What can a dentist do to help my teeth?

Do you suffer from crooked, painful, or, discoloured teeth? You want to look better? A dentist can give you the smile you have always dreamed of.

As a smile specialist, the dentist diagnoses and treats dental problems and offers cosmetic corrections that can improve the appearance of your teeth. Sometimes all it takes is a thorough cleaning by a dental hygienist to get things looking better. But did you know that the state of your teeth and gums also affects your overall health? It’s true: bacteria can enter the bloodstream via bleeding gums and infiltrate other parts of the body. That’s a pretty good reason to get regular checkups, isn’t it! The dentist can help you establish a daily cleaning routine that will keep you and your mouth healthy.

A dentist can restore or replace damaged or lost teeth and can improve the function and the appearance of your teeth as well. Here is an overview of the services provided by most dental clinics.

• Jaw problems. The dentist can correct malocclusions, usually with orthodontic braces.
• Teeth whitening. Various treatments can be used for a brighter smile.
• Crowns. These cover the damaged area of a tooth and protect it against further damage.
• Veneers. Dentists use veneers as an affordable way to improve a tooth’s appearance.
• Dental implant. This is a top-quality permanent replacement for a missing root, meant to hold in place a prosthetic tooth.
• Fillings. Holes in the tooth enamel or in the tooth, known as cavities or caries, are filled with non-toxic compounds to prevent pain and further tooth decay.
• Orthodontics. Some dentists are qualified to modify the position of teeth with the help of removable orthodontic braces.
• Bridges. These appliances are custom designed to replace one or several missing teeth.
• Prostheses. Attached to root implants, these help restore the ability to chew properly and improve the mouth’s appearance.
• Root canals. Dentists remove dental pulp that is infected, damaged, or injured, all while leaving the tooth in place.

Dentists recommend fluoride as a favourable strategy in preventing cavities. It works by increasing the teeth’s resistance to decay and protecting tooth enamel.

To ensure that you are dealing with a conscientious dental clinic, verify that a few criteria are met by the dental care team.

• They wash their hands before and after donning their gloves, between each patient, and in each examination room.
• They use only sterilized or single-use instruments that come in contact with the patients’ mouths.
• They always disinfect all work surfaces (chairs, trays, counters) between patients in order to eliminate disease-spreading germs.
• They use disposable materials for pieces of equipment that can’t be sterilized, such as gloves, masks, needles, bibs, and cotton wadding.

A competent and responsible dentist will be aware of your medical file and will take all the necessary measures to make sure you get the care you require.