When an individual thinks of primary dental care in Colorado Springs he or she will be referring to the customary preventative care that he or she gets from their regular dentist. During a routine dental examination if the dentist discovers any issues such as the beginnings of a cavity, this will be treated; in the event the dentist discovers an issue beyond the scope of his practice he will refer the patient to the appropriate specialist. This is where the “primary” comes in; the patient’s regular dentist is the first contact for dental care, the primary care dentist is also the one who sees the patient on a regular basis, monitoring his or her overall dental health. The degree of care that the patient gets depends on their specific and unique needs, in many cases a patient covered by a dental insurance plan will pay lower annual premiums by using a primary care dentist rather than go directly to a specialist.
Perhaps the most common example of primary dental care in Colorado Springs is the regular professional cleaning of the teeth. During a cleaning the hygienist can remove all the built up plaque and helps with the prevention of cavities or any gum disorders. The hygienist will make note of any issues that may need attention, it is when the dentist makes his visual examination that the need for treatment will be confirmed. This type of regular dental care is extremely important for on-going dental health; it is for this reason that patients are soured into having check-ups every six months.
Primary dental care does not rely on visual examinations of course; the dentist also uses X-Rays to ensure that there are no potential problems that are hidden from view. The results of X-Rays will usually show if there is a pending need for orthodontic care. Orthodontics is not considered to be part of primary dental care so in cases like this the dentist will refer the patient to a specialist in orthodontic care. Other treatments that are very much a part of primary care are the application of fluoride to the teeth of younger patients, teeth whitening and some other cosmetic procedures as well as the treatment of filling of cavities.
The dentist responsible for a patient’s primary dental care in Colorado Springs will have the records of the patients past dental health and procedures that were at one time carried out. If it is felt that the patient should be referred to a specialist the regular dentist can quickly inform the specialist of any issues that are of concern.
Extensive dental care in Colorado Springs from Lehman Drive Dental. Dr. Marc R. Van Ness and his staff is available offering a range of dental procedures.
