Are you planning to get dental implants in Charlotte, NC? Before you go to your dentist, have you ever wondered what the top ten general dental procedures are?
And knowing what’s involved in the dental procedure is helpful, especially since most dentists will tell you that prevention is better than treatment. Because some treatments involve more time, specialist tools and knowledge is best.
Thus, this article will explore the top 10 general dental procedures and how they work.
1. Cleaning
Cleaning, or scaling and polishing, is the removal of plaque and tartar along with stains and discoloration from teeth.
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The process involves hand instruments to remove the hardened deposits that can lead to cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss.
The most common cleaning method is scaling, which involves removing plaque and tartar above the gum line using hand instruments such as a curette or explorer.
Polishing removes surface stains on teeth with an abrasive material such as baking soda or an ultrasonic instrument that vibrates at high speed.
The primary benefit of regular cleanings is preventing gum disease by removing deposits.
There can often be inflammation of the gums, also known as gingivitis. Or pockets between your gums and teeth, also known as periodontitis.
This can help prevent tooth loss and keep your smile healthy for years to come.
2. Whitening
Whitening is a cosmetic procedure that can make teeth look whiter and brighter.
Several types of whitening are available, from strips, gels, and even custom trays that you wear at home for several weeks.
That said, not all whitening methods are created equal. For example, are more effective than old-fashioned abrasive ones but are also more expensive.
3. Extraction
An extraction or exodontia removes one or more teeth from the mouth.
Dentists perform this when the tooth has been damaged by decay, injury, trauma, or other means.
When a patient needs their tooth extracted, they will visit their dentist, who will numb the area before removing the tooth.
Depending on your location, your dentist will ask you to rinse with an antiseptic before your appointment to avoid infections.
4. Veneers
Veneers are thin shells of porcelain, silver, or composite bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to improve their appearance.
They cover discolored teeth, cover significant gaps between teeth, close spaces in between teeth and make crooked or poorly aligned teeth appear straighter.
Most veneers can fit both the upper and lower arch. They are typically bonded onto the front surface of your natural teeth using dental cement.
Once placed and adhered to your smile, veneers will give you a beautiful new smile without removing any tooth structure.
5. Fillings
Dentists use fillings to repair damage caused by decay, cracks, or chips in your teeth.
A filling is from various materials, including silver amalgam, composite resin, or gold alloys.
Your dentist will clean out the cavity and shape the area to remove any decay from your tooth.
The dentist will fill the cavity with a material that matches the color of your natural teeth. The filling is then hardened and polished for a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
6. Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped covering that fits over a badly damaged or decayed tooth.
It typically covers the entire visible portion of the tooth, including the chewing surface and the roots.
Crowns are a standard procedure used to restore teeth that dentists cannot fix with fillings or other methods. Crowns usually come from gold, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), alloys, or ceramic materials.
The purpose is to restore the function and appearance of a tooth weakened by decay, fracture, or discoloration.
Dentists use them when a patient has an exposed root due to advanced gum disease or if there is little or no remaining natural tooth structure.
In some cases, your dentist may recommend a full mouth reconstruction in which several teeth are replaced with implants, dentures, and crowns if your remaining teeth have large fillings or severe decay.
7. Root Canal
If bacteria get into the pulp of your tooth, they can damage the inner part of your tooth and cause an infection called an abscess.
To stop this from happening and save your tooth from being extracted, you may need a root canal procedure.
In this case, an endodontist will clean out the infected pulp and seal off all openings in your tooth with a unique filling material called gutta-percha.
This will allow your natural healing process to begin. In addition, root canal therapy allows you to keep your natural teeth for years longer than extraction would enable you to do.
8. Braces
Braces are a standard solution for adolescents and adults who want to fix crooked teeth.
Depending on the severity of your dental problem, your dentist may recommend braces as a one-time fix or ongoing treatment.
Dentists can use them to straighten teeth that are crooked in different directions, such as having both upper and lower teeth crooked.
Braces can correct gaps between the teeth, overbites, and underbites.
Dentists use metal brackets and bond them onto your teeth with metal wires. The wires are attached to each frame and then tightened or loosened until they move your teeth into position.
To ensure that your braces work correctly, you’ll need to visit your dentist regularly for adjustments and cleanings so that any plaque or food build-up doesn’t damage your gums or prevent your teeth from moving correctly.
9. Bonding
Bonding is a process that uses composite materials to fill in gaps between teeth or cover chipped or discolored areas. It is usually done on the front teeth because they are exposed and more visible than other teeth.
The dentist does bonding with a unique bonding material. Then, the dentist cleans and polishes the teeth and applies the material, which hardens within minutes.
Bonding can be done on natural tooth structures or dental crowns, bridges, and veneers, depending on the treatment needed for each case.
10. Dentures
A denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces natural teeth and adjacent tissues.
They replace one or more missing teeth or support and position adjacent teeth for improved chewing, aesthetics, and speech.
Dentures are made of acrylic resin, porcelain fused to metal (PFM), or a combination of both.
Acrylic resin provides a good fit but is less durable than PFM. PFM dentures have a better appearance but may be more challenging to care for than acrylic resin-based dentures.
There are many different types of dentures, such as:
Complete dentures
These types fill in the spaces left by all the missing teeth on both arches of your mouth.
Immediate, also known as temporary dentures
You can use them right after your extraction procedure until you can get fitted for permanent dentures.
Partial dentures
These can replace missing teeth, and implant-retained prostheses replace missing teeth while supporting implants surgically placed into your jawbone.
A fixed partial prosthesis
These only replace one or several teeth in an arch. At the same time, an independent fixed partial replaces two or more teeth on the same angle.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be a dentist yourself to know some fundamental things about routine dental care, and it’s always a good idea to learn more.
By being more informed, you’ll understand better what your dentist is saying and hopefully prevent and treat dental issues before they become severe problems.