What a General Dentist Does
Of more than 155,000 dentists in the US, at least 90,000 practice General Dentist Nassau County. They are simply dentists who do not specialize in one area of dentistry, and you may know them to be your basic family dentist. They are referred to as such because they can treat basic dental problems of patients of all ages, as opposed to pediatric dentists who specialize in treating younger patients.
A general dentist can offer a wide range of dental care services, learned through 7 years or more of formal education. They can perform oral x-rays and CAT scans to learn more about a patient’s dental problem. They give the diagnosis and may provide the treatment if they can. Most general dentists are capable of providing the following services:
Fillings
Dental cavities may not be the most serious dental problem out there, but it is one of the most common. The affected tooth will have to be filled with a material such as porcelain, amalgam, gold, silver or composite resin.
Crowns and Bridges
Crowns are simply fake teeth that can fit real teeth inside of them. Besides protecting the teeth from any further damage, crowns are also used when making bridges. A bridge consists of a false tooth fitted in between two very natural-looking crowns.
Cleaning
Dental cleaning can also serve as a general check-up. Dentists who work in a private office usually have dental hygienists to perform the cleaning. These dental hygienists can also help spot basic dental problems. Most dentists suggest having this cleaning done once or twice a year.
Root Canal
This treatment is done by surgically removing bacteria-infected pulp and nerve inside a tooth. This infection is usually painful and, if left untreated, may result to even bigger problems such as abscesses and the further spread of infection. Sometimes, the therapy only involves thoroughly cleaning of the pulp, followed by a filling procedure.
Extractions
An extraction of a permanent tooth is actually done as a last resort, but it is considered one of the most common procedures a dentist performs. If nothing can be done to save a damaged or infected tooth, extraction will be performed under local anesthesia.