What does dental health care mean to you? Those with routine dental checkups may view it as a way of maintaining good oral health, but there are others who only consider it in emergency situations. Then there are those who simply seek access to it for quick fixes or professional advice. It’s viewed in different ways, depending on the situation, but its main purpose is to optimize oral care for a healthier family.
Routine Visits
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), approximately two-thirds of Americans seek routine dental care. During a routine dental visit, the dentist will perform various examinations to identify healthy and unhealthy areas in and around the mouth. He will use different equipment to detect and diagnose disease, such as tooth decay or gum disease. If untreated, these conditions can lead to pain, dysfunction, tooth loss, absence from school or work or simply poor appearance. Following your own examination, the doctor will report his or her findings and make recommendations for necessary treatment.
Typically, the dentist develops a special plan to meet your needs at subsequent dental visits, while answering any questions or concerns you may have about you and your family’s oral health.
Dental Cleanings and Advice
Some people don’t feel that they have had dental care until they’ve had a dental cleaning, a service that a dental hygienist primarily performs to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums to prevent common oral conditions such as gum disease or gingivitis and polish the teeth. A dental hygienist will also take x-rays, apply sealants and in-office fluorides, but what they really excel at is giving lessons on adopting personal oral hygiene habits, as well as nutrition counseling and recommended products.
Fixing Tooth Problems
You may also think of dental care as a means for helping with a single tooth problem, and many can crop up that only a dental professional can handle. The majority of dental problems a person complains about involve a tooth that’s decaying, missing, loose or impacted (below the gumline), as well as chips or cracks, sensitivity or function of the teeth. Defected fillings are also a typical issue, and an easy fix.
The dentist office is one of the first places a person goes for dental health care when they’re in pain, especially when it’s a pressing issue. Often these types of problems are a result of trauma, and may include cracked teeth, or those that need to be pulled. In a dental emergency and in less pressing situations, your dentist may fix the problems personally, but he may also refer you to a dental specialist. Specialists such as prosthodontists and oral maxillofacial surgeons will help with more complex conditions affecting the jaw and teeth.
Improving Aesthetics
Of course, some people see dental health care as a way to improve their looks. People with crowded, crooked or missing teeth will seek out help to correct the appearance and function of their teeth. And for all of us who can’t seem to get the perfect shine, dental health care is seen as a way to improve teeth’s color through dental tooth “whitening.”
Looking for a Paducah area dentist to help you with your oral health needs? We would be glad to have you and your entire family visit us at Johnson Family Dental in Paducah. You may call our office at (270) 554-2432, stop by our office at 2913 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003 or CLICK HERE to contact us.