“Comprehensive” Dentistry Cares About All of You, Not Just Your Teeth!

In a nutshell, “comprehensive” dentistry treats your overall oral health and well-being, versus just patching individual teeth. It may sound simple, but dentists practicing this standard of optimal care do much more than fill cavities.

Dentists who provide comprehensive care (1) have your best interest at heart and (2) treat all aspects of your dental health. They consider your emotional and physical comfort to be as important as your clinical care.

Most people think of cavities in their teeth when they think of dentistry. But tooth decay is just one of three equally critical areas affecting your oral health. The other two are gum disease (the leading cause of adult tooth loss) and bite problems (also known as occlusal disease), which includes excessive wear and tear, muscle problems, and TMJ or joint problems. With comprehensive dental care, your dentist will give each of these Big Three the careful attention it deserves…which leads me to another hallmark of comprehensive care: listening to and educating the patient.

Does your dentist make it a priority to understand your goals, and address any anxiety or questions you may have about your visit? At Alpine Dental Health, our most important job is investing the time with our patients to make sure they have everything they need to feel comfortable and confident. With comprehensive care, your dentist will always thoroughly explain the cause of your problem, how it can be fixed, and how to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Ultimately, the goal of comprehensive dental care is to provide you a lifetime of health, comfort, and beauty, with the least treatment necessary.