A family dentist aims to take care of your entire family’s dental needs. These dental health professionals can help perform various treatments, from preventative procedures like nightguards for teeth grinding to restorative treatments like root canal therapy.
Some of the treatments a family dentist often performs include:
The American Dental Association recommends getting teeth cleaned by a dentist at least twice a year. The procedure is used to remove plaque and tartar from teeth surfaces and interdental spaces. Plaque is a sticky film that contains oral bacteria and the acids they make. It can be removed by brushing and flossing, but it hardens into tartar when left on teeth surfaces for a few days. Tartar needs a lot more than brushing and flossing to get rid of. A dentist takes it off with a scaler during teeth cleaning.
Regular teeth cleanings help to protect against tooth decay and gum disease. It can also be used as a treatment for the first stage of gum disease called gingivitis.
Tooth decay is the most common reason people need dental care, and the acids made by oral bacteria cause it. Tooth decay leads to tiny holes (called cavities) forming on tooth surfaces. These holes will continuously expand when left untreated until it causes the tooth to break apart or leaves its pulp chamber compromised.
Fillings are the standard treatment for cavities. The material is pushed into the cavity once the area has been cleaned, preventing acids and bacteria from reaching it.
Composite bonding involves rebuilding and repairing teeth with resins made from glass and plastic materials. These composites can be used to address issues like cavities, broken or chipped teeth, and discolored teeth.
Composite bonding is a non-invasive procedure that does not permanently alter the restored tooth. The patient is free to explore other options in the future if desired.
Here’s one of the most popular cosmetic treatments performed by family dentists. These professionals have access to potent bleaching agents that are not sold to the public. This leads to significantly faster results. A single whitening session performed by a dentist can improve the color of a patient’s teeth by up to eight shades. That is enough to get many people to their desired shade of white, but others might need additional treatments to get there.
A family dentist can also provide their patient with at-home whitening kits they can use from the comfort of their home. The bleaching agents in these kits are not as potent as those used for in-office treatment, but they get similar results over a few weeks.
Our family dentist performs a wide range of treatments. Call or stop by our Killeen dental clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.
Request an appointment here: https://www.texasstarsmiles.com or call Texas Star Smiles & Fastbraces at (254) 237-1342 for an appointment in our Killeen office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Family Dentist in Killeen, TX.
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