Visiting the dentist may seem routine. But you actually have access to a wide range of dental services through your oral healthcare provider. Some of these you may not realize that dentists offer on an everyday basis. Below, we look at five of these top specialty services.
Sedation Dentistry
Do you feel anxious or afraid when visiting the dentist? Or do you have an upcoming oral surgery or restorative procedure that makes you nervous? Have no fear. Through sedation dentistry, your dentist provides sedatives to help you relax during your treatment. You can access this sedation for cosmetic dentistry, tooth extractions and other services.
Types of sedation dentistry include mild, moderate and deep sedation. Your dentist provides mild sedation orally or through nitrous oxide gas, also called “laughing gas.” With mild sedatives, you remain conscious and breathe on your own while feeling very relaxed. Moderate sedation is provided orally or through an IV for complete relaxation without losing consciousness. Deep sedation, such as general anesthesia, puts you into a deep sleep during your dental procedure.
Emergency Dentistry
Emergency dentists treat oral health emergencies, such as broken, chipped, cracked, abscessed or knocked out teeth. They also replace lost crowns or fillings. These services take place as needed, instead of making you wait until the office’s next business day. To access emergency dental care, you simply call your dentist’s office and explain your symptoms or oral trauma. The dental staff evaluates whether you need immediate treatment and, if so, schedule you for prompt care.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular specialty services dentists offer today. Unlike over-the-counter whitening products, this dental service provides maximum results for your brightest and whitest smile. Most people can achieve these results on yellowed teeth in just one or two visits.
Your dentist likely offers two primary options for teeth whitening. These include:
- In-office bleaching in one or two office visits
- At-home bleaching using a custom-made kit provided by your dentist
Pediatric Dentistry
Children are not tiny versions of adults, when it comes to dental care. They often have special needs related to growth and development. Pediatric dental care meets these special needs by providing gentler care and education on a level that children understand. Pediatric dentistry also treats children with special needs or disabilities.
Pediatric dentistry involves additional training, typically two to three years after dental school. These dental specialists work in hospitals, with kids needing extreme dental treatment and as part of emergency care. Part of the specialization is also education and training in orthodontic teeth straightening. Because your pediatric dentist works closely with your child’s pediatrician and general dentist, you can trust that the treatment aligns with your child’s whole-health needs.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers help you correct natural defects on your teeth, as well as those caused through years of wear and tear. Many people choose dental veneers to correct chipped, gapped and misshaped teeth. Veneers cover your natural front-facing teeth to provide a flawless and classically shaped appearance for your smile.
Issues dental veneers can correct include:
- Stained teeth not helped through teeth whitening
- Chipped or worn teeth
- Crooked or misshapen teeth
- Gapped teeth or uneven spacing between teeth
Veneers are available in porcelain or composite resin, depending upon your specific needs. Your dentist helps you understand your options and choose the right material for your smile. Veneers are long-lasting. Your dentist permanently affixes them to your individual teeth for an immediately improved smile.