Everything You Should Know About General Dentists

Everything You Should Know About General Dentists

November 1, 2021

Who is the primary dental care provider for you and your family? Do you call different specialists located some distance away to schedule appointments, or do you visit the dentist near you with DDS or DMD letters after their name? Of course, you decide on the latter because the professional practicing general dentistry provides all services you and your family needs and only provides referrals when needed.

Who is General Dentist?

Our dentist near you who practices as a general dentist is no less a dental professional than the specialists in different high-scale locations. General dentists are the professionals you visit whenever you need routine exams or cleanings, cosmetic procedures, nutritional counseling, fillings, and numerous other procedures.

Where matters related to your dental health are concerned, our dentist in Houston, TX, is your primary care provider. They can care for any dental problem you have, from minor to significant. If you want one dental care provider for your entire family, the general dentist is the professional to contact because they have the knowledge and experience to treat patients of all ages. If you have senior members in your family with different needs, rest assured the general dentist also attends to their requirements, making you feel like you are dealing with a family dentist.

What is the Qualification of a General Dentist?

All dentists in Houston, TX, go through intensive training for four years in a dental school before graduating with a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine). The initials do not make them specialists in a particular dental field because their training is similar. General dentists begin practicing soon after completing dental school without venturing into areas of specialization. Over 80 percent of all dentists in America are general dentists, while the rest have invested additional time in their education to specialize in different fields of dentistry.

Dentistry has various fields such as periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, endodontists, etc. The specializations require additional education for three to four years before the specialists acquire degrees and licensing from the state to begin practicing.

General dentists also know the specialties and can perform most procedures. Instead of spending additional time in dental school, they invest in ongoing education by attending seminars and other programs. They can provide for children, people with gum disease, patients needing root canals, and cosmetic dentistry. Therefore, the general dentist you visit offers you a one-stop shop for all your dental needs and those of every family member. For this reason, there is no need to consider a specialist over a general dentist for dental problems.

What Kind of Treatments are Provided by General Dentists?

General Dentists specializes in providing a variety of services, including the following:

Preventive Services

Preventive services help you maintain proper oral health by inhibiting disease from developing in your mouth. When receiving preventive services, expect to undergo regular exams and cleanings, including providing x-rays and counseling about your nutritional health. You also obtain more information for at-home oral care. For example, if you lead an active lifestyle participating in sporting activities, your dentist provides a customized mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums.

Restorative Services

If your dentist discovers problems like cavities or gum disease in your mouth during routine exams and cleanings, the dentist will advise you to get the issues treated immediately before they advance into severe conditions. Suppose you visit the dentist with an emergency such as a knocked-out tooth; expect the professional to splint the tooth back in its socket with support from the adjacent teeth to ensure you don’t have to display a toothless grin. If you can’t get to the dentist within the stipulated 30 minutes, the dentist provides alternative solutions like bridges or implants to restore your missing tooth.

Overall Health Problems

Are you aware your dental health has an association with your overall health? If not, it is time for you to realize any problem with your dental health can also affect your entire body. For example, an untreated cavity in your tooth can expand into a dental pulp infection and spread to your jawbone before the bacteria eventually enter your bloodstream. The problem can cause issues like cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. By detecting problems early and offering prompt treatments, general dentists safeguard your overall health and prevent you from needing treatments from various medical health professionals.

If you need any dental treatment, whether minor or significant, general dentistry should be your first point of call because the specialists are either too busy or unavailable to treat the most common dental issues. Consider general dentistry services essential to maintaining your dental and oral health and leave the specialists to deal with exceptional situations.

Are you looking for general dentistry in Houston, TX? Call or book an appointment today with American Modern Dental for hassle-free dentistry services.

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