Dental care is up there as one of the most important types of healthcare. Your teeth need looking after throughout your life because lack of care can cause a number of associated health problems other than toothache, fillings and extractions. They’re also an important part of your personal image. From hygiene to b better general health, then, there are plenty of reasons to invest in some proper dental care.
There are many varieties of dental treatments available, and given that dentistry often lies in the grey area between healthcare and cosmetic services, it can be difficult to know which are necessary and which aren’t. This article will break down some of the options, and help you decide what the best course of action is when it comes to dental health.
Scale and polish
On an average trip to the dentist, it’s likely that you’ll be offered a service known as a scale and polish. A scale and polish is a key part of most dental health programs, and it’s good to take your dentist up on the offer as it has so many benefits. The main one is that it is a key line of defense against plaque. Plaque comes from the protein which exists naturally in your saliva, or spit. It’s a sticky substance which can lead to gum disease if left untreated, so it’s wise to get it tackled.
There are many other benefits to getting a scale and polish done, though. One of them is that it helps to get those unsightly stains away from your teeth, which can in turn improve your self-image and hence your confidence. And on a similar note, it can also help your breath to taste and smell fresher – so it’s a win-win situation.
Crowns and fillings
Lots of people who have had to have dental treatment over the years will be familiar with the concept of a crown. A crown is best described as a cap which is designed to entirely obscure one real tooth, and the aim is to protect a tooth which has been damaged somehow – or, indeed, to prevent its real state from being seen. Crowns can be crafted from more than one type of material, including porcelain and metal, and it’s well worth speaking to your dentist or other healthcare professional to help work out which one might be right for you. The process of having a crown fitted can be quite intricate. It can involve the affected tooth undergoing a size reduction, and the crown itself will need to be made in a laboratory by a skilled dental technician.
Fillings are also a common dental remedy when a tooth has a cavity that could become infected. If your tooth has decay of some sort, a filling is often proposed as the solution. They are made from all kinds of metals, including everything from zinc to silver and even gold. And if you’re concerned about the color, why not speak to your dentist about getting a white filling to help provide some aesthetic balance?
Laser dentistry
For those who want to take their dental care to the next level and to make the most of what dental technology has to offer, laser dentistry could be the way to go. Put simply, it is a way of executing all sorts of dental procedures without the need for drills to be used. There’s a range of benefits associated with this. It means, for example, that those who are frightened of the dentist and processes involved can have a much less stressful experience. But it also has direct dental health effects, too. It is one way to potentially bring down the amount of so-called “tissue trauma” experienced. Laser dentistry is also a tool used by professionals in the dentistry world to take out any gum tissue which has flared up due to an incident of gum disease.
Taking a trip to the dentist can be a pretty scary experience, especially if – like many – you’re frightened of the service to begin with. And with so many types of treatment to choose from, meanwhile, it’s no wonder that the whole process can be quite off-putting. But by being proactive and doing your research into the many types available, you can ensure that you opt for the right sort of treatment for you and get the pearly-white smile and top-notch dental health that you’ve always dreamed of having.
