Dentists are some of the most important people in our lives. We visit them twice a year for a check-up and cleaning, and we trust them to help us maintain our oral health. The dentist is responsible for diagnosing and treating a wide range of dental conditions, from cavities and gum disease to oral cancers. They also examine the teeth for possible problems and use X-rays to look inside the mouth. By identifying any hidden dental problems, dentists can help prevent them from becoming worse. But do you really know what dentists do?
Examine Your Teeth for Problems
While it might seem like they’re just scraping away at plaque and polishing teeth during a cleaning, dentists are also examining the teeth for possible dental problems. They’ll look in our mouths to see if we have cavities or signs of gum disease, which can lead to a number of different dental conditions. Tooth decay is one of the main reasons that people visit a dentist, but they might also find other issues that require treatment. It’s important to go in regularly because these hidden dental problems can start affecting how we chew and swallow food, as well as our overall appearance.
Perform Oral Surgery
Sometimes, the only way to treat dental conditions is through oral surgery. A dentist can do procedures like fill cavities, repair cracks in our teeth, or fix teeth that have been knocked out. Dentistry also includes tooth extractions and implants. While it might be scary to think about having oral surgery done by a dentist, it’s almost painless when they’re the ones taking care of us while we’re freezing
Some Dental Procedures Have Side Effects
Dental treatments are painless for most people because their doctors are using an anesthesia during their treatments—but this isn’t always true! The types of anesthesia depending on what kind of treatment you need to be done—for example, a filling or a crown. If you’re getting anesthesia for something bigger like oral surgery, then your dentist could use IV sedation and nitrous oxide to keep you relaxed during the appointment. Some people might feel woozy after receiving the treatment they need, but this is only temporary! Plus, your dentist can offer recommendations on how to ease any potential pain.
Use X-Rays to Look Inside Our Mouths
When dentists examine our teeth during the cleaning process, they always look in our mouths—but don’t be surprised when they pull out some strange tools! One of them is an instrument that looks a bit like a flashlight called a tongue depressor. While it might seem weird that a tool like this would be important, it helps dentists determine if we have a cavity. Dentists will also use an instrument that looks like a dental mirror to examine teeth that are hard to reach with a toothbrush. X-rays also help dentists see any issues inside our mouths because they allow us to look at the layers of tissues and bones underneath our gums.
Perform Cosmetic Treatments
If your smile hasn’t been as bright as you’d like because of stains from coffee or tea, then ask your dentist about cosmetic procedures today! They can perform treatments like whitening and veneers to help your teeth get the beautiful look you want. And if you have a gap in your front teeth, they can also use a dental implant or a bridge to replace the tooth space. Cosmetic treatments not only improve how we feel about our appearance, but they can also help lift our spirits by boosting our confidence!
Diagnose and Treat Oral Cancer
Dentists often look for abnormalities in our mouths, so this means they can catch oral cancer early on. Dentists might notice the warning signs of the condition during a routine checkup—things like lumps, bumps, or other changes in our gums. If they do find something unusual, then they will refer us to an oncologist who specializes in treating this type of cancer. While there is no cure for oral cancer yet, doctors are still able to treat it with surgery and chemotherapy to stop the growth of cancer cells and shrink tumors.
To conclude: Whatever your dental needs are, our dentists at Queen King Dental are here to help. You can trust us for all of your oral health care needs and we work hard every day to ensure that you’re satisfied with the quality of our treatment. We hope this blog post has helped give you a better understanding of what dentistry entails – from diagnosing and treating oral cancer, performing cosmetic treatments, using X-rays to look inside your mouth, or performing procedures like wisdom tooth removal. If you have any questions, feel free to call us!