VWB Blog In the United States, only 63% of adults had a dental visit within the past year. Regularly visiting the dentist is necessary for your oral health and can help you prevent many unnecessary dental procedures.
Not only do dentists provide treatments for cavities and other dental issues, but they can also provide preventative care to keep your teeth healthy.
Do you want to learn more about the most common types of dental treatments that are used today? Keep reading this article to understand what to expect from each of these common dental treatments in the dental industry.
Teeth Cleaning
Teeth cleaning is one of the most common dental treatments you will receive when you visit the dentist. This is the reason why most people go to the dentist and it is recommended that you get your teeth cleaned every six months.
When you get your teeth cleaned, most of the treatment will be scaling and polishing. This is necessary to remove tartar, which is a buildup of plaque that turns into calculus.
Tartar cannot be removed with brushing and flossing, so a dental hygienist will use special tools to scrape the tartar off the surface of your teeth. They will also polish your teeth to remove stains!
Getting these types of preventative treatments can help with dental anxiety and can help you avoid other, more invasive treatments.
Oral Cancer Exams
In the United States, there are about 53,000 new oral cancer cases each year. While they are often caused by alcohol or tobacco use, there are other things that can put you at risk of developing oral cancer.
Oral cancers are also known to spread quickly and can often go undetected. Because of this, a common dental treatment is oral cancer exams. These exams are part of a typical dental check-up.
During an oral cancer screening, your dentist will feel around your mouth to see if there are any irregular tissues or lumps inside your mouth. They will also keep an eye out for sores or tissues that are discolored.
These screenings can potentially save your life, so they are an important dental treatment!
Repairs and Fillings
Even with the best oral hygiene habits, you will likely deal with cavities or other oral health issues at some point. Because of this, fillings and repairs are a common treatment provided at a dental office.
Whether you have teeth that are decaying or damaged, your dentist may recommend a filling. These will protect your teeth and prevent the decay from spreading.
You can also get cosmetic fillings to improve the appearance of your smile.
Root Canals & Crowns
If your tooth decay has spread too far, you may not be able to repair it with a filling. Instead, you may need to get a root canal. Root canals are also necessary if you injure or crack your tooth.
During this treatment, your dentist will open up your tooth to clean out the infected tissue, also known as pulp. Once they have removed all the decayed or infected tissue, they will fill the space and seal it to prevent other issues from developing in the future.
Often, you will also need to get a crown when you get a root canal.
Extractions
Sometimes, a dentist is not able to repair your tooth with a filling or a root canal. In these cases, it may be necessary to extract the tooth. You may also need to remove a tooth if your mouth is overcrowded or if there was some type of trauma to your tooth.
Still, the best dentist offices will likely try other treatments before resorting to a permanent solution like a tooth extraction.
When you get a tooth extraction, your dentist will either sedate you or numb your mouth. This means that you will not feel any pain during the procedure!
Dental Implants
When you remove a tooth, your dentist will recommend that you replace the missing tooth.
This is because missing teeth can affect the structure of your face, make it difficult to chew, and may even cause the rest of the teeth in your mouth to shift.
There are a few options for replacing missing teeth. One of the most common is a dental implant. Getting dental implants is a process that replaces tooth roots with metal posts. You can then top these implants with a crown to match the rest of your teeth.
Other tooth replacement options include bridges and dentures.
Cosmetic Dental Services
Finally, your dentist may offer many different cosmetic dental services. These are not necessary for your oral health but focus on improving the aesthetics of your smile.
One of the most common cosmetic dental services is teeth whitening. This is also known as teeth bleaching and can help reverse discoloration or staining on your teeth.
Another common type of cosmetic service many dentists offer is dental veneers. Veneers are made out of porcelain or composite material and look like thin shells.
They are custom-made for your smile and can be used to improve the appearance of crooked teeth, discoloration, chipped teeth, and even gaps in your teeth.
You can also use dental bonding to treat these same issues. If you need help with any of these cosmetic treatments, you should look for a local dentist that offers these treatments!
Learn More About Common Dental Treatments Today
There are many different services that your dentist can provide at your upcoming appointments. Learning more about these common dental treatments can help you prepare for your appointment and know exactly what to expect.
Do you want to learn more about any of these dental treatments? We can help! Our blog has expert articles on health and lifestyle and can help you learn more about caring for your oral health.
Check out our blog today for everything you need to know about improving your dental health.