General dentistry is a form of dental care where practitioners provide a variety of services. Patients who see a general dentist receive preventative services to help maintain good oral health and prevent disease or damage. In addition to preventive services, general dentistry also includes restorative services and cosmetic services.
Dental health is essential to a patient's overall health. General dentists may recognize different health concerns that may manifest symptoms in the mouth.
Some patients wait until they experience pain or can see visual damage before seeing a dentist. When patients see dentists regularly, the dentists can keep the teeth clean and healthy before worse issues develop.
Gum disease occurs when the mouth's gum tissue becomes eroded. This can happen due to tartar buildup and an infection called gingivitis. As gingivitis progresses, the tissue that attaches to gums begins to break down. Gum disease causes bleeding of the gums. It can also cause the bone to break down, leading to loose teeth. Dentists can catch the development of gum disease and create a treatment plan geared to slow the process or to keep patients from developing gum disease at all.
Regardless of whether patients brush or floss daily, they may miss areas of the mouth. Plaque builds up and solidifies to become tartar. Without dental tools, tartar is difficult to remove. Without removal, tartar can erode teeth and lead to the development of cavities. Unfortunately, cavities do not always have many symptoms when developing. Patients may experience a slight ache once the decay forms. Routine cleanings to remove plaque and tartar are a part of general dentistry.
Without regular dentist appointments, oral cancer is difficult to diagnose. Without a diagnosis, cancer can grow and spread, becoming life-threatening quickly. When detected early, however, oral cancer is treatable. Dentists have the training to recognize the symptoms of oral cancer. When patients have checkups every six months, there is a high likelihood the dentist will catch any red flags.
When it comes to a patient's oral health, there are a lot of issues that may not be apparent without an X-ray. Types of problems only X-rays can reveal include:
Some destructive diseases have few to no symptoms. Without an X-ray, a patient may suffer extensive damage before recognizing the problem.
Most people have habits that may harm their teeth. Practices that may have adverse outcomes include teeth grinding, jaw clenching, too-hard toothbrushing, and eating hard candy or sweets. General dentists can identify any damage caused by bad habits. In addition to determining what may contribute to a patient's oral health, dentists may be able to fix the damage already done. When patients know the cause of their tooth problems, it may be easier to quit the habits.
Regular dental checkups can prevent disease and damage to the teeth. In general dentistry, practitioners provide preventative, restorative, and cosmetic procedures to patients.
Request an appointment here: https://austinlakesdentistry.com or call Austin Lakes Dentistry: Scott T Gordon DDS at (512) 377-9799 for an appointment in our Austin office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist in Austin, TX.
In general dentistry, toothaches are defined as any pain or ache in or around a tooth. While modern dentists have a thorough understanding of the causes and treatments for toothaches, people experiencing them may be frustrated by the discomfort. Those with a toothache may feel sharp or dull pain and sensitivity to temperature or chewing.In…
Every general dentist has the same goal — to save patients’ permanent teeth. Along with providing professional care, the dentist also educates people on what they can do. In looking over these tips, some may seem evident while you find others surprising. Avoiding tooth decay is extremely important for both your oral and physical health.The…
The goal of a general dentist is to keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime. General dentists offer an array of services, from filling cavities to teaching you and your kids the proper tooth brushing technique. Get your teeth healthy by making an appointment today.A healthy mouth starts with learning how to maintain oral health…
As an aesthetic dentistry office, we look for ways to restore our patients' damaged teeth and enhance their smile using minimally invasive methods. Understanding that everything in the body works together and that each portion of your tooth has an important role to play, we work to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure…
Dental bonding is a quick, affordable fix that dentists use to correct a wide variety of dental problems. Not only is dental bonding useful as a restoration, it also has cosmetic applications. The fact that bonding is easy to use makes it a popular option with dentists. This is how it works.Dental bonding takes the…
Are you self-conscious about your stained teeth? Continue reading to learn how a smile makeover can address tooth stains and discoloration. The color of teeth may be affected by age, weakened enamel, heredity, and daily behaviors.The enamel on the teeth gets permeable as people get older. This impact is amplified when the teeth are neglected.…