Dentistry

Dentistry is a branch of medicine that works to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and teeth. Many dentists practice general dentistry and diagnose, treat, or restore missing or damaged and diseased teeth and provide preventative oral care. Some dentists treat only adults while others practice family dentistry and treat individuals of all ages while others treat adults only.

Dentists may specialize in a number of dental care areas. A person can find a dentist by visiting a dentist directory.

Other Dentistry Procedures

People who visit dentists may need one or more of these common dental procedures at some point in their lives. With new technological advances and methods in dentistry, such as sedation dentistry, these procedures are performed more quickly and comfortably than ever before.

Dental Implants: Missing teeth from injury or poor oral hygiene can affect a person’s smile and self confidence. However, dental implants offer people with missing teeth a solution to improve their smiles. Dental implants are metal cylinders (they look like screws) that act as roots for replacement teeth. Once the cylinder is implanted, an abutment is attached and an artificial tooth (dental crown) is fixed to the abutment. The crown looks like a real tooth and completes the smile. Dental implants are an alternative to dentures and dental bridges.
Root Canals: Root canals are performed to remove diseased or damaged tissue within a tooth.
Dental Fillings: Dental fillings repair the area where tooth decay was removed by filling it in with composite or porcelain materials.
Bonding: Bonding repairs cracked and chipped teeth. A composite material is applied to the tooth surface and then molded and shaped to fit the tooth. It is then polished to disguise the crack or chip in the tooth.
Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial tooth that is held in place by material that warps around other supporting teeth.
Dentures: People often get dentures to replace missing or damaged teeth that can not be repaired or restored with other common dentistry procedures. Denture cleaning is important for the maintenance of denture functionality and oral health care.
Dental Braces: Dental braces help to correct a person’s bite and teeth alignment for a straight smile and improved chewing.
Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are used to repair decayed teeth. Crowns cover the entire surface of the decayed tooth to add stability and strength.

Cosmetic Dentistry

While traditional dentistry focuses on treating and preventing periodontal diseases, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of a person’s teeth. A cosmetic dentist can give a person a straighter, whiter, and healthier looking smile. Through the use of dental implants, dental veneers, teeth whitening, and other procedures, a person can improve the appearance of his or her teeth.

Cosmetic dentists perform a number of procedures including:

Dental Implants: Dental implants have artificial roots that a dentist implants into a patient’s jaw to hold a bridge or tooth. Dental implants are an ideal option for people with good oral health who have lost teeth to injury or to disease. Dental implants can provide natural looking teeth.
Dental Veneers: Dental veneers are thin, porcelain or composite material shells designed to cover the front tooth surface to improve the color and shape of the teeth. The veneer shells are bonded to the front of the tooth changing the shape, size, and color. Veneers are ideal for patients who have gaps in their teeth or for patients for whom whitening is not successful. The cost of dental veneers are not commonly covered by dental insurance, however patients should check their individual dental plan for specific information.
Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening is a common cosmetic dentistry procedure. Teeth whitening bleaches stains and discolorations on one or more teeth. Though teeth whitening is not permanent, teeth whitening can dramatically improve the appearance of stained and discolored teeth.

For more comprehensive information about cosmetic dentistry, or to find a dentist or a dentist directory, laser dentistry, dentists, or other dental procedures, visit YourDentistryGuide.com.