A general dentist is your primary care dental provider. This dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education.
These help you maintain good oral health by stopping disease before it takes hold in your mouth. Regular exams (including diagnostic images such as x-rays) and professional teeth cleanings are a cornerstone of prevention. Your general dentist may give you detailed instructions to improve your at-home oral hygiene, and may also recommend preventive treatments such as sealants, if needed. And if you lead an active life style, you can be fitted with a custom-made mouth guard at your dentist’s office.
Instead of specializing in one area, many general dentists are trained on the dental procedures such as:
- Cosmetic procedures
- Crowns and bridges
- Dental implants
- Dentures
- Gum disease treatment
- Home care instruction
- Mouth guards
- Nutrition counseling
- Oral surgery
- Root canal therapy
- Teeth cleanings
Regular checkups to the general dentist will help your child maintain good dental health and prevent serious problems from happening.