Dentists play a critical role in maintaining and improving your oral health, which is intricately connected to your overall health and well-being. As highly trained professionals, dentists provide a wide range of medical services that cater to various dental needs. Here is an overview of the medical services that a dentist provides according to Dr Paul Daidone.
Preventive Care
Preventive care is at the core of dentistry, focusing on maintaining oral health and preventing dental issues from developing. Regular dental check-ups allow dentists to assess a patient’s oral health, identify potential issues, and recommend appropriate treatments.
Professional teeth cleanings, also known as dental prophylaxis, remove plaque and tartar buildup to prevent cavities and gum disease. Fluoride treatments can make tooth enamel firmer and help prevent dental cavities. Lastly, during routine dental exams, dentists also check for signs of oral cancer, ensuring early detection and timely treatment.
Restorative Treatments
Restorative dentistry mainly repairs damaged teeth and replaces missing ones to restore functionality and good aesthetics. First, dentists use fillings to repair cavities and restore damaged tooth structures.
A root canal treatment involves removing the infected pulp tissue within a tooth, cleaning and sealing the root canals, and restoring the tooth with a crown or filling. Crowns are customized covers that cover a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its appearance.
Bridges and dentures replace missing teeth, improving chewing functionality and speech, and preventing adjacent teeth from shifting. Periodontal treatments address gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Dentists may provide the following services to manage gum health:
The scaling and root planing procedures involve removing plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smoothing the tooth roots to help the gums reattach to the teeth. And in cases of severe gum recession, dentists may perform gum grafts to cover exposed tooth roots and protect them from decay and sensitivity.
Cosmetic Procedures
Lastly, cosmetic dentistry focuses on enhancing the appearance of teeth and smiles. Dentists provide professional teeth whitening treatments to remove stains and brighten smiles. They also provide veneers, which are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their shape, size, and color Click here Dr Paul Daidone.
