General Dentistry Overview
At Authentic Smiles in Austin, TX we consider general dentistry the exact same as preventative dentistry. It is a sure-fire method for ensuring that each patient has gums and teeth in a state of optimal health at all times, and it identifies and treats any problems before they get a chance to develop into much larger issues.
Naturally, as your dentist in Austin, TX, we cannot force you to use our general dentistry, but we can encourage you to do so as our frontline defense against issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and worse.
The basics of our general dentistry treatments are the dental exam and dental cleaning. While once a year is acceptable, we encourage you to get this done twice yearly. This gives us the opportunity to remove all of the tartar or plaque and to check for any early signs of periodontal (gum) disease. Getting on top of things before they even really take hold is the best approach to your oral health, and brushing and flossing will only do so much. Regular cleanings and exams are the best way to prevent serious issues.
We also do oral DNA screenings for patients concerned about gum disease. There are now tests that can help you to discover if you are someone more prone to the development of periodontal disease, and this is also part of our offerings.
Our general dentistry also includes the remedies to any other issues we discover during a cleaning or exam. For example, we can remedy tooth decay through the use of tooth colored fillings, root canals, dental crowns and more.
Though you may not envision a filling or root canal as preventative, it actually prevents the worsening of any issues – and this is the focus of our general treatment options. If we discover an issue, we discuss the various methods for addressing the situation, and indicate the best option. For example, you may find that only a small amount of decay has occurred on the cusp of a tooth. This would be a good time for a tooth colored filling. However, deep set decay may have taken hold, necessitating a root canal. If a cavity is very large, but not affecting the pulp or root, we can suggest a dental crown rather than a filling.
Any of these options would halt the decay, treat the tooth to prevent any further harm, and allow you to keep that adult tooth rather than lose it to further decay or damage. This is why general dentistry is the most important dentistry to use on a regular basis.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions about general dentistry, or about any of the other treatments mentioned here, give us a call at our Austin, TX office at 512-330-9403. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.
