Dentistry ranks in the top 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States today, and every single year, tens of millions of Americans will visit their dentist for basic care. In many cases, this means routine checkups and cleaning, and dentists may also take X-rays of their patient’s teeth. Parents may bring in their kids to a pediatric dentist, and this form of dentistry revolves around keeping kids’ teeth in good shape as they grow up. In this arena of dentistry, young patients may learn good dental care habits that will last a lifetime. What is there to know about conventional dentistry today? Dental options are many and varied, after all.
Finding the Best Dentist Around
When a family moves to a new city or county, they will want to find local healthcare providers relevant to their needs. This may include urgent care centers, pharmacies, and of course, dentistry options, too. In most cases, clients will use the Internet to explore local dentistry options, and a more specific search is likely to produce some good results. The client may type in the sort of dentistry they need, such as family dental practices, pediatric dental clinics, or general dental offices for adults. Not only that, but the client may also enter their city name or ZIP code to keep the results local. A good query might look like “best rated dentists in Coral Gables” or “top rated pediatric dental offices in Coral Gables.” A whole list of results will appear, and the client may strike out options that they do not like.
With a shorter list of offices on hand, the clients may start touring local dentistry options in person. Visiting a dental office in person is a fine chance to form a fair impression of it, and the guests may also consult the staff there. They may review the credentials of the dentists and dental assistants working there, such as their work history, educational background, and any awards and recognition that they have. If the family is looking for a pediatric or family practice, they can bring their children along, who may get a chance to form their own impression. Parents will want their children to feel relaxed there and get along with the staff during a visit, after all. The family can repeat this process any number of times until they find the best option, and sign up as patients.
Basic Dentistry Done Right
Not all dentistry work involves gruesome procedures with infected teeth or gums. Most often, patients are going in for routine cleanings and checkups. Children may also get sealant put on their teeth, and they may be taught basic dental care practices for home, such as brushing teeth after every meal. Children should wear mouth guards while playing sports, and they should refrain from chewing on hard items such as ice cubes.
What about cosmetic dentistry for adult patients? This field of dentistry concerns itself with the appearance and shape of teeth, and this may start with tooth whitening. Most beauty standards call for white, straight teeth, but a person’s teeth may get discolored from tobacco use or tartar buildup. To fix this, patients may have tooth whitening gels or toothpastes used. Or, the patient may have porcelain veneers fitted on, which are thin white plates that fit over the teeth and restore their desired color.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans also get dental implants put in every year, which can restore the shape and function of teeth. For example, patients might have artificial crowns fitted over their tooth enamel, commonly done for worn down or cracked teeth. These crowns protect the damaged tooth and can restore its shape, making eating and speech easier. And if a tooth is missing, a dental bridge can be fitted into the gap to replace it. These are realistic replica teeth that are molded after the patient’s real teeth, then fitted into the gap and held in place with covers that slip over the real teeth flanking the gap. A similar concept is dentures, common for elderly patients at the dentist. Dentures can replace entire rows of teeth at once, or even the entire mouth’s worth, and these false teeth are held in place with false gums.