What is a General Dentist?

General dentists diagnose, treat, and manage oral healthcare needs. They offer a wide range of services aimed at maintaining oral health and treating dental disease, including preventive care, restorative treatments and cosmetic procedures.

Who is the one health care provider you see more than any other? For many people, the answer is their general dentist. There’s a good reason for that—it’s because general dentistry is uniquely oriented toward the prevention of disease. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 65 percent of all dental procedures are either diagnostic or preventive. By placing a strong emphasis on oral health and hygiene, general dentists help people avoid the progression of oral diseases. If left untreated, these eventually result in pain, lost time at work or school—and an estimated cost of billions of dollars each year.

At a routine visit to your family dentist, you will probably have a thorough examination of your mouth (including teeth, gums, and other structures), a professional cleaning, and a discussion about your dental (and overall) health. If your exam reveals the presence of tooth decay, you will probably also get a filling in the affected tooth.

You may need more complex procedures such as root canals, crowns, braces, dental implants or dentures. To reduce the cost of dental treatments, many people rely on dental insurance or dental savings plans. The calculator below shows the cost of dental procedures and the reduced costs you’d pay as a member of a dental savings plan.