General dentistry is dentistry that is concerned with the health of the mouth and the patient. This mostly revolves around reducing pain from things such as cavities and abscesses and making sure the teeth are in a good, healthy condition. If you are experiencing any pain, don't just put up with it and hope it will go away (as it rarely will!) Contact your dentist, and alert them of your situation.
Preventive dentistry
Preventive dentistry is an extremely important part of dentistry. Many problems with the teeth can be avoided with a proper dental hygiene routine, as neglect is the thing that causes small issues to become larger. A proper routine involves brushing twice a day, and flossing once a day, all with the correct techniques and equipment. If you are at all concerned about your dental hygiene, then do not hesitate to contact your dentist.
What causes cavities?
Cavities are caused by bacteria producing acids on the teeth, which in turn will cause the teeth to decay creating a cavity. Bacteria will thrive on food and sugars stuck to the teeth, which is why a high sugary diet should be avoided, and a strong dental hygiene routine should be maintained. A cavity is caused by consistent deterioration of the tooth, so the tooth or specific area needs to have been neglected for a sustained period for this to happen. Often this can be in hard to reach areas, and crevices within the teeth, which means that even with consistent brushing, you may be missing the key areas.
What happens if a cavity is left?
If you have a toothache, then it is crucial to see your dentist straight away. Any cavity that is left untreated can only get worse. After a period, if the cavity is left, it will begin to eat into the dentine of the tooth, which is the softer, sensitive layer underneath the enamel. Once it has gone past this layer it will then breach the pulp chamber. This is when your tooth is seriously at risk, as the tooth has become infected from the inside.
Dental pulp
Dental pulp is what is inside your tooth and is a collection of blood vessels and nerves that allow the tooth to be supplied with nutrients. They are stored inside what is called the pulp chamber, which is meant to be protected by the dentine and enamel. If these layers have been breached, then the pulp can become infected. This means that the tooth has essentially become infected from the inside, which means the roots can become infected too, in this situation, your dentist will need to perform a root canal.
Root canal
Root canal treatment, often just called root canal, is the treatment used when the pulp has become infected. Root canal works by removing the pulp and all infected areas from inside the tooth and essentially filling the tooth with a filler material. In many cases, dentists will fill the tooth with a temporary material first, before using a permanent filler. This is because if even a small amount of infection remains in the tooth, then the treatment will have to be restarted.
