Have you ever visited your dentist and been totally confused about your dental problems, treatments, or even how to pay for your dental work? Sometimes the complicated dental terminology can turn patients off from communicating with their dentist or make people feel intimidated.
Poor communication can damage a relationship between a dentist and their patients. We’ve outlined a few dental terms for you to understand in this week’s blog post. Hopefully, you’ll be able to understand more of what your dental team is talking about without feeling as though they are speaking a different language!
Common Dental Terms Every Patient Should Know
Tooth Filling
You’ve probably heard of tooth decay, cavities, or maybe even the term filling, but do you know what that means? When you have tooth decay, your teeth are slowly deteriorating from plaque and tartar buildup. Sometimes, this can create pits in your smile known as cavities. These holes need to be filled immediately so that they don’t continue to grow, become infected, or cause other dental problems. Your dentist uses a tooth filling to address cavities and, in most cases, they are crafted from composite resin that matches your teeth. Sometimes, they can be metal—but it’s up to your dental needs and what your dentist has to offer.
Root Canal
Root canals should always be explored before completely extracting the tooth. They work to keep the rest of your smile healthy by removing the infected materials from your tooth and sealing it from further infections. The procedure is practically painless with local anesthetic and sedation options.
Periodontal Disease
Gums are important to your overall health. When your gum health declines, you risk developing gum disease. You might see symptoms of red, swollen gums that are sensitive. If not treated appropriately with the help of a dentist in Windermere, it could advance into periodontal disease (advanced gum disease). You’ll face losing your teeth and other serious health concerns.
Bite Adjustment
The alignment of your teeth is also a critical factor that can determine your oral health. If your teeth are misaligned, they could overlap and cause difficulties cleaning your smile effectively. It could also cause unnecessary wear and tear on the teeth. If orthodontics isn’t a great option for you or you have severe misalignment, your dentist could recommend a bite adjustment or a procedure to change the positions of your natural teeth.
Talk to Your Dentist
Now that you’ve learned a few more common dental terms, you should be able to easily communicate with your dentist. However, if you ever have questions or are unsure about a treatment or procedure, you should never hesitate to ask your dental team for a clearer understanding.
About Our Office
Our team here at Windermere Dentistry wants to help every patient receive the dental care their smile truly needs. The only way to do that is to effectively communicate with each patient about their personal dental concerns and the best way to treat them. We’re always open to addressing questions and concerns, so give us a call today!
