Understanding General Dentistry
A general dentist serves as your primary oral healthcare provider, much like a family physician manages your overall health. According to WebMD, general dental practitioners provide primary dental care to diagnose, treat, and meet patients’ comprehensive oral health needs. Unlike dental specialists who focus on specific areas of dentistry, general dentists offer a broad range of services that are essential to maintaining your oral and overall health.
Our role extends beyond just treating teeth and gums. At our Sunnyvale dental office, we take a complete health history for each patient, including current medications, to understand how your overall health affects your oral health and vice versa. For instance, diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, while certain medications that cause dry mouth can elevate your risk of tooth decay. This comprehensive approach allows us to provide truly personalized care.
The Role of Your General Dentist
Your general dentist acts as your partner in maintaining optimal oral health. We provide continuous, patient-centered care that adapts to your changing needs throughout different life stages. Our services encompass everything from basic preventative care to complex restorative treatments, all under one roof at our dental center for your convenience.
Preventative & Routine Dental Care
The cornerstone of general dentistry is preventative care. Most of the care we provide focuses on preventing dental problems before they develop, which is far more comfortable, convenient, and cost-effective than treating advanced dental disease. Maintaining excellent oral health through consistent routine care allows you to smile confidently while avoiding serious dental issues.
Comprehensive Dental Examinations
Regular dental checkups form the foundation of preventative care. During your comprehensive examination, we thoroughly assess your teeth, gums, jaw, and overall oral cavity to identify any signs of problems in their earliest, most treatable stages. We check for cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, bite problems, and other concerns that may not yet be causing symptoms.
These examinations also include digital X-rays when necessary to detect issues beneath the surface that aren’t visible during a visual inspection. Early detection is key—the sooner we identify a problem, the simpler and less invasive the treatment typically is.
Professional Teeth Cleanings (Dental Prophylaxis)
Most routine dental visits involve professional teeth cleanings, which are essential for maintaining optimal oral health. Even with diligent brushing and flossing at home, plaque and tartar accumulate in hard-to-reach areas and on surfaces that are difficult to clean thoroughly.
During a professional cleaning, our dental hygienists carefully remove plaque, calculus (tartar), and surface stains from your teeth. This process involves scaling to remove hardened deposits and polishing to smooth tooth surfaces and eliminate staining. Professional cleanings not only keep your teeth looking their best but also prevent cavities and gum disease from developing.
We recommend professional cleanings at least twice a year for most patients, though some individuals with higher risk factors may benefit from more frequent visits. Regular cleanings can help you avoid serious dental issues before they develop, saving you time, discomfort, and money in the long run.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants provide powerful protection against tooth decay, particularly for the back teeth (premolars and molars) with their deep grooves and crevices. During this quick, painless procedure, we apply a thin, plastic coating to the chewing surfaces of your teeth. The sealant bonds into the teeth’s depressions and grooves, creating a protective shield against food particles and bacteria.
While brushing and flossing effectively clean the flat surfaces of teeth, they often cannot reach deep into the nooks and crannies where decay commonly begins. Sealants close off these vulnerable areas, making them especially valuable for children and teenagers, though adults without tooth decay or those with existing fillings may also benefit from this preventative measure.
Research shows that dental sealants can significantly reduce your child’s lifetime risk of cavities. This gives busy parents peace of mind and helps prevent future dental problems for their children.
Fluoride Treatments
Professional fluoride applications strengthen tooth enamel and enhance your teeth’s natural resistance to decay. Our concentrated fluoride treatments deliver substantially more protection than over-the-counter toothpaste or rinses, helping to remineralize areas of early decay and fortify teeth against future acid attacks from bacteria and dietary sugars.
Based on your individual oral health needs and cavity risk, we may recommend fluoride treatments every three, six, or twelve months. These quick, comfortable treatments are particularly beneficial for children, patients with a history of frequent cavities, those with exposed root surfaces, and anyone with dry mouth conditions.
Oral Health Education
Education is a vital component of preventative care. We take time during your appointments to provide helpful dental information and demonstrate proper oral hygiene techniques. For example, did you know that flossing before brushing is more effective than the reverse? Flossing first removes debris between teeth, allowing fluoride from your toothpaste to better reach all surfaces.
We teach patients the correct brushing technique, the importance of replacing toothbrushes regularly, proper flossing methods, and how nutrition affects oral health. While regular brushing twice daily and flossing at least once per day are essential, they’re not sufficient on their own. Combining excellent home care with regular professional checkups creates the optimal formula for lasting oral health.
Restorative General Dentistry
Despite our best preventative efforts, teeth can sustain damage from decay, injury, or wear over time. Adult teeth are not invincible—once damaged, they don’t heal on their own the way other body tissues do. Our restorative dental procedures can repair, restore, or replace damaged teeth, returning them to optimal health, function, and appearance.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are one of the most common restorative procedures in general dentistry. When tooth decay creates a cavity, a filling restores the tooth’s structure and prevents the decay from spreading. After carefully removing the decayed portion of the tooth, we fill the space with durable materials that blend seamlessly with your natural tooth color.
Modern composite resin fillings can be precisely matched to your tooth shade, making them virtually invisible. These tooth-colored fillings not only restore function but also maintain the natural beauty of your smile. The filling material bonds directly to the tooth structure, providing excellent strength and durability.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown provides comprehensive coverage and protection for teeth that have sustained significant damage or have undergone extensive dental work. This custom-fabricated cap fits over the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance.
Crowns can protect weak or cracked teeth from further damage, restore broken or severely worn teeth, support teeth with large fillings where little natural tooth structure remains, complete a root canal treatment, or cover dental implants. We offer various crown materials, including all-ceramic and porcelain options that perfectly match your natural tooth color for beautiful, lasting results.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canals have an undeserved reputation for being painful procedures, when in reality they relieve pain and save infected teeth from extraction. When bacteria reach the soft pulp inside your tooth—whether through deep decay, cracks, or trauma—infection and inflammation cause severe pain.
During root canal treatment, we carefully remove the diseased pulp tissue, thoroughly clean and disinfect the interior chambers and canals of the tooth, then fill and seal the space to prevent reinfection. This treatment eliminates your pain while preserving your natural tooth structure. After root canal therapy, a crown is typically placed to protect and strengthen the treated tooth.
What kind of pain can root canal treatment address? Root canals effectively treat severe toothaches caused by infection or inflammation of the tooth pulp, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers long after the stimulus is removed, pain when chewing or applying pressure, swelling and tenderness in nearby gums, and abscesses (pus-filled pockets) near the affected tooth.
Tooth Extractions
While we always strive to save your natural teeth, sometimes extraction becomes the most appropriate treatment option. Extractions may be necessary when a tooth is severely damaged by decay or trauma beyond repair, when advanced gum disease has destroyed supporting bone, when infection cannot be controlled through root canal therapy, when wisdom teeth are impacted or causing problems, or when teeth are severely crowded and preventing proper alignment.
We perform extractions as comfortably as possible using local anesthesia and, when appropriate, sedation options. Our comprehensive aftercare instructions ensure proper healing and help prevent complications like dry socket—a painful condition that occurs when the protective blood clot at the extraction site is dislodged too soon, exposing the underlying bone and nerves.
Following your extraction, we’ll discuss appropriate tooth replacement options to restore function and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, including dental bridges, dental implants, or dentures depending on your specific situation.
Dentures and Partials
For patients missing multiple teeth, dentures and partial dentures offer effective solutions to restore eating, speaking, and smiling capabilities. Complete dentures replace all teeth in an arch, while partial dentures replace some missing teeth while preserving remaining natural teeth.
We custom-craft each denture or partial to fit your mouth comfortably and look remarkably natural. Modern dentures are more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than ever before, giving you back your confidence and quality of life.
Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)
When gum disease progresses beyond the earliest stage (gingivitis), a deep dental cleaning becomes necessary to restore periodontal health. This advanced cleaning procedure goes beyond routine maintenance to address bacterial infection below the gum line.
Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from tooth surfaces and within the pockets between your gums and teeth. Root planing smooths the root surfaces, making it harder for bacteria to recolonize and encouraging gum tissue to reattach to the teeth. This non-surgical treatment can halt the progression of periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and promote healing.
Deep cleaning is particularly important because untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes complications, and respiratory problems.
Beyond General Dentistry: Cosmetic Dental Care
While general dentistry focuses on oral health and function, many patients are also interested in enhancing the appearance of their smile. Our practice offers comprehensive cosmetic dental care services that can transform your smile while also benefiting your oral health.
Popular cosmetic treatments available at our cosmetic dentistry practice include:
- Teeth Whitening: Professional bleaching to remove stains and brighten your smile
- Porcelain Veneers: Thin shells that transform the appearance of your teeth
- Dental Bonding: Tooth-colored resin to repair chips, gaps, and discoloration
- Invisalign: Clear aligners for discreet orthodontic treatment
- Dental Aesthetics: Comprehensive smile makeover treatments
Many cosmetic procedures also provide functional benefits, making them an excellent complement to general dentistry care.
The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health
Your mouth is not separate from the rest of your body—oral health and overall health are intimately connected. Research continues to reveal strong links between oral conditions and systemic health problems. As your general dentist, we consider your complete health picture when providing care.
Conditions Linked to Oral Health
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are at increased risk for gum disease, and severe gum disease can make diabetes harder to control by affecting blood sugar levels.
- Heart Disease: Research suggests that inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria may be linked to heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke.
- Pregnancy Complications: Pregnancy gingivitis results from hormonal changes during pregnancy that increase blood flow to gum tissue, causing sensitivity, irritability, and swelling. Severe gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Respiratory Infections: Bacteria from periodontal disease can be breathed into the lungs, potentially causing respiratory infections, pneumonia, and other lung conditions.
- Osteoporosis: Bone loss associated with osteoporosis may also affect the jawbone, potentially leading to tooth loss.
This is why we take a complete medical history and ask about medications you’re taking. Many medications cause dry mouth, which increases cavity risk. Certain health conditions affect treatment planning. Understanding these connections allows us to provide safer, more effective care.
When to See Your General Dentist
Regular Checkups
Even when you’re not experiencing any problems, regular dental visits are essential. We recommend checkups and cleanings at least twice a year for most patients. These routine visits allow us to:
- Catch problems early when they’re easiest to treat
- Remove plaque and tartar buildup that causes decay and gum disease
- Screen for oral cancer and other serious conditions
- Monitor existing dental work and overall oral health
- Update you on new treatments or techniques that might benefit you
Don’t Wait with Dental Pain or Problems
Patients should contact our office as soon as they experience any dental pain or discomfort. The longer you wait, the more significant a problem can become—and the more complex and costly the treatment typically becomes. Call us immediately if you experience:
- Persistent toothache or tooth sensitivity
- Swollen, bleeding, or painful gums
- Loose teeth or changes in your bite
- Broken, cracked, or knocked-out teeth
- Lost fillings or crowns
- Jaw pain or clicking
- Sores, lumps, or unusual spots in your mouth that don’t heal
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste
We prioritize urgent appointments to address your pain and prevent complications. For true dental emergencies, contact our emergency dentist right away.
Our Comprehensive Approach to General Dentistry
Patient-Centered Care
At Smile Craft Dental, we believe in the importance of truly listening to our patients. We take the time to understand your needs, goals, lifestyle, and concerns. This personalized approach is evident in everything we do, from making appointments and conducting examinations to providing treatments and following up on your progress.
We help patients feel comfortable and relaxed throughout their visits. For anxious patients, we offer various comfort options and take extra time to explain procedures and answer questions. Our goal is to make dental care a positive experience rather than something to dread.
Customized Treatment Plans
No two patients are exactly alike, which is why we develop customized dental hygiene plans for each individual. We consider your current oral health status, risk factors, lifestyle habits, budget considerations, and personal goals when recommending treatment.
We present all available options, explain the benefits and limitations of each approach, and help you make informed decisions about your care. You’re always in control of your treatment—we’re here to guide and support you.
Advanced Training and Technology
Our team receives ongoing training on advanced dental procedures and techniques, ensuring you benefit from the latest developments in dental care. We invest in modern technology that makes diagnosis more accurate, treatments more comfortable, and results more predictable.
Treating the Cause, Not Just Symptoms
What sets Smile Craft Dental apart is our commitment to identifying and addressing the root cause of dental problems, not just treating symptoms. If you develop cavities, we don’t just fill them—we work with you to understand why they’re forming and how to prevent future decay. This approach sets our patients on the road to lasting oral health.
When Specialist Referrals Are Necessary
General dentists receive comprehensive training to handle a wide range of dental treatments. However, we don’t have the specialized training or experience to treat certain complex dental problems. Even when we cannot provide treatment directly, we can still help diagnose your condition and refer you to the appropriate dental specialist.
Situations That May Require a Specialist
Some dental problems that may necessitate a referral include:
- Complex root canals: Endodontists specialize in root canal therapy, particularly for teeth with complicated canal anatomy
- Gum surgery: Periodontists specialize in treating advanced gum disease and performing procedures like gum grafts
- Dental implant surgery: Oral surgeons or periodontists place dental implants
- Wisdom teeth removal: Complex impactions often require an oral surgeon’s expertise
- Orthodontic treatment: Orthodontists specialize in tooth alignment and bite correction
- Jaw surgery: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons handle TMJ disorders requiring surgery and jaw realignment
- Pediatric dental concerns: Pediatric dentists specialize in children’s dental needs and behavior management
We maintain relationships with trusted specialists in the Sunnyvale area and coordinate your care to ensure continuity and optimal outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About General Dentistry
Q: What does a general dentist do?
A: A general dentist is a primary healthcare provider that manages a person’s oral health care needs. They diagnose and treat a wide range of dental conditions, provide preventative care, and coordinate specialist referrals when necessary.
Q: Why is routine dental care important?
A: Routine dental care prevents serious problems before they develop, saves you money by avoiding costly treatments, maintains your overall health (since oral health affects total body health), preserves your natural teeth, and keeps your smile looking its best. Regular checkups allow us to detect and treat problems in their earliest, most manageable stages.
Q: What is family dentistry?
A: Family dentistry means we treat patients of all ages, from young children through seniors. This provides the convenience of one dental home for your entire family, continuity of care as family members age and their needs change, and the ability to schedule multiple family members at the same time or back-to-back.
Q: How can a person’s diet help prevent tooth decay?
A: A nutritious diet low in sugary and acidic foods helps prevent decay. Calcium-rich foods strengthen teeth, crunchy vegetables stimulate saliva production (which neutralizes acids), and drinking water throughout the day washes away food particles and bacteria. We provide personalized nutritional guidance based on your oral health needs.
Q: How can I find out what procedures my dental insurance covers?
A: Contact your insurance provider directly or provide us with your insurance information and we’ll verify your benefits. We accept most PPO insurance plans and will work with your insurance company to maximize your benefits. We also offer flexible payment options for treatments not covered by insurance.
Q: Why do I need my wisdom teeth or other teeth removed?
A: Teeth may need removal if they’re severely damaged beyond repair, causing infection that can’t be controlled, impacted and causing pain or damage to adjacent teeth, or contributing to severe crowding. We only recommend extraction when it’s the best option for your oral health.
Q: When will a general dentist refer someone to a specialist?
A: We refer patients to specialists for procedures requiring advanced training or expertise beyond general dentistry, such as complex oral surgery, advanced periodontal disease treatment, complicated root canals, orthodontic care, or specialized pediatric treatment.
Why Choose Smile Craft Dental for General Dentistry?
Comprehensive Services in One Location
We provide most dental services in-house, eliminating the inconvenience of traveling to multiple locations for different treatments. From routine checkups to complex restorative procedures, we handle your family’s dental needs under one roof.
Family-Friendly Practice
We welcome patients of all ages and treat multiple family members, often scheduling appointments for several family members simultaneously or back-to-back for your convenience. Children, parents, and grandparents all receive excellent care in our welcoming environment.
Advanced Technology
We invest in state-of-the-art dental technology that improves diagnostic accuracy, treatment comfort, and outcome quality. Digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and modern treatment techniques ensure you receive the best possible care.
Experienced, Caring Team
Dr. Nguyen and our entire team combine clinical excellence with genuine compassion. We’re passionate about building lifetime relationships with our patients and helping them achieve optimal oral health.
Affordable, Accessible Care
We pride ourselves on being an affordable dental practice that accepts a variety of insurance plans and payment options, including cash, credit cards, and Scratchpay financing. Quality dental care should be accessible to everyone in the Sunnyvale community.
Convenient Scheduling
We offer flexible appointment times, including same-day appointments for emergencies or urgent care needs. We respect your time and strive to run on schedule while never rushing your care.
Schedule Your General Dentistry Appointment Today
Whether you need a routine checkup, have a dental concern that needs attention, or want to establish a new dental home for your family, Smile Craft Dental is here to provide exceptional general dentistry care. Our Sunnyvale team combines advanced training, modern technology, and genuine compassion to deliver comprehensive dental services that keep your smile healthy for life.
Don’t wait until small problems become big ones. Regular preventative care is the key to maintaining excellent oral health while avoiding costly, uncomfortable treatments down the road.
Call us today at (650) 967-9900 to schedule your appointment.
New patients are always welcome! We look forward to becoming your trusted partner in oral health.
Quality Dental Services Can Transform Your Smile
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
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Dental Terminology
Dental CariesDental caries are also known as cavities and result from a lack of proper oral hygiene leaving plaque that forms tiny holes in the teeth.
Dental FillingA dental filling involves restoring the structure of the tooth by using metal, alloy, porcelain or plastic to fill the tooth.
Dental SealantsDental sealants contain a resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.
GingivitisGingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth and poor oral hygiene.
Learn More About General Dentistry Services
General dentistry can not only help maintain oral health but also addresses many common concerns. Let Smile Craft Dental in Sunnyvale tell you more about improving your smile. Give us a call at (650) 967-9900.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2023
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page.
2023 - WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2023
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