What Are the Different Types of Dental Treatments Done Today? | Dental visits have become more common in the US, with more than two in three people saying they went to one in 2020. Of all states, Connecticut had the highest dental visit rate at 76.5%. Mississippi had the lowest, with only half of its population seeing a dentist that year.
The reasons for dental visits vary, but most involve one or more types of dental treatments.
To that end, we came up with this guide detailing the most common dental procedures today. Read on so that you can prepare if you plan to visit a local dental practice yourself.
Dental Cleaning
One study compared the oral health of people who visited their dentists once a year and those who didn’t. Those who went for routine visits had fewer missing teeth. They also had fewer teeth with dental cavities and have better overall oral health.
One very likely reason is that routine dental visits include teeth cleaning. In-office cleaning removes plaque and dental calculus that personal oral hygiene alone cannot. Tartar, in turn, is the hardened form of plaque that not only causes discoloration but tooth decay, too.
As such, dental cleaning is the best dental procedure for preventing oral diseases. It’s also cheaper than restorative procedures, not to mention painless. For that reason, it’s best to go for once or twice-a-year cleanings to keep your teeth free of cavities.
Dental Fillings
According to the latest CDC report, more than one in four US adults aged 20 to 44 have untreated dental cavities. More than a tenth of children between 5 and 19 years also have untreated tooth decay. Many others have one or more teeth restored with dental fillings.
All that makes dental fillings among the most common ways to restore diseased teeth. They’re effective so long as carried out before the decay advances to the bones and gums.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are like caps that cover an entire tooth, from front to back. They are ideal restoration methods for severe tooth damage, such as decay, chips, or breaks. You can check out this link to learn more from Dental Arts about the process of getting a dental crown.
Root Canal Treatment (Endodontics)
A tooth with severe decay can result in the surrounding gums and bone becoming infected, too. When this happens, you may experience swelling and a world of pain. The infection can also put your other teeth at risk, as it can spread to adjacent teeth.
To prevent those consequences, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment. This involves removing the infection from the root canal. The procedure itself isn’t painful, as dentists use anesthesia to numb the area.
Best of all, endodontics can save a tooth that you might otherwise lose forever.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are quite common; about 10 million people in the US undergo them each year. You may need this if a decayed tooth is no longer a good candidate for root canal treatment. This is especially true if the infection has already spread to the gums and bone.
Your dentist may also recommend removing an impacted tooth that’s causing severe pain. An impacted tooth, in turn, is a tooth that hasn’t come in or erupted as expected.
The Best Types of Dental Treatments Help Preserve Teeth
Always keep in mind that once you lose an adult tooth, it won’t ever grow back. That’s why it’s best to invest in preventive types of dental treatments, such as cleanings.
However, restorations, such as fillings and crowns, can be helpful too, as they can also save your teeth. Just make sure to get them before your teeth sustain more damage.
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