Dentistry is vital within all communities and has become even more required over the years as sugar-ladened foods have become mainstream. But do you know all the services your dentist could offer you? There are several types of services your dentist offers, including general dentistry. But before we delve into this, let’s briefly overview some history.
Looking back to what our ancestors ate, we can tell they truly lived off the land, eating raw foods, unprocessed proteins, and generally foods healthier than what later years introduced. This paid off as historians have uncovered human skulls with perfectly intact teeth. With the booming of processed foods, longer shelf-life, and mass production, many foods cause damage to our teeth. Things like sugar and foods that stain can also take their toll, and it’s true we probably need dentistry more now than our ancestors did back then. Knowing what services your dentist offers is a good start to getting the treatment you need.
The Benefits of Visiting Your Dentist
Visiting your dentist and knowing what services your dentist offers can benefit your oral health in many ways, not to mention prevent the loss of teeth because of tooth decay or gum disease.
Improve your smile and increase your confidence – With a full mouth of teeth, you’ll have a whole smile and a boost in your confidence.
Catch problems before they occur – When you visit our dentist regularly, you can be sure that tooth problems are caught before they worsen. Your dentist can help mitigate any issues posing a future risk. This is more so when you visit regularly.
Your teeth look healthier – Cleaning your teeth with a regular polish and scale will ensure that any plaque build-up is removed before they cause issues.
Oral health care linked to overall health – Some researches show dental issues can directly impact overall health. It may be linked to heart disease, cause sleep apnea, premature birth, infections, and oral cancer, to name a few.
Reduce dental costs in the future – By practicing good oral care and a good dental regimen, you are bound to save money. If all the dental issues are regularly caught ahead of time, and all that’s left is just regular upkeep, then dental fees will significantly be lower than if you only visited the dentist in emergencies. Some restoration emergencies can cost a lot of money, especially when there’s a lot of work to do, given the years of neglect.
Modern Dental Care in America
Modern dentistry in the United States covers many aspects of general dentistry. Some services your dentist offers include tooth extractions, tooth cleaning, orthodontics, implants, oral x-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, oral examinations, oral appliances to treat sleep apnea, cosmetic dentistry, onlays and overlays, Invisalign, plus more. You should check with your local dentist your area about the extent of services they might be specialized in.
Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry
Anything with the word “cosmetic” in front sets the tone for envisaging cosmetic surgery like liposuction, having a facelift, etc. Still, it isn’t always about cosmetic surgery of the aesthetic sort you tend to see in Hollywood. Instead, cosmetic dentistry also covers some procedures to improve your smile and confidence. The services your dentist offers may not be the same as the next who might specialize in cosmetic dentistry. Still, checking what services the dentist offers can help you make a decision on which specialist to see.
Cosmetic dentistry covers a variety of procedures, including permanent and reversible dental work. Permanent cosmetic dentistry service includes dental implants, orthodontic work, porcelain veneers, dental crowns, and bridges too. Reversible cosmetic dentistry includes cosmetic bonding and composite veneers. Reversible treatments don’t last as long as permanent procedures.
Sedation Services for Dental Anxiety
Dental anxiety and nervousness have seen many patients go for years without visiting the dentist unless an emergency arises. While many people admit they are nervous about visiting the dentist, this does not mean they won’t be able to get the help they need. You can ask the dental office in your area whether they have sedation services available.
Sedation dentistry is often used for patients with dental anxiety. The patient is put under using a gas so that they can relax or fall asleep. By doing so, the dentist can perform the dental procedures required. Sometimes, the patient has to be sedated to perform more extreme dental procedures like mild dental or oral surgery.
Multiple Payment Options
The services your dentist offers may include various payment methods, making it easier to pay for the services without having to dock out cash immediately at times. Some medical insurance may cover a portion of dental services, while others may exclude any cosmetic dental work. You can check with your insurance services what aspects of dental work they cover, which can be done in advance before completing any work. Other payment options can also further include credit card, cash, visa, Mastercard, pension payment (PPO), and health maintenance organization (HMO) payments.
Dental insurances often cover fillings, preventative care, dentures, bridges, tooth extractions, and related surgery for extraction, as well as, root canals (endodontics). Furthermore, some dental insurance might not cover preexisting dental issues like gum disease and the steps to mitigate the progression.
Support for Dental Neglect
Poor oral health is also said to be linked to mental conditions like depression. Among seniors, it is said that depression is one of the common symptoms that many older folks experience, but it’s not due to their aging process. A small study between 2015 and 2016 involved 180 men and 320 women aged 65-99. Some aspects checked during the study are missing teeth, cavities, and oral dryness. In short, the study found that negative oral health conditions could affect mental wellness also causing depression among elderly people.
The services your dentist offers include ongoing support for your oral health’s wellness. From children to seniors, dentistry is needed in every age group. Visiting at least twice a year can help prevent any issues that could occur, and dental restoration can help restore your smile and your confidence. Some restoration procedures in dentistry may include teeth whitening, although this may also fall under cosmetic dentistry in some cases. Other dental restoration services include fillings, crowns, and bridges as well as prosthetic teeth like dentures or implants.
Cosmetic Services
Cosmetic dentistry is a lucrative industry and not only great for aspiring and veteran dentists but also highly beneficial for people looking to permanently or temporarily restore their pearlies.
Teeth whitening— When we think of cosmetic dentistry, we always envisage straight teeth, white and sparkly perfection. Indeed, cosmetic dental work includes bleaching or teeth whitening. You should check what services your dentist offers to get the work done that you’re looking to have. If you have more money to spend, cosmetic surgery can work for you. However, if you are tight for cash but would like to improve the way your teeth look, there are restorative procedures that your dentist can do to help.
Botox for teeth grinding— Botox or Dysport are two types of injectables used to help treat teeth clenching or bruxism. It’s very common for people to grind their teeth during high-stress times, but chronic teeth grinding can lead to severe damage like receding gums, loose teeth, and worn teeth. Injectables have proved to help many patients find relief for their teeth-clenching woes.
Dental bonding— A reversible cosmetic service includes dental bonding, which helps mask tooth imperfections like cracks, gaps, chips, and discoloration. A color-match resin is bonded to the tooth using special lighting. It is an instant fix for many tooth imperfections.
Gum contouring— As the name suggests, gum contouring helps improve the appearance of the gums. In the case of gum recession, gum tissue is restored, in contrast to tissue removed when there is an excess of gum tissue. The contouring of gums helps create an ideal shape suited to the mouth and the teeth.
Oral Health Fixes for Acne
Did you know that facial acne has now been shown to be linked to dental problems? Cutibacteria or propionibacteria is a common bacteria species forming part of the skin. It is also the same bacteria causing inflammation in gums and resulting in acne of the skin. Looking after your oral health can help mitigate some other health concerns, including stubborn facial acne.
Sleep Apnea Solutions
Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder that affects one in every 15 Americans, according to Houston Sleep Solutions. Sleep apnea causes a restriction of airflow, especially during sleep, and if it goes untreated, it can be life-threatening. There are three major types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and a combination of both.
Oftentimes, patients with sleep apnea may experience additional dental problems like excessive dry mouth because of sleeping with the mouth open and breathing through the mouth and not the nose. This is often the case because the airways are obstructed or collapsed, making breathing harder. Excessive dry mouth also makes the perfect environment for carries to multiply, causing tooth decay. Or worsening existing tooth decay. Your dentist may recommend sleep doctors who will help mitigate and manage sleep apnea
Medical Spa Services
While fillers and injectables are often associated with cosmetic surgery, there is research that proves them to help reduce the effects of jaw clenching due to bruxism. According to Health Mil, more than 30 percent of people in America suffer from bruxism and the symptoms that come with it. Patients with bruxism often suffer from headaches and jaw pain, and some develop TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder).
Fillers and injectables have recently been a resolution to dental issues like bruxism because it helps to relax the jaw muscle and reduce the clenching effects. The injection is done in certain locations of the jaw to help weaken the jaw muscles, thus relaxing the jaw. Dentists may recommend medical spa services to help some of their patients with tooth-grinding conditions.
Referrals to Specialists
Referrals are a great way to source for a good dentist in your area. With the reviews and recommendations from other patients, you’ll find a doctor you can trust and one you can use for many years to come. Referrals are not only good for patients but also for the dental doctors running their practices. With more referrals come more patients and the continued growth of business for your dental office. In this way, you’re also able to extend your services and help to more people in your local area. Dentists may also be able to refer their patients to a specialist to help with treatment for bruxism, such as Botox injections to ease tense TMJ.
How Do You Know Your Teeth Might Have a Problem?
- Toothaches
- You have cracked teeth
- Toot sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures
- Receding gums
- You may experience excessive dry mouth frequently
- Consistent bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Loose teeth
- Jaw-clicking noises when you yawn or chew
There’s nothing to be afraid of when visiting a dentist, but a fear of the dentist is normal and very common. This is often the case when the introduction to the dentist at a young age may have led to a bad experience and or severe pain when services are completed. People often keep the bad experience in the back of their minds, and it sets the tone for the fear we see in many. Still, there is nothing to be afraid of. The dentist is a professional and is there to help you get the help you need to fix your teeth problems. You may need a few sessions before treatment is completed, but it is worth your while at the end of the day.
Conclusion
If you haven’t considered dental health as crucial importance, it’s time to make that adjustment today. The sooner you get your teeth looked after properly, the better it will work for you as time passes. You will also have a newfound appreciation for the great-looking teeth and smile you can be proud of after being treated at your local dentist office.
