeth. After treatment, your dental hygienist will brush your teeth and can offer a fluoride rinse to strengthen your teeth.

Periodontal therapies

Periodontal therapies include procedures that ensure that you have healthy gum tissues. Your dentist will examine your gum line for signs of tartar or plaque buildup and recommend teeth cleaning to remove the buildup. Other signs your dentist might check for include gum bleeding, tenderness, and inflammation.

Common periodontal therapies include tartar removal using scaling or root planing techniques or laser treatment. You might also undergo gum grafting if your gums are affected by advanced gum disease. Other therapies include dental implants and crown lengthening surgery.

Routine dental checkups

During routine dental checkups, your specialist will examine your teeth, gums, and the insides of your cheeks to check for infection. Your dentist can conduct both physical examinations and X-rays to check for issues. Regular oral examinations can detect dental infections early and offer treatment to avoid spreading infection. By visiting your dentist regularly, you can avoid tooth decay and loss due to infection.

Root canal treatment

Severe tooth decay can adversely affect your teeth leading to pain due to infection in the tooth pulp. When the dental pulp is infected, it causes pain because the infection affects your blood vessels and nerves. Your dentist will begin by assessing the affected tooth and start the initial cleaning process. Next, they will perform a second round of cleaning the tooth chamber and rinse it using an antibacterial solution. Once it dries, your dentist will use gutta-percha as a filling. Root canal therapy prevents tooth extractions.

Oral cancer screening

General dentistry provides cancer screening for your mouth to check for cancer symptoms like sores or red or white patches. Your dentist can also physically examine your mouth by pressing your soft tissues to check for abnormalities or lumps. They might take a sample and ask for a biopsy if they find unusual tissues.

If you are due for a routine dental checkup or want to treat gum disease, visit Scott Young, DDS, for a treatment plan. Dr. Young and his team of dental professionals will examine your mouth before offering a suitable treatment. Call or schedule your appointment online today and improve your smile.