A Guide to Treatments Offered at Dental Clinics

Understanding Common Dental Procedures

A dental clinic is an establishment where multiple dentists and dental specialists collaborate and combine their skills to offer patients the best oral hygiene options. One of the principal benefits of these clinics is that you can receive treatment across a broad spectrum of dentistry. From teeth polishing, teeth whitening and general practice to more complex restorative dentistry like the fitting of dentures, full dental restorations, orthodontic treatment and more, all in one place. But while some look forward to visiting their dentist, others fear the experience and often delay or postpone their appointments.

The fear of dentists – also known as dentophobia – is a condition many suffer. Our dental specialists are all trained professionals and fully aware of the phobia and they know how to manage this condition for individuals who suffer from it. This allows these patients and others to receive the most optimal treatment available while enjoying a relaxed, comfortable and stress-free environment during their treatment, which assists in easing these fears.

At Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics, our team of qualified, caring dental professionals know that, in many instances, people are nervous about visiting their dentist. For this reason and more, we will walk you through the benefits of visiting your dentist regularly, a basic guide to some of the most common dental treatments and procedures offered at a dental clinic and, hopefully, waylay these fears to those who suffer from them.

Benefits of Visiting Your Dental Clinic Regularly 

Unhealthy teeth and gums may not only be a sign of poor oral hygiene routines but might also cause deeper health concerns. For example, poor blood circulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or even heart disease might be a result of not brushing your teeth or visiting your dentist for regular check-ups.

Regardless of age, health professionals recommend that individuals visit their dentist at least twice a year. Whether young or old, from basic oral hygiene to specialised dentistry, a dental clinic offers help in toddler teeth development, preventing tooth decay, tooth alignment and gum disease, and may even contribute towards the early diagnosis of other conditions like those mentioned above and even certain types of cancer.

Common Dental Treatments Offered at a Dental Clinic – A Basic Guide

When visiting a dental clinic for regular, bi-annual consultations, you would expect your dentist or oral hygienist to perform one or more of the following treatments:

• General Check-ups and Dental Cleanings: Dental cleanings, teeth whitening, and teeth polishing can be performed by dental hygienists while bi-annual check-ups will most likely be carried out by qualified dentists. These treatments and procedures are essential for maintaining good oral health.
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• During a cleaning, a dental professional will use specialised tools to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that contains bacteria, and tartar is plaque that has hardened. If a build-up of plaque and tartar is left untreated, they can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
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• Before dental cleanings are performed, your dentist will complete a general check-up. During this process, they will examine your teeth, gums, tongue, throat and cheeks for signs of problems. Additionally, they might also take X-rays to get a better look at your teeth, gums and roots.

 

• Fillings and Restorations: Fillings are used to repair teeth that have developed cavities for various reasons, including decay and poor oral hygiene practices. Typically, a cavity is a hole in the tooth that is a result of excess bad bacteria surrounding the surface of the tooth.
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• If a cavity is not attended to timeously, it can grow larger, exposing the root and causing pain, infection and, in some instances, tooth loss. To insert a filling, your dentist will remove the decayed portions of the tooth and fill the cavity with materials such as composite resin.
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• Restorations are used to repair teeth that are chipped, cracked or broken. These can be caused by a variety of reasons like sporting injuries, bumps and falls and other, more serious accidents. There are different types of restorations available, including inlays and porcelain crowns and are usually performed by skilled dentists or other specialists.

• Root Canal Treatment: A root canal is a procedure that is used to treat a severely infected tooth where the internal pulp is damaged. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains the nerves and sensitive blood vessels. The infection can be caused by deep decay, an untreated cracked tooth or many other types of trauma.
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• This procedure is similar to a filling but is more severe. It entails your dentist removing the infected pulp from inside your tooth while deadening the nerve. Once the pulp has been removed and the nerve quartered, they will clean, disinfect and sterilise the inside of the tooth and then seal it up.

• Wisdom Tooth Surgery: Wisdom teeth are the four molars that are located at the back of your mouth. They are the last adult teeth to erupt from the gums and they typically arrive between the late teens through to the early twenties.
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• On occasion, wisdom teeth do not have enough room to erupt properly. This can cause them to become impacted, which means that they are trapped in the jawbone, under the gums and already erupted teeth above them. If this occurs, wisdom teeth may cause immense pain, swelling and infection. In these cases, your dentist might recommend surgery to remove them.

• Other Common Dental Procedures: The above procedures may be recommended at or between your bi-annual visits to your dentist. Our dental clinics offer many more specialised procedures that may be offered daily. These might include:
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- Orthodontics

- Cosmetic dentistry

- Fitting of gum guards

- Periodontal screenings and treatment

- Occlusal disease treatment and more

 

With the broad array of dental treatments and healthy oral management procedures available at a dental clinic, there is hardly a reason not to smile. Your local clinic can help to improve and maintain good oral and physical health, prevent future dental problems and improve your overall physical, mental and emotional well-being. So, go and get your grin. Find a dentist near you that you can trust!

Find a Dentist Near You That You Can Trust and Who Cares for You 

 

Conveniently located in cities and their surrounding suburbs across South Africa, Intercare Medical and Dental Clinics have fully equipped dental departments, with qualified teams of oral hygienists, dentists and other dentistry specialists who can provide an all-encompassing dental service, all under one roof. Our kind and understanding dental staff understand dentophobia and are trained to accommodate the worst afflicted.

Whether it has been only a few months or a few years since you visited your dental clinic, trust us and get back in the chair at Intercare, we’re waiting for your call. Intercare – because we care about you.

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