General Dentistry
General dentistry is the branch of medicine involving the
care and prevention of oral health conditions, diseases and
disorders. A dentist’s job is to use preventative care and
patient education to preclude the need for treatments and
instead promote a healthy smile for life. Dentists are also
responsible for diagnosing conditions that affect the mouth,
teeth, gums and jaws, as well as develop the most effective
treatment plan with the patient’s best interests in mind.
General dentists attend and complete dental school to
achieve a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental
Medicine. At that time, dentists may take national and state
certification exams, which prove a dentist’s proficiency to
practice. Upon passing the exams, state licensure is awarded on
an individual basis.
General dentists typically do not
focus on any particular specialty, instead opting to provide
generalized dental care to patients. In some cases, general
dentists may refer a patient to a specialty provider for care or
treatment that is beyond the scope of general dentistry.
However, most general dentists are capable of providing complete
examinations, cleanings, root canals, restorations, extractions
and tooth prosthetics.
General dentistry is best when
patients use it for preventive care, rather than for corrective
treatment. By visiting a dentist and his or her team of
hygienists and dental technicians twice annually for cleaning
and examination, patients can avoid decay and identify potential
oral health conditions, such as periodontal disease, in their
earliest stages.
To learn more, please visit our full website.
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