GENERAL DENTISTRY
Most people will access their dentist for treatments and services known as general dentistry. Such treatments help with the maintenance of your teeth and gums, in addition to offering preventative care to prolong the life of your natural teeth.
General Dentistry Rochdale Manchester
One Dental provides general dentistry services to our patients across Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
​
With 50 years of dental expertise, we welcome existing and new patients for all their general dentistry needs.
What Is General Dentistry?
General dentistry is the term given for the most common treatments and services a dentist provides. Such treatments are integral to the upkeep of your oral hygiene.
Dental Checkups
A dental checkup allows for a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. It also provides us with an opportunity to ask you if you are having any issues with your teeth that you would like us to investigate for you.
​
We will carry out any necessary investigations and treatments during your appointment. This may include x-rays which will help us to identify the position of any incoming teeth including wisdom teeth.
​
If we notice a buildup of tartar on your teeth, we will perform a scale and polish to remove the build-up. We may also apply some prophylaxis paste which is a preventative treatment.
​
Advice will be given to ensure your oral hygiene is maintained or improved. We may also suggest a dental hygienist appointment which will provide additional teeth cleaning and patient information.
​
Depending on our findings, further treatment may be required. If this is the case, we will inform you of what to expect and arrange the necessary appointments with you.
Restorative Dental Treatment
The aim of restorative dental treatment is to bring broken or damaged teeth back into a functional state. There is a range of techniques we can use to do this, which most commonly include crowns, fillings and root canals.
​
Here is an overview of each treatment type to guide you.
Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that is fixed on top of a tooth.
​
There are many reasons why a crown may be necessary. Decay, trauma, fillings or even the way we chew can make our teeth wear down. Placing a crown over a weakened tooth can prevent tooth breakage. Crowns are also used to restore stained or misshapen teeth or to protect a tooth that has had a root canal. A crown may also be used instead of a filling if your dentist deems the tooth doesn’t have enough structural integrity to hold a filling.
​
It usually takes a couple of visits to complete a dental crown treatment. First, your dentist will numb the area around your tooth to minimise any discomfort. The tooth will then be filed down so that the cap will be able to fit on top. An additional procedure known as a tooth buildup may be needed so that your tooth can fully support a crown.
​
A mould of your tooth will be taken so that your crown can be made. In the meantime, a temporary crown will be fitted. When your crown is ready, the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be cemented in place. The final stage involves checking the fit of your crown, as some additional adjustments may be needed to ensure it sits perfectly without any discomfort.
Fillings
Fillings are used to treat tooth cavities which are holes in the tooth in order to prevent further decay. Fillings can be made from a variety of materials, most commonly amalgam or composite.
​
Usually, a filling can be completed on the same day it is discovered by your dentist. Regular checkups in addition to seeing a hygienist can help prevent fillings by identifying any signs of plaque buildup or tooth staining before such issues have a chance to develop into tooth decay.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal treatment is performed when there is an infection at the centre of the tooth. The infection is caused by bacteria either from tooth decay, leaky fillings or trauma to the tooth. An x-ray will determine if the tooth pulp has been damaged and therefore requires a root canal treatment to fix.
​
A local anaesthetic will be given to make your root canal treatment as comfortable as possible.
Family Dental Care
General dentistry will take care of your whole family’s dental health, including children who should start seeing a dentist as soon as their milk teeth come through. Maintaining regular visits with us will help ensure good oral health as your family grows. It will also help encourage children to develop the correct brushing and general dental hygiene techniques from an early age.
Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is a last resort but sometimes clinically necessary. Reasons for a tooth extraction include if a damaged tooth is beyond repair, to help an impacted tooth, to reduce overcrowding, and periodontal disease.
​
Removing a tooth is normally very straightforward. If applicable, you may need further treatment such as a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.
Cosmetic Dentistry Rochdale
While cosmetic dental treatments are not usually part of general dentistry, we offer many such treatments on a mostly private basis to our patients across Rochdale and beyond. We would be more than happy to advise on the suitability of any cosmetic dental procedure you wish to undertake.
Preventative Treatment
Prevention is better than a cure and this is most certainly the case where your oral health is concerned. Preventative dental treatment covers a range of services that aim to prevent cavities and gum disease. It is extremely beneficial for both adults and children and is something that forms an integral part of your dental checkup with us.
How Often Should I Visit My General Dentist?
We are happy to advise you on an individual basis. However, as a general rule, we recommend visiting us at least every 6 to 12 months. If dental appointments are infrequent then we aren’t able to carry out regular examinations which could lead to treatments being needed which would have otherwise been preventable.
