Most people often wonder what general dentists offer besides routine cleaning services. According to DentalPlans.com, 80% of all professionals in the dental industry focus on general dentistry, which means it's a popular part of dentistry. Let's discuss the standard procedures they perform every day.

1. Fillings

One of the most common reasons people go to the dentist is cavities and tooth decay. The solution to those issues is dental fillings. Sometimes, fillers are also used to repair broken teeth or fractures. A general dentist will typically check for cavities when a patient comes with a toothache, but if there's something further, they might require X-rays.

Some fillings might require numbing the area or putting the patient to sleep with anesthesia. Afterward, they use a drill to remove the cavity, clean it up with water, and add the filling to cover the exposed area. Some patients will be offered different fillers, such as gold and porcelain, but dental resin is used more often nowadays. Since cavities are so common, general dentists will perform more fillings compared to any other procedure.

2. Adding Crowns

Sometimes, fillings are insufficient to repair a tooth after decay or fracturing. That's when it needs a restoration with crowns, which is the only way to save a tooth from having to be extracted entirely. You will generally need two appointments to install crowns, since they must be designed in a lab to fit each patient.

However, some general dentists can make their crowns, which means some people can walk out of a single appointment with all their issues fixed. A crown covers the entire tooth, making it look better and ensuring it won't get further damaged.

3. Extractions

When crowns or fillings are insufficient, a general dentist must perform a tooth extraction. Sometimes, it might be because teeth are pushing against others. In that case, the only option is extraction, or the patient will suffer from the pain and possibly ruin the alignment of the rest of their teeth.

Now that you know some of the most common procedures general dentists perform, choosing the right dental office to have these procedures done at is important. Remember not to wait too long if you notice something wrong because the problems will only worsen. Reach out to Sylvan S. Stern, DDS PLC to schedule a dental appointment today.