General Dentistry
General dentists provide routine preventive care like cleanings, comprehensive oral exams, cancer screenings, X-rays, and many other services to patients of all ages. Our dentists can handle most of your dental needs but will refer you to trusted specialists when needed.
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Dental health is an important part of your overall well-being. Poor dental health can lead to an increased risk of numerous health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and preterm birth. Regular brushing and flossing can help to prevent gum disease, which is associated with many chronic diseases.
To maintain good oral health, it is important to brush twice a day and floss daily, as well as visit your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups at least 2 times a year. Maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding sugary and acidic foods and drinks can help to protect your teeth from decay. Taking care of your oral health will help to ensure your overall body health. Feel free to ask us questions, we are here to help you stay healthy.
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Our highly advanced digital X-rays and CBCT are sophisticated 3D imaging that provides your dentist with information like tooth decay, cracked teeth, bone pathology, and impacted wisdom teeth and can be used to plan implant surgeries.
Advanced diagnostic systems can save patients money by finding problems before they become costly and difficult to treat. Identifying conditions early helps patients save money by treating the disease before it spreads and causes serious health problems.
Effective dental diagnostics can provide the information needed to create an efficient treatment plan for our patients. Having a solid treatment plan at the beginning leads to fewer visits and lower costs.
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The CBCT scanner is a state-of-the-art dental X-Ray machine that provides highly accurate imaging. It can pinpoint dental problems in impressive detail and can be used to plan dental implant surgeries safely. This allows for more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as a better understanding of the patient's anatomy. CBCT scans also provide a much lower radiation dose than hospital CAT scans.
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Digital X-rays expose patients to between 80-90% less radiation than traditional X-rays and are safe for adults and children. A standard X-ray to check for cavities is about 0.001 mSv of radiation or the equivalent of standing in normal sunlight for less than 3 hours. Providing a better and more detailed image, the dentist can share these images immediately without waiting to develop them, creating better patient communication. Your overall health is important to us and that’s why we use them.
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition that disrupts a person's regular rhythm of sleep. It occurs when breathing stops or becomes restricted, forcing the transition from deep sleep into light sleep, and decreasing the quality of restful sleep
Together with your physician or a sleep medicine doctor, our dentists can prescribe a custom oral appliance to help you reduce snoring and mild sleep apnea symptoms. These devices hold the jaw forward and keep the tongue from collapsing back into the airway, allowing for easy breathing throughout the night. You will feel more comfortable with gradual adjustments and get a better night’s rest using these appliances.
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Dental lasers are gentler and more accurate than traditional surgical instruments. A diode laser cuts very precisely, allowing our doctors to proceed with many soft tissue procedures with very little discomfort. Lasers can also reduce the risk of gingival recession and prevent bleeding, promoting rapid healing.
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Sometimes a tooth cannot be restored and must be removed. When a tooth is broken or has significant decay, the ideal solution is to restore it using a filling, crown, or other procedure. If restoration is not possible or advisable due to the condition of the tooth, an extraction may be recommended to prevent infection and achieve or maintain oral health.
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Some patients can feel nervous about going to the dentist and that’s completely normal. Fortunately, safe medications that reduce anxiety can be used in the dental office, helping patients relax and making appointments seem shorter. We take special care of anxious patients and take their concerns seriously. Talk to us and let us do everything we can to make your visit less stressful.
Benefits of General Dentistry
Procedures Offered
Dental Cleaning. A dental cleaning, or oral prophylaxis, involves removing dental plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. We use a state-of-the-art ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water to loosen larger pieces of tartar, while hand tools remove smaller deposits. Once your cleaning is complete, your teeth are polished to create a smooth surface. Dental cleanings are recommended every 6 months but some patients are seen every 3 months due to high deposits of tartar.
Comprehensive Evaluation / Oral Examination. The American Dental Association recommends comprehensive oral evaluations every six months. During these exams, our doctors will visually inspect your mouth, head, and neck for abnormalities. If needed, digital low-dose radiographs will be used to detect cavities, assess your dental restorations, and check for gum or bone recession in the jaw. Digital X-rays between the teeth are highly recommended every year. Panoramic X-rays are recommended every 5 years.
Dental Fillings. When a tooth has a cavity, we remove the decayed area and use an aesthetic white dental filling to restore its strength, function, and appearance. This restoration can be completed in a single visit.
Tooth Extractions. Our goal is always to save your natural teeth, but there are times when a tooth has suffered more damage than can be treated with restorative dentistry. In these cases, we provide surgical and non-surgical tooth extractions using local anesthetic to ensure your comfort.
Custom Mouthguard’s. If you or your child participates in sports, a custom mouthguard offers better protection than boil-and-bite or one-size-fits-all versions. A properly fitted mouthguard can reduce the severity of dental injuries by protecting the lips, gums, and teeth.
Scaling and Root Planing. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical treatment for gum disease. Dental plaque and calculus are removed from beneath the gum line, then the roots of your teeth are smoothed to help your gums heal and reattach, eliminating the pockets where infection can form.
Nightguards. If you clench your jaw or grind your teeth while you sleep, a night-guard can help relax the muscle tension and protect your teeth from wear and fracture.