How General Dentistry Services Can Save a Tooth

In many ways, you need general dentistry to maintain good oral health and wellness. By seeing your dentist regularly, you can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Along with preventive work, your dentist can also treat serious problems. One of the most concerning is tooth loss. But your dentist can employ some strategies to salvage your tooth and keep it from falling out.

Issues that can threaten a tooth

Teeth are made of dentin and an outer layer of enamel. The enamel is composed of minerals that make it the hardest substance in the body. Still, teeth are not indestructible. A hard blow to the face can break or crack a tooth, leaving it prone to falling out. Biting into a hard object can also seriously damage it.

A general dentistry office often treats patients whose teeth are on the verge of rotting out. This can happen due to profound decay and infections. Failing to brush and floss can cause large cavities and infections. Untreated, the tooth can deteriorate. Sometimes, the only viable treatment is to pull it out.

Root canals

For small and moderate cavities, the general dentistry dentist can use a filling to save the tooth. But when a cavity is too large to support a filling, a root canal is necessary. This procedure can cause a lot of anxiety, but the process is not as painful as patients fear. The dentist will numb the patient and remove the pulp of the tooth. After removing the decayed or infected nerves, the dentist cleans out the tooth and seals it.

Crowns

A dental crown can also be an effective way for a general dentistry dentist to save a damaged or diseased tooth. Usually, the dentist will place one over the tooth after a root canal. Crowns are typically made of ceramic, composite resin, or porcelain. These materials will match the tooth color, so the crown will not stand out and hinder the person’s smile. A crown stabilizes a weak tooth and protects a damaged one from further problems. It enables the patient to eat most foods.

Inlays and onlays

These devices are not always as common in general dentistry. Still, the dentist may recommend these treatments in some cases. They are similar to fillings but are prefabricated and then inserted into the tooth where the cavity has formed. Like crowns, inlays and onlays can be tooth-colored to be aesthetically pleasing. Inlays do not cover the cusp of the tooth, but onlays do. Both of these are used to treat larger cavities and preserve the remaining structure of the tooth.