Good oral care is critical for overall well-being, and adults who routinely visit a general dentist are less likely to have problems with their teeth and health. Visiting a dentist twice per year can help detect and remediate the following conditions:
Many people put off visiting a dentist due to fear of the unknown or pain, but in reality, a dental exam involves nothing to fear and is typically painless, as well as being invaluable for maintaining optimum health.
Visiting a general dentist is similar to seeing other practitioners in that specific protocols are followed. Most visits involve the following steps:
The first part of any general dental visit involves taking a thorough medical history. Documenting a patient's medications, illnesses, allergies, health changes, oral concerns, or pregnancy status, can help determine potential treatments.
A certified dental hygienist usually provides a thorough cleaning of the patient's teeth. Special tools allow the hygienist to scrape plaque and tartar from the surfaces and beneath the gum line. Some patients request a topical numbing agent for the gums to reduce sensations, but this is not necessary for most. Tooth polishing and flossing eliminate rough spots on the teeth and residual particles.
A general dentist usually recommends X-rays of the entire mouth every few years, unless there is a history that warrants greater frequency. Low-radiation X-ray imagery is an essential diagnostic tool to examine the teeth roots, the jawbone, and the conditions below the gum line. It detects conditions that are not visible during a surface examination or do not yet cause a patient to experience noticeable symptoms.
After the dental hygienist cleans the patient's teeth, the dentist interprets the X-rays and examines the patient's mouth and neck for abnormalities and disease. During the exam, a dentist listens for clicking jaw joints and looks for bite misalignment, teeth that show wear, cavities and tooth sensitivity, and hard lumps associated with oral cancer.
A general dentist can help patients prevent various dental problems by making recommendations for brushing, flossing, and other home care measures. Some patients may require more frequent exams to thwart issues that the dentist predicts could cause tooth damage or loss. At times, a dentist may refer patients for advanced treatments for conditions resulting from genetics, illnesses, non-adherence to oral hygiene regimens, or medication side effects.
Routine dental visits help educate patients about good hygiene habits, manage and prevent oral disease, and address cosmetic concerns. In addition to preventing tooth loss and costly procedures, exams detect many systemic diseases and conditions of the body that initiate in the mouth before they are fully manifest. A dental exam can reveal evidence of lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, leukemia, anemia, various endocrine disorders, and other concerns, enabling patients to receive early treatments.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp:
General Dentist in Scottsdale, AZ
Everyone should regularly visit a general dentist for a simple, painless, and thorough examination. Home care regimens cannot substitute for the in-depth evaluation that occurs during a dental exam.
Request an appointment or call Terry W Rudnyk, DDS, PC at 480-240-5713 for an appointment in our Scottsdale office.
General dentistry consists of a lot of routine oral health care, which also happens to include restoring teeth that are in bad shape due to damage. Common damage may include cracks, chips, or cavities, all of which can be addressed with the help of different dental restorations. Continue reading to find out what dental restoration…
General dentistry services are designed to improve a patient’s long-term oral health. Although the services offered by general dentists vary, common services include routine cleanings, cavity fillings, scaling and root planing, dental crowns, and root canal therapy.On the first visit with a general dentist, they will conduct an oral examination and determine what treatments are…
Patients may be alarmed if a general dentist mentions that a tooth extraction may be needed during a routine appointment. A dentist’s primary goal is to preserve the teeth, but there some cases where a tooth cannot be saved using normal procedures. Understanding what situations can result in tooth removal and knowing the options available…