For many patients, multiple dentists are the only thing worse than one dentist. In this article, we’re going to discuss different types of dentists(general dentist) that you as a patient might commonly encounter and what they do.
The first type of dentist we’re gonna discuss is the general dentist, but how do you even become a dentist in Canada? it’s common for every dentist to complete a bachelor’s degree before attending dental school.
Dental school is four years long, and upon graduation, the dentists will receive a doctorate in dental medicine or a doctorate in dental surgery. Some of these dental school graduates will do more training in a one-year or two-year residency, quickly expanding their experience and knowledge. Other dental school graduates will go on to specialize in specific areas of Dentistry, which we’ll discuss more.
What Does a General Dentist Do?
A general dentist is the most common type of dentist that you will encounter. A general dentist is the subject matter expert of restorative dentistry. Sort of dentistry is a study of the diagnosis and the management of diseases of the teeth and the rehabilitation of the teeth, the bite and the aesthetics of the smile. To put it more simply, this is a dentist who will treat cavities by doing fillings and restoring teeth to their intended function and appearance.
What Does a General Dentist Treat?
General dentists can treat gum disease and related issues through root canals, crowns, and full mouth rehabilitation. They can treat children, they can do limited orthodontics and Invisalign. They can take out teeth, including third molars surgeries. General dentists can replace teeth with bridge implants or removable dentures. They have the training to diagnose and treat various oral pathologies and can treat oral facial pain, and tip Roman tubular disorders commonly referred to by patients as TMJ. Just because general dentists can do a large variety of procedures does not mean that every general dentist will do all these procedures. Some general dentists choose the procedures they will perform in their offices. Maybe they only do procedures they love to do, or maybe they only do those they know they are good at. This can sometimes make finding the right dentists for you as a patient tricky.
QUALITY AFFORDABLE DENTAL IMPLANTS
Copperhills Family Dentistry specialists provide specialized dental services that help our patients cultivate healthy and happy smiles. We’re happy to provide compassionate care coupled with cutting-edge technology.
Dental Implants TeethWhitening cosmetic
dentistry dental cleaning
and checkups
What Happens When a Patient Has a Dental Emergency?
There are times when a patient has an emergency and decides to go to the dentist, that is either the closest or the only one who is open at 7:00 p.m. . Depending on the situation, a dental emergency could have a few treatment options or it may only have one or two options that are ideal and best suited for the situation in which the patient presents for example; let’s say a patient has some mild swelling localized around a molar tooth, the dentist does an examination and determines that this tooth has had a huge cavity that has destroyed the majority of the exposed tooth structure with tiny tooth remaining. The dentist decides that the best thing to do is remove the tooth. Removing the tooth would eliminate pain and swelling from the infection and prevent the infection from getting worse. The only problem is that a specific dentist does not do extractions and decides to refer you to a specialist to get the treatment completed. Now you end up seeing two providers for the same issue. These situations happen all the time and are not uncommon if you are not sure what services a dentist or a dental office offers. You may be able to find out by visiting their online dental website, or you may need to just call the office and ask somebody. If you decide to call, ask someone if they think that a dental provider could entirely treat your situation or if they think you may need to go somewhere else. Truthfully they may not have a good answer without looking at you in person, completing an exam and radiographs, but the point is just knowing that every general dentist is not the same, and you may need to look around until you find someone right for you.
The Most Important Thing before Visiting A Dentist
You will want to be seen by a general dentist for most things in dentistry. First, the general dentist is the provider to whom you establish a dental home, so to speak. They will do an initial examination and recommend a treatment plan to get you back to good oral health and take care of elective procedures such as replacing missing teeth or cosmetic dentistry. This is the dentist you will see for your biannual or annual checkups, and it is the general dentist’s office where you would most likely go for routine cleanings. Most cleanings are going to be completed by a dental hygienist who works for the general dentists. If you do not currently have a general dentist, our clinic would strongly encourage you to look around at dentists in your area and find one that you think would be a good fit for you and your family. In dentistry, prevention is always better than treating something after it has started. Little problems can turn into big problems in a concise amount of time, and once a big problem occurs, the options to fix that problem can become complex and expensive. Would you instead get the oil change in your car regularly or never change it and have to buy a completely new car?
Of course, changing the oil is an easier option if you use your mouth every day, and it requires routine maintenance, so make sure you establish a dental home if you do not have one.
