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Unlike specialists, who are primarily focused on a particular area of dental practice, these professionals provide a wide range of treatments that are important for maintaining patients’ health, including:
Preventive treatments
This helps to maintain a good oral condition by preventing the development of diseases of the mouth, such as cavities and gum disease. Regular clinical examinations that can be accompanied by complementary exams, such as radiographs and professional teeth cleaning are fundamental conducts to promote oral health. Your general practitioner can provide detailed instructions to improve your oral hygiene at home and also recommend treatments that further help prevent diseases, such as applying sealants to some teeth.
Restorative Treatments
When a problem is found, your dentist will ensure that you get timely and appropriate treatment. Probably the most common (highly effective) dental restoration involves removing tooth decay and placing a fill in the affected tooth.
Normally, teeth are restored with composite resin, however, in cases of more extensive loss of tooth structure, the use of porcelain restorations, which offer greater strength and durability, may be indicated. But this is not the only restorative procedure that general practitioners provide.
They are able to attend to some emergencies such as dental trauma, repair fractured teeth, diagnose and treat pain of dental or gingival origin (gingival inflammation). In addition, they can also offer treatments for replacement of teeth with great loss of structure or absent, through the installation of crowns, fixed prostheses (bridges) or full dentures (dentures).
Cosmetic procedures
Many general dentists can help you get the pleasant smile you’ve always wanted with a variety of cosmetic procedures. These include teeth whitening, aesthetic restorations in composite resin, porcelain veneers and dental contact lenses, which are laminated in thin porcelain.
General health concerns
In many ways, your oral health can be seen as a mirror of your overall health. Some dental problems can reflect problems in other parts of your body, and vice versa. For example, untreated oral infections can make it difficult to adequately control chronic diseases such as diabetes, increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cause complications during pregnancy.
General practitioners are trained to identify these and other issues, and offer appropriate treatment or referral to specialists when necessary. Of particular concern is obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially deadly condition that can sometimes be treated with an oral appliance. General dentists can also offer nutritional counseling to prevent caries disease, advice on smoking cessation and general health and wellness information.
In terms of routine dental appointments, there is no single agenda that fits all patients. Depending on your individual circumstances, your dentist may want to see you twice a year, every three months, or another interval. In any case, don’t miss these consultations. Maintaining the recommended preventive treatment schedule and practicing effective oral hygiene at home are the two best ways to prevent dental disease and keep your smile pleasant and healthy for the rest of your life.
Prepared by: Dr. Milton Maluly Filho – Technical Supervisor Odontology Clinic Omint Unit Berrini – CRO: 38955
