Having proper dental care is critical for your oral health. Seeing a dentist for common services like deep cleaning and x-rays, help your dentist spot serious problems before they become larger problems.
But dentists do more than clean and take x-rays of your teeth. They offer a wide variety of services to help you maintain your smile and even improve it.
If you're wondering what else your dentist can do for you, here are 10 common services offered by your Benson dentist.
Teeth become easily stained by a variety of foods and liquids like coffee, wine, tea, berries, and tomatoes. The good news is that stains can be minimized by the teeth whitening process.
While you may have seen over-the-counter teeth whitening products, the whitening offered by the dentist lasts longer and has a better whitening effect. Depending on the level of whitening you desire, the teeth whitening process is shouldn't take more than an hour or less.
Dental implants replace teeth that are lost due to trauma, injury, or illness. They can restore your smile and keep your jaw healthy.
Having dental implants preserves your smile. When you have the implant embedded in your jaw, it encourages bone growth so your facial structure stays intact. The dental implants look like your normal teeth and they function like them as well.
What happens when you have a dental emergency, like a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth, and your dental office is closed? In many cases, you might travel to the ER, but if your dentist's office offers emergency dental services, you can contact them to get help.
Your dental office will inform you on what the procedure is if you need to utilize the emergency dental service. Many have an after-hours number to call for contact.
Cosmetic dentistry refers to any dental service that's used to improve the look of your teeth. This can be services like bonding, veneers, teeth whitening, inlays and overlays, and fillings.
Cosmetic dentistry focus on the appearance of your teeth. These types of procedures are usually not about any fix any serious dental problems, but for cosmetic purposes only. Sometimes, however, cosmetic dentistry will overlap with restorative dentistry, which aims to restore the function of your teeth and mouth.
Orthodontics is a field of dentistry that fixes problems with your jaw and tooth alignment. Orthodontists are dentists who are also specialists in this area. One method of orthodontics that they use is Invisalign.
Invisalign is a dental treatment system that's designed to manipulate teeth into a straighter position using clear plastic aligners. These aligners are removable and take less time than traditional orthodontics like metal braces. Talk to your dentist to see if Invisalign is an option for you.
Dentures are another way to replace lost teeth. They are removable and do require cleaning and care.
Depending on how many teeth you wish to replace, you can have a full or partial set of dentures. Today's dentures look and feel like real teeth and they're more comfortable.
Sedation dentistry is a treatment that uses sedation medication so the patient does not have to experience anxiety during their dental care. 36% of people experience some fear when visiting the dentist. Sedation dentistry exists to keep the patient calm during their exam or procedure.
The type of sedation ranges from minimal to deep. You can be slightly awake or completely under general anesthesia. You can talk to your doctor about the type of sedation you prefer and what's necessary for you.
Sometimes teeth become so decayed that they need to be removed from the body so they don't continue to deteriorate and spread. This is called a tooth extraction. During a tooth extraction, your dentist will pull the tooth from its root.
When teeth become damaged, the goal is to restore them as best as possible. However, if it's beyond repair, it will need an extraction. Other times, to make room for other teeth or dental treatment, tooth extraction is necessary as well.
You've probably heard the phrase, "bad breath" but the medical name for it is called halitosis. If you've ever used mints or mouthwash, and they fail to alleviate your bad breath, you might have halitosis.
There are treatments that you can talk to your dentist about if you have persistent bad breath. Halitosis may be caused by infections, oral disease, bacteria, or even eating certain foods. If it's been a long time since your last cleaning, you might need a deep clean to remove some of the lingering bacteria that are causing bad breath.
Dental sealants are a protective coating that is applied over the top part of the tooth. Because bacteria can embed in the crevices of the tooth and cause decay, applying a sealant protects the tooth from cavities and other forms of damage. Sealants are on the back teeth because these are the teeth that are most challenging to clean.
Children are mainly the recipients of sealants. This is because they have trouble brushing and they're more prone to cavities.
These services offered by your Benson dentist can give you a happy, glowing smile that you're proud of. Many services can also help you achieve healthier teeth and gums. Which services are you interested in?
Do you have a question about the many services we offer? We're happy to answer any questions you may have! Visit our website today to find a location and schedule your appointment.
