Genera

l
Dentist
ry
• What is General Dentistry?

By definition, dentistry is the

evaluation, diagnosis,
prevention, and treatment of
diseases and conditions of the
body’s oral and maxillofacial
region
What Do General
Dentists Do?

• Unlike specialists, who are

mostly focused on a
particular aspect of dental
practice, general dentists
provide a wide array of
services that are vital to your
continued health.
 General Dentistry Services
Includes:
Exams and
Oral Prophylaxis
• Dental exams are used to help find tooth
decay, gum disease, and other oral
health problems early, when they're
easier to treat. The exams are also used
to help educate people on the best ways
to care for their teeth and gums.

• Oral Prophylaxis is a procedure in which

bacterial plaque and tartar is removed
from the surface of the teeth with the
help of scaling and polishing.1
 Dental X-ray
Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of your
teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your
oral health. These X-rays are used with low
levels of radiation to capture images of the
interior of your teeth and gums. This can help
your dentist to identify problems, like cavities,
tooth decay, and impacted teeth.

Dental X-rays may seem complex, but they ’re

actually very common tools that are just as
important as your teeth cleanings.
Cavity Fillings
A filling is a treatment for tooth
damaged by decay that restores
back to its normal function and
shape while preventing further
decay. It's also the one of the
most common procedures that
takes place in the dental office.
Dental Extraction
(also referred to as tooth
extraction, exodontia,
exodontics, or informally,
tooth pulling) is the
removal of teeth from the
dental alveolus (socket) in
the alveolar bone.
Root Canal Treatment
• Also known as endodontic treatment, is
a dental procedure in which the diseased
or damaged pulp (core) of a tooth is
removed and the inside areas (the pulp
chamber and root canals) are filled and
sealed.
Gingivectomy
Gingivectomy is
surgical removal of gum
tissue, or gingiva.
Gingivectomy can be
used to treat conditions
like gingivitis. It's also
used to remove extra
gum tissue for cosmetic
reasons, such as to
modify a smile.
Pulpectomy

•It is the removal of the pulp of a tooth.

Teeth whitening

• Also called “teeth

bleaching,” this
procedure can brighten
and whiten teeth from
discoloration and/or
staining.
 Dental Veneers:

• Veneers are a thin shell made out

of porcelain or composite material.
They're custom made and cemented
to the front side of the tooth. A
veneer can be used to treat dental
conditions such as a slightly crooked
tooth, discolored teeth, chipped
teeth, or even to cover spaces in
between the teeth.
 Dental Crowns

• Crowns, also referred to as caps, are

custom made to fit over your whole
tooth after the cosmetic dentist has
prepared it. They are usually made out
of acrylic or porcelain that has been
fused to metal to withstand biting
pressure. Crowns can be used in
cosmetic dentistry to treat teeth that
are poorly shaped, badly decayed,
broken, chipped, or have had large
fillings, or to cover spaces in between
teeth.
• Cosmetic Teeth
Shaping:
• Also referred to as
“enamel shaping,” the
dentist can reshape the
tooth by filing or
removing some of the
enamel. This process is
usually not painful and
can produce immediate
effects.
 Cosmetic
Tooth
Tooth bonding is a cosmetic dental
procedure that involves applying a Bonding:
custom-tinted composite resin to your
teeth. It can repair a range of common
complaints, including: Gaps between
teeth. Irregularly shaped or chipped teeth.
Fractured or cracked teeth.
 SAMPLE
DENTAL
EXAMINATION
FORM
• Why is dental history
important?
• The primary purpose of
maintaining dental
records is to deliver
quality patient care and
follow-up. Dental records
can also be used for
forensic purposes and
have an important role in
teaching and research, as
well as in legal matters.
Why is taking a medical
history important in
dentistry?

• A medical history helps to

identify conditions relevant to
your dental health or which
could have an impact on how
treatment is carried out.
Information about certain
medical conditions such as
diabetes, epilepsy, allergies or
heart disease could be vital if a
medical emergency occurs in
the dental practice.
4 basic instruments
Equipment you need to have at your
dental clinic
Let's start with the 4 basic instruments needed at a clinic:

The following dental instruments should not be

missing from any dentist's examination tray:

Dental Examination Mirror: The mirror is an

essential dental instrument that allows dentists
to explore the patient's oral cavity, both for
direct viewing and indirect vision techniques, as
well as to act as a mouth separator. Its little size
and adaptability make it a basic but highly
practical instrument for a perfect working
vision.
Cotton pliers
are used for handling
cotton pellets, cotton rolls,
small instruments, or
other small items placed
into or withdrawn from
the mouth.
Spoon excavator
In dentistry, an
instrument, generally a
small spoon or curette,
for cleaning out and
shaping a carious
cavity preparatory to
filling.
A dental explorer or sickle probe
is an instrument in dentistry
commonly used in the dental
armamentarium. A sharp point at
the end of the explorer is used to
enhance tactile sensation. In the
past it was usual for dentists to use
the explorer to probe teeth for the
presence of cavities.
Periodontal probe:

This is a more classical

but equally practical
instrument used to
determine the level of
bacterial plaque,
caries, etc.
A dental drill or handpiece is a hand-held,
mechanical instrument used to perform a
variety of common dental procedures,
including removing decay, polishing fillings,
performing cosmetic dentistry, and altering
prostheses.
The Dental Chair
is a specially designed medical
device intended to support a
patient's whole body, like a
recliner, but articulated, so that
the dentist can recline patients
to virtually any position.
 Periapical X-rays show the whole tooth —
Panoramic radiography, also called
from the crown, to beyond the root where the
panoramic x-ray, is a two-dimensional (2-D)
tooth attaches into the jaw. Each periapical X-
dental x-ray examination that captures the
ray shows all teeth in one portion of either the
entire mouth in a single image, including the
upper or lower jaw. Periapical X-rays detect
teeth, upper and lower jaws, surrounding
any unusual changes in the root and
structures and tissues.
surrounding bone structures