The area of dentistry in Redlands, CA that most people are familiar with falls under the umbrella of “general dentistry.” Anyone who has had a professional cleaning and polishing followed by a routine dental check-up, a filling or has been fitted with either full or partial dentures has been treated by a general dentist and his or her staff.
A general dentist is focused on the care and maintenance of the teeth and gums of his or her patients. The dentist places considerable emphasis on preventative care as well as practicing tooth restoration. This common approach expects the patients to visit the office at least every six months and more frequently if there are any specific problems that take more detailed care and treatment.
Many who practice general dentistry in Redlands, CA also offer and undertake a full range of cosmetic treatments. It has only been recently that cosmetic dentistry has been recognized as a specialty, it is concerned more with improving the appearance of the teeth and smile of a patient than corrective care. In many cases the dentist who offers general dentistry also offers cosmetic procedures as before teeth can benefit from cosmetic treatment they must be in good health. Cosmetic treatments are elective and are chosen usually to enhance the individuals smile.
Let’s focus on how general dentistry differs from cosmetic dentistry in Redlands, CA. What treatments are generally available, how do you go about finding a general practitioner; these are just a couple of questions that people ask.
What is a general dentist?
He or she is a qualified dental practitioner who takes responsibility for the day to day management and treatment as required by his or her patients. These treatments include fillings, crowns, dentures and bridges and may also include oral surgery such as wisdom tooth extraction and root canals. A general dentist is always the “first port of call” for teeth related issues.
A clinic that provides general dentistry in Redlands, CA will also provide dental cleaning and will provide tips on at-home dental care such as the correct methods of flossing and brushing and may also recommend a specific tooth paste for a specific problem such as sensitive teeth.
There may be a need for a specialist if your general dentist does not provide certain treatments such as treating gum diseases; he or she will refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in gum disorders.
Both general and cosmetic dentistry in Redlands, CA is available from Dr. Chung and his team can be found at Young W. Chung, DDS.
