Common General Dentistry Procedures

There are many different procedures performed in the field of general dentistry. Some are relatively simple, while others are more complicated. Some are preventive, while others are therapeutic, meaning that they are intended to treat existing oral health complaints.

Preventive general dentistry procedures

Preventive procedures are performed to protect your teeth and gums from problems such as tooth decay and infection.

Dental cleanings

In addition to performing oral hygiene at home, you also need to have regular dental cleanings and examinations. Brushing and flossing can help prevent excessive plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth but cannot remove everything. A routine dental cleaning scrapes the built-up calculus away and polishes the teeth to get them as clean as possible. It may also involve a fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay.

Sealants

On the surface of some teeth, there are deep grooves that are harder to keep clean and free from plaque. Sealants consist of plastic resins that are painted onto the teeth. They seal the grooves and smooth them out so that plaque cannot get trapped there. Sealants help to prevent tooth decay by creating a barrier between the surface of the tooth and decay-causing bacteria.

Therapeutic general dentistry procedures

If there are oral health problems, such as cavities or infections, therapeutic procedures are intended to correct them.

Fillings

A filling is one of the most common general dentistry procedures. When one of the teeth has a cavity, the procedure involves removing the decayed tissue and filling in the resulting gap with a hard, durable material. Most fillings consist of either metal amalgam or composite resin. They can generally be completed in about an hour and involve local numbing of the affected area to prevent any pain.

Crowns

If the damage to a tooth is too extensive to treat with a filling, the dentist may perform a crown procedure instead. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap made of a durable material. It fits over the top of a damaged or decayed tooth to strengthen and support it. Before the crown can be placed, the tooth is prepared by removing some material so that the cap fits snugly over the tooth and among the other teeth.

Root canal

A root canal involves removing decayed or infected material from the innermost layer of the tooth. It is usually combined with a crown to protect the tooth from further damage. A root canal may be the last option to save a severely decayed tooth.

Extractions

When a tooth is extracted, it can cause adverse changes to your oral health as a whole. To avoid these changes, dentists prefer to leave natural teeth in the jaw whenever possible and only perform extractions as a last resort. However, if the tooth is too unhealthy or unstable to remain in the mouth and no other treatment options are available, extraction may be the only option.