New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy Smile

Mar 01, 2020

If your New Year’s resolution includes having a healthy smile for the rest of the year you cannot wait until the year has gone past to resolve again for 2021. You must begin right away by taking good care of your dental health by yourself or visit the one healthcare provider that you see more than any other. You must attempt to prevent any dental and oral conditions by visiting your general dentist because he or she is the one professional that is uniquely oriented towards the prevention of disease. Estimates are available that nearly 65% of all dental procedures are either preventive or diagnostic and the professional that can offer you the best advice on maintaining your New Year’s resolution is your dentist in the field of general dentistry.

General dentists are the primary providers of dental care for people of all ages. During a routine visit to your family dentist, you will have a thorough examination of your mouth, a professional cleaning, and discuss your dental and overall health. If the examination reveals tooth decay you may also have a filling in the affected tooth. However, despite these procedures being common they are hardly the only services provided by the general dentist.

What Are the Services Provided by General Dentists?

Approximately 80% of the 143,000 dentists practicing in North America are general dentists that are providing a wide array of services. They are not specialists focusing on a specific aspect of dental practice but the services they provide are vital for your continued health and are maintaining a healthy smile. The kind of services they provide include the following:

Preventive Services

Preventive services can help you to maintain good oral health by preventing disease before they affect your mouth. Regular exams including diagnostic images and dental x-rays along with professional teeth cleanings are essential for prevention. The general dentist may provide you detailed instructions to improve your at-home oral hygiene routine besides recommending preventive treatments like sealants if needed. If you lead an active lifestyle you may be offered a custom-made mouthguard by your dentist.

Restorative Services

When problems are detected your dentist will make sure you get prompt and appropriate treatment. Perhaps the most common and effective dental restoration is removing tooth decay and filling the affected tooth. However, that is not the only restorative procedure gentle dentistry can provide. They can also offer you a place to visit when you need immediate treatment for dental trauma like broken, loosened, or knocked-out teeth. General dentists can diagnose and treat the causes of tooth pain and periodontal disease. They can also offer you treatments for missing teeth like placing crowns or bridgework and help you if you need dentures. Some even have the expertise to provide advanced treatments like root canal therapy, dental implants, orthodontics, and others.

Cosmetic Procedures

General dentists are capable of helping you to develop a healthy smile with a variety of cosmetic dental procedures. These include cosmetic bonding, teeth whitening and also porcelain veneers. If you are looking for a healthier smile you can inquire with your general dentist about having a smile makeover.

Overall Health Conditions

Your oral health can be considered as a mirror of your overall health. Some dental problems could be indicating issues in other parts of your body. Untreated oral complications can lead to a lack of control of diabetes, an increased incidence of cardiovascular conditions and complications during pregnancy. General dentistry professionals are trained to identify these issues along with others to offer you the appropriate treatment as needed or refer you to a specialist. An area of special concern is sleep apnea which affects approximately 5% of Americans. This condition is potentially deadly and can be treated with an oral appliance. General dentists can provide you nutritional counseling and advice on tobacco cessation apart from general health and wellness information.

As your New Year resolves to have a healthy smile throughout the year you should be visiting the general dentist every six months for preventive services or whenever you have concerns about your oral health. It is the best method for you to stay committed to your resolution and have a healthy smile from the beginning of the year.

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