What Oral Health Issues Can a Family Dentist Treat?

family dentist Huntersville, NC

A family dentist offers many types of treatments. This can include filling cavities and fixing broken teeth. A family dentist can also diagnose and treat gum disease. Read on to learn more.

Cavities

Perhaps one of the most common oral health issues that a family dentist sees is cavities. These can happen when tartar or plaque in a patient’s mouth eats a hole through the enamel. A family dentist can treat cavities with fillings. A filling might be made of composite resin, amalgam or porcelain.

To apply a filling, a family dentist will use a drill to remove the decayed portions of the tooth. This will prevent decay from spreading in the future. Then the dentist can place the filling material inside the hole. More modern fillings can strengthen the tooth.

Broken tooth

A patient may need a crown if part of the tooth has broken off. This may be due to an injury or simply because of extensive decay. A family dentist can place this crown, or cap, over the natural tooth. The crown will protect the tooth from further damage. However, it can also restore the appearance of the patient’s tooth.

Gum disease

The gums can become infected from bacteria without the right oral health procedures. The bacteria cause the gum to recess from the teeth, forming pockets. The pockets can hold more bacteria. To treat this disease, a family dentist will clean out the bacteria from the pockets.

Root canal treatments

Either a family dentist or an endodontist can perform a root canal treatment. This may be needed if the patient’s decay has reached the inner chamber of the tooth, near the nerve. The family dentist will remove the nerve of the tooth to replace it with a filling. The material is usually a rubbery substance with adhesive cement. A family dentist will then cap the tooth with a crown.

Dental bonding

If a patient’s tooth is decayed, cracked or chipped, a family dentist can use dental bonding. This procedure can also be used to protect part of the root of a tooth that has been exposed. Most often, a tooth’s root may be exposed because of gum recession. To do bonding, a family dentist will first numb the area.

Next, the family dentist will roughen the surface of the tooth and apply a conditioning liquid. This will help the material better adhere to the patient’s tooth. The bonding material is tooth-colored and is similar to putty. A family dentist can apply this to the tooth and mold and smooth it to the right shape. The dentist will usually use a bright light to harden this material. That will allow the family dentist to shape and trim the material.

Visit a family dentist today

A family dentist can treat several issues. The good news is that you can avoid having one of these oral health treatments. Regular dental visits can prevent these issues. Visiting a family dentist today can help.

Request an appointment here: https://lakenormandentistry.com or call Lake Norman Dentistry at (704) 895-3858 for an appointment in our Huntersville office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

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