The term comprehensive means to “cover completely.” With comprehensive dental care, you can expect a wide range of services covering most or all your needs. When choosing a new dentist, consider one that offers comprehensive services benefiting everyone in the family, from those with young children to older adults facing dentures or implants to patients of all ages with special needs.
Common Comprehensive Dental Services
You may choose to see a new dentist when you establish routine cleanings and checkups, but it’s good to know the same dentist can take care of other issues should they arise in the future. Patients seeking emergency care for a toothache or after an injury should know that they can return to the same dentist for more than just short-term treatment.
You should consider a dentist that offers comprehensive dental care services that could include the ones listed below or possibly more.
Preventive Dentistry
At the center of all dental care is prevention. Regular cleanings and checkups can help many patients avoid fillings and more involved dental procedures like root canals and possible extractions. Early and routine preventive dentistry leads to better oral health throughout your lifetime.
Fillings, Root Canals & More
Tooth decay, when caught early, can be repaired with a filling. Your dentist may notice areas of decay during your routine exam or when x-rays are taken before you even feel the twinge of a toothache. Finding areas of decay when they are still small and repairing them with fillings can help prevent the need for root canals. However, if you need a root canal, it can help preserve the tooth, avoiding an extraction.
Restorative Dentistry
When you do lose a tooth, for whatever reason, restorative dentistry can help you maintain your smile and oral health. Your dentist will recommend the best solution based on the type and extent of the problem.
- Dental Crowns: If the tooth itself can be saved, although it may be cracked, decayed or damaged, your dentist may recommend a crown.
- Dental Bridges: A dental bridge literally bridges the gap where one or more teeth are missing. They can be removable or fixed in place, using the surrounding teeth for support.
- Dentures: Dentures have come a long way and are made to last. They can replace just a few teeth or a full plate, and be removable or permanent implants.
Dental Implants
One of the most advanced restorative dentistry options available today is dental implants. They offer patients more control over their oral health and, more importantly, their appearance. Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth and an alternative to removable dentures. Comprehensive dental care is essential when considering dental implants. You will need a dental care team that understands the factors involved, which may include:
- Single and multiple teeth implants
- Same-day tooth replacement
- Dental implant crowns
- Implant-supported dentures
- All-on-4 dental implants
Gum Disease & Cancer
As part of your routine preventive care, your dentist will be looking for signs of gingivitis, advanced gum disease and oral cancer. Gingivitis, when caught early, can be treated with thorough, regular cleanings. Advanced gum disease can lead to infection or tooth loss. There are many risk factors for gum disease, including poor oral hygiene, smoking, family history and other medical conditions. However, as part of comprehensive dental care, your dentist can help treat gingivitis and gum disease.
Cosmetic Dentistry
There are many reasons you may be unhappy with your smile. It could be as simple as wanting a whiter, brighter grin. Or, you may be unhappy with the shape, size or spacing of your teeth. If that’s the case, cosmetic dentistry may offer dramatic results. Your dentist will evaluate the state of your smile and then learn more about what you expect. From there, they can provide the options for improving your smile. For example, dental bonding is ideal for treating only a few teeth, but porcelain veneers can transform your entire smile.
Orthodontics
Invisalign® is a convenient and more comfortable way of straightening your teeth. It is less conspicuous, and most people won’t even know you are wearing clear aligners. These aligners are designed from molds of your teeth to straighten them over time and gradually improve your smile. Unlike traditional braces, you enjoy no food restrictions, and oral hygiene is much the same as without Invisalign.
Same-Day & Emergency Dentistry
Waiting for the next available appointment can be frustrating for those experiencing a dental emergency, whether an unexplained toothache or an oral injury. With comprehensive dental care, you may have access to same-day appointments. While these aren’t guaranteed and are offered based on availability, you can rest assured that the clinic will always do its best to treat your need as soon as possible in an emergency.
Benefits of Comprehensive Dental Services
Now that you know what comprehensive dental care is, why should you choose one? There are many benefits to establishing and keeping care with a single dental provider who offers a wide range of services that you may need.
Saves Time and Money
A general dentist may not provide all the services you need. If that’s the case, they may refer you to an endodontist or other specialist. When given a referral, you will need to schedule an appointment for a consultation; then if the specialist agrees with your general dentist, the procedure will be scheduled. This can all take quite a bit of time. If you are already uncomfortable with a toothache, it could make this time go by painfully slow. For those without dental insurance, extra appointments can add up.
Reduces Anxiety
When you visit the same dental clinic regularly and get to know your care team, you become comfortable with them. Over time, they get to know you as well. If you feel uneasy about visiting the dentist, creating this connection can significantly reduce anxiety.
Better Understanding of Your Dental Health
Visiting multiple dentists can make it difficult for one provider to get an overall picture of your dental health. When visiting a general dentist, it’s often difficult to stick with one dentist; they must refer you to specialists for more involved care. However, comprehensive dental care means you can receive all the services you need in one place. All your records, including x-rays and provider notes, are in one place, where they create a much more detailed account of your dental health.
Building a Relationship
It’s human nature that when we see someone often enough, even in a professional setting, we get to know them. This relationship builds over time until it’s only natural that we know your kids’ names, if you went to the same college, if you just lost a family member or are planning to buy a house. A comprehensive dental clinic will eventually care about much more than your dental health, but also about you and your family.
If you are looking for comprehensive dental care, look no further than Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Atlanta. We would love to know more about you and your dental health needs, from routine preventive care to a complete smile makeover. Call our office today at (770) 955-0550 to schedule an appointment.
