When one speaks of primary dental care this typically refers to the regular, ongoing preventative care that the patient receives from his or her dentist. Every six months or so the patient will visit the dentist at which time the dentist will perform a thorough check-up, clean the teeth professionally and perform any treatments that are needed. This is where the concept of primary Stamford dental care comes from; it alludes to the fact that the patient’s regular dentist is the first point of contact for any dental services that might be needed, including referrals to specialists if necessary. The type or extent of primary dental care can vary from one patient to the next, it depends on any specific needs and the patients overall oral health.
The most common example of primary Stamford dental care is regular teeth cleaning and gum inspections, this is known as dental prophylaxis. The professional cleaning eliminates all the built up plaque that regular brushing and flossing cannot get to, regular cleaning helps in the prevention of cavities and gum disorders. At the same time as the cleaning takes place the dentist checks the condition of the teeth to ensure that there are no problems that need treatment. Preventative dental care is one of the major factors in maintaining healthy teeth and gums as it gives the dentist the opportunity to catch a problem when it is easily treated, otherwise a small problem can quickly become a large one.
There are certain dental services that are not considered as primary dental care; orthodontics is one of them. If the primary dentist noticed that the patient’s teeth need orthodontic care then the patient will be referred however this does not mean that the patient no longer visits the Stamford dental care office. The regular dentist will continue to be the primary care giver, even to the point of making sure that the patient’s teeth are not moving after orthodontic treatment. Other common primary care services are fluoride treatments, tooth whitening as well as other cosmetic procedures including veneers, tooth colored fillings and porcelain crowns.
An important service of primary Stamford dental care is the fact that the dentist can refer the patient to an oral surgeon or other specialist if this becomes necessary. The primary care dentist maintains the patient’s dental records and is in a position to determine what care is needed. If, for example, the patient needs wisdom tooth extraction the dentist can refer the patient to an oral surgeon for the procedure, the patient returns to the primary care dentist for continued dental care.
