Preventive and Cosmetic Dentistry Explained

Although every dental professional’s primary goal is your mouth’s healthy and balanced structure and function, there are many specialties within their field. During the typical bi-monthly appointments with dentists, preventive dentistry usually transpires. With proper preventive dental care, many clients can avoid the referrals to more costly and invasive restorative or cosmetic treatments.

As stated earlier, there are many specializations in dentistry, but only preventive and cosmetic dentistry will be reviewed in this article. Continue reading to learn more about these fields.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventative dentistry is also called preventative or general dentistry. As the name suggests, it means any approach to avoid having dental concerns. You frequently hear of the term at a dental clinic or being discussed online; it’s not very common for regular people because of its clinical nature.

The primary focus of preventive dentistry is to keep you from having any oral issues like tartar, periodontal disease, and other oral health concerns. You might be practicing good dental hygiene in the house to keep your teeth healthy; however, there are several things that only your dentist can handle to maintain excellent oral health.

Many dental practitioners recommend dental services every six months; at these appointments, your dentist will likely conduct the following procedures:

Examine your teeth, gums, tongue, and other mouth areas for any concerns.
Conduct dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar deposits.
Perform screening for signs of oral cancer and other health problems.
A dentist may suggest if needed, specialized procedures such as fluoride treatment.
For those with missing teeth, a dentist may recommend Southampton dentures.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry deals with improving the general appearance of your teeth. Although the treatments are generally optional rather than necessary, some procedures can likewise provide corrective benefits. Here are some standard cosmetic procedures:

Inlays and Onlays – this treatment is likewise referred to as indirect fillings, which a dental laboratory makes. This is employed when a tooth has a mild to moderate degeneration and insufficient structure to support filling. Nonetheless, if a significant portion of the tooth is damaged, dental onlay is used to cover the tooth’s entire surface.
Bonding – refers to repairing decayed, damaged, or discolored teeth using a material with the same enamel color. The procedure includes drilling out the tooth decay, applying the composite on the tooth’s surface, and finishing off with high-intensity light curing.
Veneers – usually made from medical-grade ceramic, dental veneers are custom-made caps that go over your natural teeth. It looks so realistic that it’s often used to resolve cosmetic problems such as uneven or broken teeth, noticeable gaps between two teeth, etc.
Teeth Whitening – teeth might get a darker discoloration from foods, beverages, or clinical conditions over the years. A dental hygienist will first get rid of plaque, tartar, and other particles from your teeth; to resolve this, the hygienist will apply some bleach agents to achieve a lighter color than the previous shade of your teeth.
Braces – the goal is to correct misaligned teeth because straighter teeth are often healthier and easier to look after. Orthodontists usually use metal materials for braces to slowly tighten up teeth back.
Implants – are used to replace lost or damaged teeth. A small titanium screw is inserted into the jaw at the gap site; this serves as a support to the crown. These implants are almost indistinguishable from surrounding natural teeth.

Conclusion

Most dentists practice preventative or general dentistry; some specialize further in cosmetic, restorative, or implant dentistry. Going to consultation with dentists could be a little daunting. Nevertheless, a little research on what they do and what to anticipate for particular procedures will help you loosen up, and you’re less likely to visualize an unpleasant process.

A good dentist will always be conscious that you don’t have stressful experiences because he always wants you to return and entrust your oral care to him.