When it comes to keeping your family’s smiles healthy and bright, finding the right dental services is super important. Whether it’s a regular check-up, fixing a broken tooth, or making your smile look amazing, our in-house dentist in SW Calgary offers a wide range of services. Here are five types of dentistry services that can help your family maintain healthy teeth and gums.
5 Types of Dentistry Services
1. General Dentistry
General dentistry is like the foundation of all dental care. It’s what keeps your teeth and gums healthy day in and day out. Here are some of the main things general dentists do:
- Regular Check-ups and Cleanings: Going to the dentist for a check-up every six months is crucial. During these visits, the dentist will check for cavities, gum disease, and other issues. They’ll also clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar that regular brushing and flossing might miss.
- X-rays: Dentists use X-rays to see inside your teeth and below your gums. This helps them find problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye, like cavities between teeth or bone issues.
- Fillings: If you have a cavity, your dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill it with a unique material. This stops the cavity from getting worse and keeps your tooth strong.
- Sealants and Fluoride Treatments: Sealants are thin coatings that dentists apply to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth to prevent cavities. Fluoride treatments make your teeth stronger and more resistant to decay.
2. Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is all about fixing and replacing teeth that are damaged or missing. Here are some common restorative treatments:
- Crowns: A crown is like a cap that covers a damaged tooth. It can be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of both. Crowns make weak teeth strong again and look like natural teeth.
- Bridges: If you’re missing one or more teeth, a bridge can fill the gap. It consists of one or more artificial teeth that are anchored to the natural teeth next to the gap.
- Implants: Dental implants offer a durable and lasting solution for missing teeth. An implant is a metal post that is surgically placed in your jawbone. Once it heals, a crown is attached to the post, giving you a new, strong tooth.
- Dentures: If you’re missing several teeth or all of your teeth, dentures can help. They are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and help you chew and speak properly.
3. Sedation Dentistry
Some people feel really nervous about going to the dentist. If you or someone in your family feels this way, sedation dentistry can help. Sedation dentistry uses anything from medication to gas and injections to help patients relax during dental procedures. There are different levels of sedation:
- Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): It is the mildest form of sedation. You breathe in nitrous oxide through a mask, and it helps you feel calm and relaxed. The effects wear off quickly, so you can go back to your regular activities soon after your appointment.
- Oral Sedation: With oral sedation, you take a pill before your appointment. It makes you feel drowsy and relaxed, but you’ll still be awake and able to respond to the dentist.
- IV Sedation: An expert injects IV sedation directly into the vein of your arm. It works quickly and allows the dentist to adjust the level of sedation as needed. You will be awake but very relaxed, and you might not recall much about the procedure.
- General Anesthesia: For more complex procedures or very anxious patients, general anesthesia may be used. Hence, during any dental procedure, you will be fully unconscious.
4. Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving your smile to take it to the next level. Here are some popular cosmetic treatments:
- Teeth Whitening: Over time, teeth can become stained from food, drinks, and smoking. Teeth-whitening treatments can make your teeth several shades brighter. You can have this done at the dentist’s office or use a take-home kit.
- Veneers: Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite resin that cover the front of your teeth. They can fix problems like chips, cracks, and discoloration, giving you a perfect smile.
- Bonding: Dental bonding uses a tooth-coloured resin to repair chips, cracks, or gaps in your teeth. The dentist shapes and polishes the resin so it looks just like your natural teeth.
- Braces and Invisalign: If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, braces or Invisalign can help. Braces use metal brackets and wires to gradually move your teeth into the correct position. Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners that are almost invisible.
5. Emergency Dentistry
Sometimes, dental problems happen suddenly and need immediate attention. That’s where emergency dentistry comes in. Here are some situations that might require emergency dental care:
- Toothaches: A severe toothache can be a sign of a serious problem, like an infection or a cavity, that needs to be treated right away.
- Broken or Chipped Teeth: If you break or chip a tooth, it’s essential to see a dentist as soon as possible. They can repair the tooth and prevent further damage.
- Knocked-Out Teeth: If a tooth gets knocked out, try to see a dentist within an hour. If you keep the tooth moist and get to the dentist quickly, they can re-implant it.
- Lost Fillings or Crowns: If a filling or crown falls out, it can cause pain and make your tooth vulnerable to further damage. A dentist can replace the filling or crown to protect your tooth.
Wrapping It Up
Taking care of your family’s teeth is essential for their overall health. At Richmond Dental Clinic in SW Calgary, you can find a variety of dental services to meet all your needs, from routine check-ups to emergency care.
General dentistry keeps your teeth and gums healthy; restorative dentistry fixes damaged teeth; sedation dentistry helps with dental anxiety; cosmetic dentistry makes your smile look great; and emergency dentistry handles urgent problems. By choosing the right dentist near you, you can ensure that your family’s smiles stay bright and healthy for years to come.