Dental Care - Preventive and Restorative
Good oral health is important for a long and healthy life. It lets you speak clearly, taste and chew your food well, and look and feel good. It also helps you manage oral diseases and disorders that affect your health and quality of life.
The most effective way to maintain good oral health is through preventive care. This means taking care of your teeth and gums with regular brushing and flossing, getting dental check-ups and x-rays, and eating a balanced diet.
A dentist or hygienist can help you keep your mouth clean and disease-free by cleaning it thoroughly with a special brush. This removes bacteria and stains from the surface of your teeth. They may also apply fluoride, which strengthens your tooth enamel and decreases your risk of cavities.
Your dentist or hygienist will also examine your teeth and gums to check for problems. They may use a mirror, probe (a fine, pick-like tool), and X-rays to find problems such as tooth decay or gum disease.
They can also give you advice on what to eat, drink and do to avoid common oral health problems. For example, avoiding sugary and sweet foods can decrease your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Adults need to see their dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning. These visits can catch a problem before it starts, so it's best to make sure you have an appointment on time!
If you have gum disease, your dentist can remove harmful plaque from around and below your gum line with a special scaling tool called a sonic toothbrush. This can stop or reverse the disease in its tracks and prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body.
Besides checking your teeth and gums, your dentist or hygienist can also clean the inside of your mouth, including the tongue, lips, and cheeks. They can also check your jaw joints and lymph nodes in your neck for problems that may need to be treated.
You might need restorative dental treatment to repair a broken, chipped, or cracked tooth or to improve its appearance. These treatments range from simple fillings to crowns, veneers, and onlays.
A crown is a cap that covers the entire visible part of a tooth. This can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of these materials depending on the tooth's condition and your aesthetic needs.
Another type of restorative dentistry is prosthodontics, which focuses on improving the look and function of your teeth. For example, you might have crowded, crooked, or missing teeth that need to be straightened with braces. Or, you might need to replace a tooth that has been lost due to an accident or injury.
Prosthodontists can also repair a chipped or fractured tooth by inserting a crown. They can also replace a missing tooth with an implant, which is attached to your jawbone.
Seeing your dentist and hygienist regularly can keep your smile healthy and beautiful for the long term. It can also prevent oral and overall health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.