Woodbridge General Dentist
 General dentistry is the branch of medicine involving the care and
prevention of oral health conditions, diseases and disorders. A
dentist’s job is to use preventative care and patient education to
preclude the need for treatments and instead promote a healthy smile for
life. Dentists are also responsible for diagnosing conditions that
affect the mouth, teeth, gums and jaws, as well as develop the most
effective treatment plan with the patient’s best interests in mind.
General dentists attend and complete dental school to achieve a
Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine. At that time,
dentists may take national and state certification exams, which prove a
dentist’s proficiency to practice. Upon passing the exams, state
licensure is awarded on an individual basis.
General dentists typically do not focus on any particular specialty,
instead opting to provide generalized dental care to patients. In some
cases, general dentists may refer a patient to a specialty provider for
care or treatment that is beyond the scope of general dentistry.
However, most general dentists are capable of providing complete
examinations, cleanings, root canals, restorations, extractions and
tooth prosthetics.
General dentistry is best when patients use it for preventive care,
rather than for corrective treatment. By visiting a dentist and his or
her team of hygienists and dental technicians twice annually for
cleaning and examination, patients can avoid decay and identify
potential oral health conditions, such as periodontal disease, in their
earliest stages.
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