Common Treatments at a Dental Checkup

If you go to a dental clinic for a dental checkup, the dentist offers all kinds of treatment options. However, many of those treatments are common. That means dentists see patients every day for the same types of issues. Keep reading to learn more about these common treatments.

Dental checkup treatments

A dentist has the knowledge and training to perform several different treatments. It is important for a dental professional to diagnose and treat everything with the same level of care. However, dentists deal with some treatments more often than with others. Here are the most common treatments performed during a dental checkup.

Filling cavities

If someone has a cavity, a dentist will fill it. This involves numbing the area with lidocaine and then using a material to seal the hole. Today, composite resin is the most popular material used. The dentist can color it to match the patient’s natural teeth.

Bonding

This is another common treatment performed during a dental checkup. With bonding, a dentist can repair a damaged tooth caused by decay, a chip, a crack, or a fracture. Bonding can even correct an issue with discoloration. Sometimes, a dental professional will use bonding to build up older teeth to make them appear more youthful.

Tooth extraction

If a person cannot afford or does not qualify for a root canal and crown, a dentist can pull a severely damaged tooth. In general, the dentist will try to avoid tooth extraction and instead do everything possible to restore the damaged tooth. Dentists do this because a tooth helps support the surrounding teeth. Therefore, tooth extraction is usually the last resort treatment.

Root canal

If a tooth is seriously damaged, a dentist can perform a root canal. In this case, a dentist removes the nerves leading to the affected tooth. Immediately, that stops any pain experienced by the patient. Depending on the amount of work done, the individual might also need a crown.

Crowns

A dental lab makes a crown in the same size and shape as the patient’s tooth. It then fits directly on top of a damaged tooth, whether broken, stained, or decayed. Before doing this procedure, the dentist removes any decay. Then, the dentist smooths out damaged areas.

Oral cancer screening

A screening for oral cancer is commonly done as part of a dental checkup. For this, a dentist feels different areas inside of a patient’s mouth for anything abnormal such as lumps or bumps. The dentist also feels the patient’s head, neck, and face for the same telltale signs. Other things a dental professional looks for include discolored tissue and sores inside the mouth.