General Dentistry

A general dentist is your primary dental care provider. A general dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, focusing primarily on preventative care and treatment of issues relating to your teeth and gums.

According to the American Dental Association, 80% of the 202,000 dentists in the United States are general dentists.

General dentists provide a wide array of services, including:

Preventative services. These services help you maintain good oral health by stopping disease before it takes hold in your mouth. Regular exams, including diagnostic images such as x-rays, fluoride treatments, and professional teeth cleanings, are a cornerstone of prevention. Your general dentist may give you detailed instructions to improve your at-home oral hygiene and may also recommend preventive treatments, such as sealants if needed. If you play sports or grind your teeth, your general dentist can fit you with a custom-made mouthguard to prevent tooth damage.

Restorative services. The most common dental restoration provided by general dentists involves removing tooth decay and placing a filling in the cavity in the affected tooth. General dentists also place crowns and bridges, diagnose and treat gum disease (periodontitis), and treat dental traumas, such as cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth. Some general dentists provide more advanced treatments, such as root canal therapy, dental implants, and orthodontics.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures. Many general dentists can help you get the sparkling smile you’ve always wanted with a range of cosmetic procedures. These include teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding, and clear aligners.

Overall health concerns. In many respects, your oral health can be seen as a mirror of your general health. Some dental problems may reflect issues in other parts of your body and vice versa. For example, untreated oral infections can spread elsewhere in the body and have been linked to serious medical complications, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and issues during pregnancy. General dentists are trained to identify these and other medical problems and offer appropriate treatment or referral when needed. One special concern is obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially deadly condition that can sometimes be treated with an oral appliance. General dentists can also offer nutritional counseling, advice on tobacco cessation, and general health and wellness information.