General Dental Services
General dentistry includes a wide range of services to keep your mouth clean and healthy on a regular basis. Regularly scheduled visits to a general dentist near you help contribute to your overall oral and physical health.
Taking Care of Your Oral Health
Managing your dental health is an essential part of maintaining your overall health. General dentists diagnose and treat some of the most common dental problems people experience.
If you’re looking for a general dentist near you, you can search from dental practices across Canada that are part of the 123Dentist network.
Common Dental Procedures
General dentistry includes a range of dental care components designed to maintain oral health and keep your smile shining brightly.
Comprehensive Oral Exams
Oral exams allow your dentist to assess your oral and overall health, diagnose issues, and develop a treatment plan that is personalized to your needs. Your first dental exam may include various diagnostic techniques and are often accompanied by a medical questionnaire to establish your overall medical and dental history.
Dental Hygiene and Teeth Cleanings
Practicing good oral hygiene at home is essential for preventing oral disease. However, dental care typically also includes regular scheduled cleanings from a dentist and/or professional dental hygienist to support your oral health between appointments. During a dental hygiene appointment, your teeth will be cleaned and flossed, and you may also receive additional treatments such as fluoride treatments.
Learn More About Teeth Cleanings
Gum Grafting
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is an infection that can lead to the loss of gum tissue and, eventually, teeth. Gum grafting procedures may be required to restore the height of the gums and preserve existing natural teeth. If you have thin gums, pain while chewing, or other signs of advanced gum disease, gum grafting can help resolve these issues.
Oral Cancer Screening
Initial screening for oral cancer is typically completed in a regularly scheduled dental exam. Your dentist will look for irregularities in the tissues of your mouth and may also check the surrounding areas of the face, including the neck, cheeks, and jaw. Early diagnosis of oral cancers can lead to more effective treatment outcomes.
Learn More About Oral Cancer Screening
Root Canals
Decaying or cracked teeth are often treated with a root canal procedure. The infected tissue is cleaned out from the inside of the tooth and the remaining spaces is filled and sealed. The natural tooth is saved so that the alignment of the teeth can be preserved.
Dental Sealants
Dentists use sealants to protect teeth from damage or decay caused by bacteria. They are applied to the surface of the teeth. Tooth decay can cause a variety of other issues, which is why dental sealants are an important preventative oral health measure.
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Tooth Extractions
Teeth may need to be removed for a variety of reasons. Damaged teeth can be removed to prevent further issues in the mouth, or you may need to have teeth removed in preparation for other treatments. Wisdom teeth extractions are also necessary for some people.
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Teeth Whitening
Teeth may become discoloured due to a range of factors, including staining from coffee, tea, wine, and berries, or from smoking or taking certain medications. The 123Dentist network of dentists has a range of teeth whitening products and services available, including in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments.
Learn More About Teeth Whitening
Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays of different types are often performed in a regularly scheduled appointment. X-rays help dentists look at areas of the teeth, gums, and jaw that are not immediately visible. In many cases, they also allow your dentist to monitor small issues or abnormalities, which can then be managed through a treatment plan and monitored using follow-up x-rays.
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Root Canals, Dental Implants & More
Your general dentist may also recommend you to other dental professionals for certain conditions. This could include someone who is trained in other dental specialties, such as a dentist who fit oral appliances such as aligners, mouthguards, and sleep apnea devices.
How Dentists in Canada are Educated
Most general dentists have studied in an accredited Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program at a dental school, which is a designation that is recognized worldwide across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. Dentists often receive continuing education to stay up to date with the technology, procedures, and tools being developed to improve dental care in Canada and across the globe. Dentists in Canada must also be registered and licensed through the province they work in.
Find a Dentist
The 123Dentist care network has general dentistry clinics near you. Use our simple search to find a local dentist. Or, if you need more information about general dentistry, please contact us directly.
Basic Restorative Dentistry
Treatments designed to restore teeth and gums to a similar, or better, condition to how they were in the past. Learn more about: Basic Restorative Dentistry
Dental Bridges
An artificial tooth, typically ceramic, held in place by using nearby teeth as anchors. Learn more about: Dental Bridges
Composite Fillings
White, non-metallic fillings made of a composite material to seal and restore teeth. Learn more about: Composite Fillings
Comprehensive Oral Exam & New Patient Exam
Comprehensive Oral Exams in Canada When you visit a dental practice you have never visited before, your dentist will perform a new patient exam to assess your oral and overall health. Comprehensive oral exams ensure your dentist is able to meet your specific needs and provide preventative care measures. Why Oral Health Screening is […] Learn more about: Comprehensive Oral Exam & New Patient Exam
Dental Crowns
An artificial tooth, often made of ceramic, made to replace a broken or missing tooth. Learn more about: Dental Crowns
Dental Bonding
A powerful resin often used to repair chips, cracks, or spaces between teeth. Learn more about: Dental Bonding
DIAGNOdent
DIAGNOdent technology is used by dentists to detect dental caries (cavities) in the teeth. The tool can help dentists locate and diagnose very small cavities so that preventative treatment can be applied early on, often allowing dentists to save the natural teeth before decay spreads. Learn more about: DIAGNOdent
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-ray system that has a 90% reduction in the amount of radiation used versus traditional x-rays. Learn more about: Digital X-Rays
Tooth Extractions
When all other options have been explored, removing a tooth entirely may be the best bet. Learn more about: Tooth Extractions
Dental Fillings
Strong bonding material, either amalgam (silver-coloured) or composite (white), used to fill cavities and repair teeth. Learn more about: Dental Fillings
General
The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of conditions, disorders and diseases affecting the teeth, gums and jaw. Learn more about: General
Gum Contouring
A procedure that can raise, lower, or even out the gum line when required. Learn more about: Gum Contouring
Gum Grafting
Gum Grafting Procedures in Canada Gum grafting is a procedure used to build up the gums after they have become infected and receded (pushed back from the teeth). Healthy gum tissue is harvested from the patient’s mouth and grafted onto areas where the gums are receding or thin. Understanding Gum Disease Gum disease (or […] Learn more about: Gum Grafting
Healozone
HealOzone technology creates and uses ozone to destroy bacteria on the teeth, treating dental caries and preventing cavities and tooth decay. The tool is very non-invasive and provides remineralization to strengthen the natural teeth after the procedure. Learn more about: Healozone
Hygiene
The practice of keeping mouth, teeth, and gums clean to prevent dental problems such as cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Learn more about: Hygiene
Dental Inlays and Dental Onlays
Inlays and onlays protect and restore large portions of the decayed tooth, much like a large filling. Learn more about: Dental Inlays and Dental Onlays
Intraoral Camera
Many dental practices use intraoral cameras to look closely inside the mouth. Intraoral cameras allow dentists to capture images of the teeth and mouth for patient records. These tools often aid in patient education, allowing dentists to show patients close-up images of diagnosed issues. Learn more about: Intraoral Camera
Laser Cavity Preparation
Painless laser system used to prepare teeth for a filling by destroying germ cells. Learn more about: Laser Cavity Preparation
Laser Dentistry
A painless, drill-free variety of procedures that improve healing times, reduce appointment times, and require less anaesthetic. Learn more about: Laser Dentistry
Laser Whitening
An in-office procedure that is done using a whitening solution and a high intensity light. Learn more about: Laser Whitening
Dental Lumineers
Extremely strong porcelain shield bonded to teeth to repair discolouration, chips, cracks, or gaps. Learn more about: Dental Lumineers
Mercury-Free Fillings
Tooth-coloured resin used instead of metal amalgam to fill and restore teeth. Learn more about: Mercury-Free Fillings
Needle Free Restorations
Needle-free, painless procedures that restore and repair teeth, using ozone, lasers, or other technologies. Learn more about: Needle Free Restorations
Night Guards
Removable mouthpieces worn while sleeping. Relieves jaw muscle pain, stops grinding, can help with snoring and TMJ issues. Learn more about: Night Guards
Oral Cancer Screening
Quick, non-invasive, and painless examination that can detect early signs of oral cancer. Learn more about: Oral Cancer Screening
Root Canals
Procedure whereby the top of a tooth is removed, the roots are sterilized, and the tooth is capped with a crown. Learn more about: Root Canals
Dental Sealants
A thin plastic coating that fills in the grooves of molars and premolars, preventing decay. Learn more about: Dental Sealants
Take Home Whitening
DIY whitening kits using custom-made trays for each patient's teeth, often used multiple days in a row. Learn more about: Take Home Whitening
Teeth Whitening
Various methods to lighten the shade of teeth, requiring either single treatments or multiple applications. Learn more about: Teeth Whitening
VELscope Exams
The VELscope system is a non-invasive tool that uses natural tissue fluorescence to help dentists diagnose problems or diseases in the soft tissues of the mouth. The VELscope is often used as a tool for oral cancer screenings at dental offices. Learn more about: VELscope Exams
Dental Veneers
Ultra-thin shells of ceramic, permanently bonded to the front of a tooth to improve cosmetic appearances. Learn more about: Dental Veneers
White Fillings
White-coloured, non-metallic fillings made of a composite material to seal teeth for restorative or cosmetic purposes. Learn more about: White Fillings
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
The removal of the last molars to grow in, sometimes requiring minor surgery. Learn more about: Wisdom Teeth Extraction