A general dentist offers many services. From filling cavities to teaching kids how to brush teeth, your general dentist is there for you. Care that involves stopping a problem before it happens is called preventative care. General dentists happen to specialize in educating patients on this type of care. The education and practice of maintaining good oral health starts with preventative care. This can include daily brushing, flossing and biannual dental cleanings, among others.
One must be diligent when it comes to their oral health routine. Brushing twice per day is crucial to keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. However, just brushing usually does not do the trick on its own. In fact, many of the treatments completed by a dentist are to detect the potential areas in the mouth where problems could arise. Going to your general dentist twice per year will help to catch these problem areas before they even become a problem.
A daily brushing and flossing routine is the best way to take control of oral health. Brush twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. Flossing once per day is important. Those spots between teeth tend to harbor food particles that cannot easily be brushed free. If you are unsure of the correct technique, your dentist will be able to give you a detailed training session to make sure you are well equipped to clean your mouth. This training is especially helpful for children just learning to brush and floss.
During a dental exam, the dentist will carefully inspect all areas of the mouth with a trained eye. To detect unseen areas where tooth decay might appear, the dentist will take an x-ray of the oral cavity. This will give you and your dentist a deeper look into areas between teeth and even near the jawbone to spot potential issues.
This smart solution is a colored liquid that sticks to plaque. The dentist will likely first instruct you to brush your teeth the way you normally do at home. After, you will swish the disclosing agent around your mouth. Just like that, the areas you missed while brushing are highlighted for you to see! The dentist will then teach you how to reach these neglected areas and can offer advice for cleaning each part of the mouth. Often, a general dentist might recommend an antibacterial oral rinse to clear hard-to-reach areas of plaque buildup.
A practice that is becoming popular for younger dental patients, fluoride varnish is used after a professional deep cleaning to reinforce the procedure. This solution, which is applied directly to the teeth after a dental cleaning, helps make the teeth more resistant to plaque and decay. Although mostly used on children, adults can also benefit from fluoride varnish.
This form of preventive care involves applying a thin film of clear material designed to protect newly emerged molars from tooth decay. A child's tooth is vulnerable to decay when it first grows past the gumline, so sealants help to prevent tooth decay in the naturally formed grooves in these teeth.
Request an appointment here: https://www.gablesexceptionaldentistry.com or call Gables Exceptional Dentistry at (305) 203-4132 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist.
Fluoride is a preventative measure that your general dentist uses to help protect your teeth between visits. It is also an ingredient in toothpaste that can give added protection. One of the most hotly debated topics surrounding toothpaste and tooth brushing is whether or not you should be using toothpaste that contains fluoride. Using toothpaste with…
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: CavitiesGum diseaseOral cancerTooth misalignmentSystemic diseaseMany people put off visiting a dentist due to fear…
There is no need to fear if your general dentist has recommended root canal treatment. This dental procedure is performed on millions of patients every year and is similar to a routine filling. It is a beneficial procedure that saves a tooth that has become infected or damaged. Many patients wonder if the tooth is…
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…
Whether you have a cracked, chipped, or decayed tooth, a dental crown can restore it to its original shape. With proper care, these restorations can last about 15 years. The good news is that caring for crowns is straightforward, with most patients not needing to change their oral hygiene routine.Dental crowns are essentially caps that…
Dental crowns are one of the most popular and effective restorations dentists use to restore and protect damaged teeth. They are tooth-shaped caps that cover your natural, damaged tooth. While the procedure is performed in two appointments, it is relatively straightforward and involves little to no discomfort.Several types of dental crowns are available, each with…