What Are The Most Common Dental Treatments?

Knowing the Most Common Dental Treatments Will Alleviate Fears of the Dentist

I come from a big family of educators. Both of my parents, my brother, and many other family members teach within elementary education up to the university level. Although I chose to pursue dentistry, educating patients about oral health is a hallmark of my profession and it helps to lessen fear and anxiety. So I want to demystify the most common dental treatments that we see in our office and show that the dentist’s office isn’t as scary a place as it’s made out to be, especially with all the new ways we go out of our way to make patients feel comfortable.

1. Teeth cleaning. This simple procedure is by far the most common reason people come to see us. It’s also the easiest and most painless. It involves removing plaque and tartar building using tools that do a better job than what you have at home. It takes about 30 – 45 minutes to complete and is recommended at least every six months for good oral health. The more you have your teeth cleaned, the less likely you are to need any other dental procedures!

2. Teeth whitening. This is an elective, but very common treatment done for aesthetic purposes to reduce yellowness. It involves little-to-no discomfort, although some individuals are more sensitive to whitening agents. 

3. Fillings. In most cases, fillings are the solution to dental decay. Cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acids that break down tooth enamel. You will barely feel a thing with the anesthetics and composite materials we now use that mimic the look and feel of natural teeth.

4. Crowns. A crown is basically a cap cemented onto an existing tooth. It is required when tooth decay has caused more damage than can be fixed by a filling. It also restores the shape of a tooth that is broken or severely worn. Just like getting a filling, getting a crown is minimally invasive and pretty painless. Your dentist will take an impression of your existing tooth so that a crown can be made to fit it perfectly.

5. Tooth extraction. When it is necessary to remove a tooth, it is called performing an extraction. This is required when tooth decay is serious enough to put surrounding teeth at risk or when baby or wisdom teeth don’t fall out when they should. Because most patients that need it are already experiencing significant tooth pain, it is usually a relief and modern dental tools and anesthetics make it virtually pain-free.

I hope this list has given you an idea about what you can likely expect when you go to the dentist. Whether you have a serious issue that requires immediate treatment, or you want to maintain your oral health through preventative care, the best thing you can do for your teeth is reach out to your dentist today to make an appointment.