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General dentistry includes basic treatments that help to prevent oral health issues from developing. Your general dentist can perform a wide variety of services to maintain and protect your oral health and your smile’s appearance. As a general dentist, we perform common dental treatments such as:

Dental Cleaning

Professional teeth cleanings performed by a dentist or dental hygienist are important to maintaining good oral health. These routine, preventive dental services are done to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. During a typical dental checkup, the teeth will be cleaned and polished to remove any excess plaque buildup from difficult-to-reach areas in the mouth where bacteria can hide. After a professional dental cleaning has been done, patients can maintain their smile at home with daily brushing and flossing.

Dental cleaning may be recommended twice per year for most patients, though some patients may need more frequent appointments than others. Patients who don’t practice regular, effective oral hygiene routines, as well as those with a history of oral genetic problems, may require professional teeth cleanings more frequently than twice a year. Talk to your dentist about the best schedule for you. Some dentists offer additional services during a regular dental cleaning, such as fluoride treatments and oral cancer screenings.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth, usually the back teeth. They are used to prevent cavities and tooth decay by forming a protective barrier over the vulnerable areas of the teeth. Sealants are most often used in children when the permanent molars erupt, but adults can benefit from having sealants applied to their teeth as well. 

Root Canals

A root canal is a procedure that extracts decayed tissue, bacteria, and nerves from a tooth’s root. Once the diseased parts of the tooth are removed, the tooth is restored with a filling or crown to return it to its original form and function.

When a tooth becomes infected with bacteria due to decay, you may experience a number of uncomfortable symptoms. The infection may cause you to experience pain when chewing or applying pressure to the infected area. If you visit the dentist for these symptoms, they will likely recommend a root canal as the most efficient method of removing harmful bacteria.

Dental fillings

Dental fillings restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. There are several options for filling materials, the most common of which are composite resin and amalgam. Composite resin is used for white tooth fillings and provides good durability and resistance to fractures in small- to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from biting and chewing. Amalgam fillings, often called “silver” or “metal” fillings, are durable against strong pressure in large cavities where biting forces are the greatest. 

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is an artificial tooth-like cover that is placed on the visible surface of your tooth in order to restore its natural shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns can be made of various materials, such as porcelain, gold, and metal alloys. In some cases, a combination of these materials may be used to provide the best match for your teeth. The crown is custom-made to fit snugly over your tooth while looking completely natural for a beautiful end result.

Our dentists may recommend that you get a tooth crown following root canal treatment to protect and strengthen the tooth as well as to restore its appearance. If the damage is too extensive for a filling, a crown may be a better option. 

We, the team of efficient dentists at Courtyard Dental, are excited to take care of your oral health. Visit us at 2410 San Ramon Valley Blvd Ste 148, San Ramon, CA 94583. Call us at (925) 855-1604 for an appointment.