For a family dentist to practice their occupation successfully they will have completed four years of undergraduate school, focusing on health sciences, followed by four years in the dental sciences. Nine specific disciplines or branches are recognized by the American Dental Association, or ADA. There are a variety of treatments a dentist could do regarding your appointment. Beginning with your family dentist who concentrates on maintaining preventive care in specific areas that address issues or a specific treatment or solution.
What to Expect from your Family Dentist?
The health industry strongly suggests you and your family members visit your family dentist every six months. These regular preventative exams include an evaluation of the current condition of the teeth, gums, and mouth. They will include x-rays to identify any issues below the gumline. An oral history is established and summarized from each exam, so any changes are recorded and reviewed. They probe the teeth to see if any cavities are developing. They will check the bite pattern which is quite important in the development of your children’s teeth. Then they examine both the gums and the pockets around each tooth. Healthy pockets have a certain standard depth. If a pocket is measured and it exceeds the desired depth it can be a sign of gum disease. Your family dentist will also always perform an oral screening checking the lips, cheeks, tongue, and neck for any sign of oral cancer.
After this exam, your family dentist and team will professionally clean your or your family members’ teeth, removing the consistent accumulation of plaque. This plaque is the primary source of gum disease and cavities.
Procedures that are Common at the Family Dentist
You might consider having your teeth professionally whitened by your family dentist. Their efforts and results will easily surpass any at-home options. Your family dentist genuinely appreciates the value of a healthy smile. Your smile is foundational with your personality helping establish self-confidence and self-esteem. For example, teeth whitening is a measurable simple improvement. Your family dentist might suggest that a gap between two teeth be improved, or a chip or crack corrected. If the exam found a cavity, your family dentist will remove the diseased tissue and then place a dental filling in the space. If they identify any signs of gum disease, they could refer you to a periodontal partner who will specifically address the soft tissue. Or they may first do a deep scaling and root planing treatment, removing the damaging plaque, which is the primary source of the gum disease. An endodontist may be necessary for a root canal procedure if you have a cracked tooth that has developed an infection, and they recommend saving. An orthodontist focuses on the alignment of your teeth, with the use of orthodontic braces or innovative computer-generated trays that will move the teeth to a desired location.
Cosmetic dentistry offers visually pleasing porcelain veneers, or a periodontist will offer treatments associated with dental implants, dental bridges, or a denture solution.
Your oral health plays a huge and unappreciated role in who you are. It is an essential component of your total body. Your family dentist is an important and invaluable member of your personal health team.