By now, all of us should understand the importance of going to the dentist regularly – ideally twice per year from the toddler years throughout life. It’s not enough to simply wait for something to go wrong!
While it’s obvious that a toothache, extreme sensitivity, bleeding gums, or a loose or knocked-out tooth is a sign that an urgent visit to the dentist is warranted, there are plenty of other reasons to book that appointment.
But did you know that there are different types of dentistry? And each requires certain specialised pieces of equipment and other dental supplies?
What is Dentistry?
Dentistry is an umbrella term covering specific speciality areas pertaining to the medical care of the mouth. It incorporates the teeth, gums, and general oral health and hygiene.
It covers:
- General Dentistry, including specialised paediatric and geriatric dentistry.
- Restorative Dentistry, including implant dentistry and endodontics.
- Cosmetic dentistry, including orthodontics.
Types of Dentistry
- General Dentistry
This is what springs to mind when most of us hear the term “dentist”. It covers preventative dental care, with a focus on overall oral health and well-being and maintaining such. Regular dental check-ups are general dentistry – for cleaning and polishing of the teeth, examination and x-rays to check the integrity of the teeth, and visual screening for early signs of oral cancer. These visits to the dentist will look for and identify decay, cavities, and gum disease, and include treatments where necessary, for example, fillings or extractions. Your dentist will advise regarding at-home maintenance and care.
Paediatric and geriatric patients have special needs when it comes to their oral health, and general dentistry addresses these. Examples include sports mouth guards for kids and dry mouth treatments for elderly patients.
- Restorative Dentistry
This type of dentistry aims to address lost, damaged, or missing teeth. This is with the primary aim of restoring natural function to the mouth. It may include endodontics (root canal therapy) to manage an infected or dying tooth; capping weak, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth with a crown; or creating partial or full dentures to replace lost teeth. Implant dentistry is a highly specialised niche in restorative dentistry which permanently replaces lost teeth. Even full mouth reconstructions are possible, addressing issues from missing teeth to bite discomfort and jaw issues.
- Cosmetic Dentistry
If you wish to improve your smile or the shape of your face around your mouth, cosmetic dentistry is for you. It includes teeth whitening, cosmetic dental bonding, veneers, and various types of orthodontic treatments.
Whichever type of dentistry you need, you need to have confidence in your dentist – and this includes knowing that they are using the highest quality dental supplies in Australia.
Top dentists are proud to work with Adam Dental Supplies – Australia’s leading distributor of dental supplies from Melbourne to Perth and nationwide. For all your needs, from dental burs to dental needles, Ultradent products, prophy paste, and everything else you could possibly need look no further than us. |