General Dentistry
General dentists offer prevention services to their patients. While they often perform some of the same services as restoration dentistry, whether that’s fillings or crowns, general dentistry focuses on preventing any type of tooth decay or damage in the first place. When you commit to seeing your general dentist every six months, you might be surprised at just how many common dental issues you can avoid throughout the course of your lifetime.
What Is a General Dentist?
A general dentist offers standard dental care, including cleanings, evaluations, and X-rays. The dentist will take high-quality images to see deep into your teeth and gums, determining if there are any signs of decay or inflammation. While you may think of a general dentist as a professional who looks solely at your teeth, they’re actually evaluating everything from your jawbone density to your tonsils.
Dental Exams
During a standard exam, general dentists look for a myriad of common and uncommon dental issues. For instance, the dentist may notice that your bite is off, which is causing undue wear and tear on your right side. Or they might notice that your gums show signs of periodontitis, so you can schedule a special cleaning to remove bacteria from under the gum lines.
Why Do I Need My Teeth Cleaned Every Six Months?
It’s impossible to remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum line, and this is even if you’re using the most advanced at-home dental technology on the market. A dentist uses professional tools to scrape off each layer, leaving your mouth fresh and clean by the time you’re ready to go.
Getting your teeth cleaned every six months is also a chance for your dentist to see how your teeth have changed over time. While most patients have relatively stable dental patterns, your oral health can change by the minute.
When you work with the right team, you’re more likely to catch smaller issues before the dentist has the chance to develop into more invasive dental problems. For example, if you have the first signs of gum disease, a dentist may be able to help you avoid a deep cleaning. Or, if you have the first signs of a cavity, your dentist may be able to alert you to it before you need a filling.
The Importance of General Dentistry
There’s nothing wrong with having a cavity every once in a while. Even the most responsible people can suffer from tooth decay under the right circumstances. In addition, any type of trauma, such as a fall or accident, can cause you to lose a permanent tooth entirely. However, every major change in your mouth, including small cavities, can have a domino effect on the rest of your teeth.
A general dentist in Hamilton Township, NJ helps you avoid damage to your teeth and gums, leaving them strong enough to fight off everything from bacteria to infection to blunt force. With the right team, you can arm yourself with the knowledge you need to take care of your teeth at home, so you only need routine cleanings twice a year.
What Happens During a Teeth Cleaning?
You can expect your teeth cleaning to entail the following steps:
- Exam: Dentists and dental hygienists are looking for inflamed gums or any other major signs of decay. While they’ll see much of what they need to on the X-rays, they’ll still want to physically examine your mouth (with the help of a small mirror) to ensure they haven’t missed anything.
- Cleaning: Dentists use a tool called a scaler to scrape both the teeth and gum line, getting rid of any residual plaque and tartar. While you can remove the majority of plaque at home with the right brushing and flossing techniques, it’s impossible to remove tartar without the help of the scaler.
- Polishing: During the polishing stage, the dentist uses an electric brush and a gritty polish to gently scrub your teeth and remove all the remaining residue.
- Flossing: This step is not just a proven way to get any trouble spots that you may have been missing at home (assuming you’re a regular flosser); it’s also a mini-tutorial to see how a professional hits every last nook and crevice of your teeth.
- Rinsing: The last step is to rinse your mouth out, so you can clear out the last of the grit and the gunk. That last step can be one of the most satisfying, particularly as you run your tongue along your pristine teeth and gums!
Find a General Dentist in Hamilton Township, NJ
General dentists in Hamilton Township, NJ may not offer the most complex dental services, but they’re easily the best line of defense against having to make special trips to the dentist. While it’s not always easy to schedule every cleaning, you’re better off making the effort than wasting time and money months or even years down the line. If you’re looking for an experienced team in Hamilton Township, contact the offices of Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry today!
