4 Services Offered by a Family Dentist
A family dentist offers their services to patients of all ages, from young children to elderly adults. They provide comprehensive oral care, including preventative services, cosmetic procedures, and restorative dentistry. Quinte Mall Dental can treat your entire family, and here are some of the services we offer:
1. Dental Exams, X-rays, and Cleaning
Every person should get a dental exam at least twice a year or every six months. Before the exam starts, a dental hygienist takes diagnostic X-rays and then gives you a thorough cleaning. They remove tartar and plaque and then polish your teeth. During the exam, the dentist evaluates the X-rays, looking for tooth decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. They will screen for oral cancer by checking your face, neck, tongue, lips, gums, and throat. The dentist will also evaluate your gums and inspect any existing fillings or crowns. At the end of the exam, the dental team will give you advice for better oral care, and you can make an appointment for your next cleaning. If the dentist sees any problem areas, you can make a follow-up appointment to treat them.
2. Fillings
Fillings are placed when a tooth has decayed, cracked, or fractured. The dental team removes the decayed area, cleans the open space, and then places either a composite (tooth-colored) or silver amalgam filling. They shape and polish the filling so it feels comfortable when you bite down. Patients won’t feel discomfort during this procedure and will be able to use their teeth almost immediately afterward.
3. Root Canal Treatment
If the nerve of a tooth is decayed or infected, one treatment option is root canal therapy. Indicators that you may need a root canal can involve abscesses on the gums near the tooth, hot and cold sensitivity, severe tooth pain, and swelling. Some or all of these symptoms present if decay has reached the living tissue inside the tooth, an infection has developed near the tooth’s nerve, or the tooth has been injured. A root canal procedure starts with removing the pulp, nerves, and decay from the affected tooth. The space is filled with a temporary or permanent filling. This therapy restores full function to the tooth and is a convenient solution.
4. Teeth Whitening
Teeth may be yellow because of genetics, drinking coffee, tea, or wine, or taking certain medications. They may also be yellow from the normal wear of tooth enamel over time. Teeth whitening is a simple solution that changes the color of tooth enamel. If you have fillings or crowns, they won’t be affected by the teeth whitening procedure, so if you want them to match your new color, the fillings and crowns will need to be replaced.
A teeth whitening procedure starts by taking a mold or impression of your teeth so custom trays can be created. The trays are filled with a teeth-whitening solution and then are worn for either 30 minutes twice a day or overnight for a couple of weeks. The timeframe depends on the level of staining on your teeth.
Visit a Family Dentist for Comprehensive Care
A family dentist provides a variety of services to keep your mouth and teeth feeling good and in working condition. From basic cleanings to cosmetic teeth whitening, rely on the dental team at Quinte Mall Dental for all of your dental care. Make an appointment with us today.