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What is a General Dentist?
General Dentist in Minneapolis
A general dentist is one who knows how to take care of your teeth in the vast majority of cases. The general dentist is the one who gives you the exam twice a year, who removes the cavity that just formed, and the one who crowns the compromised tooth. When a situation arises that requires special attention — an impacted tooth, a root canal, braces — that is when the general dentist refers the patient to a specialist.
General dentists, however, can also specialize in areas they have an interest in. Cosmetic dentists, for example, are usually general dentists that have achieved a high level of expertise in dentistry and in dental asthetics.
"General" dentist
In complex cases requiring a number of specialists, the general dentist determines the treatment plan that will be followed, and directs the specialists on what their individual roles in the overall treatment are. Like a commander in the field, the general dentist takes command of the treatment, while the specialist focuses on that part of the plan of their specialty.
Relationships matter
The more you know your dentist, and the better he or she knows you, the better care you will most likely receive. This is true for the same reasons in dentistry as it is in medicine: the primary care doctor can see changes over a period of time that may trigger just the right question at the right time for a patient to get needed care. And from the patient's point of view, a long term relationship with the doctor gives the patient much more confidence in the observations and recommendations the doctor makes.
General dentist means your personal dentist
Like any good relationship, the relationship between dentist and patient develops over time. We like to think this is where our dental office shines brightly. We think we know our patients well. We know a lot about them without having to look at the computer. Our patients know this. They know that their general dentist is really their personal dentist, a professional — supported by a professional team — that is in their corner and watches out for their interests.