General Dentistry in South Edmonton
If you see a dentist routinely and you do not have any conditions that require that you be seen by a specialist, you’re likely seeing a general dentist. General dentists are the most common kind of dental practitioner, and the one we see most often.
General dentistry is the branch of dentistry which is most concerned with prevention of illness or disease in the mouth. These dentists are typically the first to assess your needs and/or concerns, since referrals to a specialist are provided only when a general dentist is unable to provide the particular procedures required. The good news is general dentists are highly capable and can offer an array of treatments and procedures to meet the needs of their clients. They are not restricted in who they can treat, so patients of all ages can be seen by a general dentist.
How Often Should I See a Dentist?
In general, it is recommended that you see your general dentist for a checkup about once every six months. Bear in mind, however, that every mouth is different and requires different maintenance. For example, patients who are at risk of developing periodontal disease may require more frequent visits. Your dentist will discuss their findings with you and recommend a maintenance schedule that reflects your needs. For more information on these or other services offered by our general dentists, contact our office today.
Prevention
Your dentist is interested in the quality of your bite and is likely to ask about nighttime grinding or teeth clenching while assessing your jaw movement and alignment. If there are signs of concern, such as pain when eating, clicking or popping of the jaw, overdevelopment of the jaw muscles or signs of wear on the teeth your dentist may recommend a nightguard to mitigate the damage being done unconsciously while you sleep. Similarly, if you are active in contact sports your general dentist can customize a sport guard to protect your teeth while you play!
General dentists routinely conduct oral checkups on their clients prior to dental cleaning. The dentist checks for any signs of concern including X-rays to provide insight into the health of the inner teeth. Next, your mouth will be visually assessed to identify signs of inflammation, recession and signs of oral cancers (like small wounds in the mouth that don’t heal).
Your dentist is interested in the quality of your bite and is likely to ask about nighttime grinding or teeth clenching while assessing your jaw movement and alignment. If there are signs of concern, such as pain when eating, clicking or popping of the jaw, overdevelopment of the jaw muscles or signs of wear on the teeth your dentist may recommend a nightguard to mitigate the damage being done unconsciously while you sleep. Similarly, if you are active in contact sports your general dentist can customize a sport guard to protect your teeth while you play!
General Health
General dentists are concerned with your overall health as well as your dental health. This is because they care about you! – and also because they are related issues. Although it might seem that teeth are unable to impact your overall health, they are alive and receive blood supply so concerns in other areas of the body can impact oral health and vice versa. This is particularly true of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. For this reason, it is important to be thorough when discussing your medical history with your dentist.
Cosmetic Dental Procedures?
So, what about the dental work that is elective and concerned with aesthetics? We refer to this as cosmetic dentistry, since it isn’t concerned with the function of the teeth as much as it is with how the teeth look. A variety of cosmetic services are offered by your general dentist including bonding, teeth whitening, veneers and (sometimes) implants. Dentists use clinical strength peroxide in their dental whitening procedures, so you are more likely to achieve the results you desire with their professional product.
Restoration
If your dentist sees signs of concerns such as evidence of oral cancer, he or she may refer you to your medical practitioner or an oral oncologist, as the circumstances dictate. If your dentist sees signs of gum irritation and/or decay, they will counsel you on next steps. Signs of gum disease may require increased hygiene rigour, and decay may need to be removed and filled.
Other procedures routinely provided by your general dentist also includes root canals. Root canals allow a diseased tooth to avoid extraction by removing the inner nerve and pulp tissue. A special product called gutta percha is applied to fill the inner tooth. If a tooth breaks, or if a root canal has jeopardized the strength of the natural tooth, a crown may be installed over the tooth to provide added protection. When a false tooth is required to fill the space left behind by a lost tooth, your general dentist can customize a false tooth and anchor it to its adjacent tooth or teeth. This is referred to as a bridge, and it has the added benefit of maintaining appropriate space between teeth to reduce drifting. If you are in need of more than one artificial tooth, your general dentist can offer a variety of denture options.
