Your family dentist can select the right dental procedure that can target your teeth or gum tissue. A full assessment must happen first. Discussing the options will follow. Understanding the treatments can help you prepare for them. Here are the common dental procedures that you can get from your family dentist.
Teeth whitening
A family dentist can offer basic teeth whitening treatments. The dentist can provide whitening agents that will not harm the patient. This procedure can lighten surface stains and discoloration. The dentist can finish this treatment in one visit.
Professional teeth cleaning
Visiting a family dentist for professional dental cleanings can help maintain one’s dental health. The dentist has tools that can remove tartar and clean the teeth thoroughly. Cleaning the teeth with these industrial dental tools can prevent cavities and gum disease. The dentist will recommend the ideal frequency of dental cleanings depending on the patient’s needs.
Dental fillings
Bacteria feed on the sugars left in the mouth after eating. These microorganisms produce acids that attack the enamel and cause cavities. A family dentist will examine the patient’s mouth first. Applying dental fillings will follow the moment the dentist detects the presence of cavities.
Getting fillings is quick. Numbing the area will come first to prevent any pain. The family dentist will drill away the decayed areas of the tooth. Cleaning and disinfecting it will come next. Roughening and filling the cavity will follow. Shaping and polishing it will help the treated tooth blend well with the neighboring natural teeth.
Dental extractions
Severe dental damage from decay or injury can cause a tooth to deteriorate. The family dentist will recommend extracting the tooth if it cannot improve with fillings anymore. Removing a tooth is never a pleasant experience. The family dentist will discuss dental sedation options before the procedure. The patient can be sure that extracting the tooth will be as comfortable as possible.
Tooth removal can end one’s pain and discomfort. It can also give way for other dental treatments, including braces. The family dentist will suggest space maintainers for baby teeth. There are also dental restorations that can restore permanent teeth. Prescribing pain relievers and antibiotics may follow a dental extraction as well.
Root canal
A patient may need a root canal if the tooth has significant damage that has reached the pulp. The damage will be the passageway for bacteria and food particles to enter the tooth. Cleaning out the infected pulp will end the pain. The family dentist will fill the pulp cavity and place a custom dental crown over the treated tooth. The crown will protect and strengthen it to prevent future infections and damage.
Dental veneers
Heavy discoloration can affect one’s self-esteem. Regular teeth whitening treatments will not be able to lighten or remove it anymore. For this, the family dentist may suggest dental veneers. These thin shells can cover deep dental stains. It is often an easy and painless procedure. However, some dentists use a local anesthetic to numb the area while shaving off a thin layer of enamel. Removing this much of the dental structure will roughen the surface and provide space for the custom veneers.
Your experienced family dentist can improve your smile and dental health
Dental problems can happen at any time. It is good to have a dental care professional who can help you and your family when you need dental care. Visiting your dentist can detect and treat any dental problem right away. Working with your family dentist can help keep your oral and general health in top shape.
Request an appointment or call Rivers Family Dentistry at 979-710-2216 for an appointment in our Bryan office.
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