General Dentistry Services

Cleanings, Exams, and X-Rays

We believe in being proactive rather than being reactive. Routine dental cleanings and exams allow us to find and treat problems early on, which helps you avoid the discomfort of ongoing dental problems, and enables you to save money on dental treatment long-term. Routine dental exams, x-rays and teeth cleanings are your best defense against cavities and gum disease.

Emergency Dental Care

We recognize how upsetting and painful dental emergencies can be. Your comfort and well-being matter to us, and we will see you as soon as possible to provide the relief and treatment you need.

Our experienced dentists offer a wide range of dental services and can help you with just about any dental issue you’re experiencing, including lost crowns, lost fillings, broken teeth, loose teeth, toothaches, infected teeth, or dental trauma. We can usually accommodate your emergency with same-day treatment.

Even if we can’t resolve the problem for you that day, our dental team will make sure you’re comfortable and your teeth are protected until we can. 

Children's Care

Starting dental visits at an early age gives your child time to develop positive feelings about the dentist and taking care of their teeth. These visits are purposefully low-key because the goal is to help your son or daughter get used to us and the whole experience at their own pace. We want to teach your child that the dental office isn’t scary at all and can actually be fun!

Once your child is receptive to us working in their mouth, we'll recommend dental exams and teeth cleanings every six months, just as we do for adults. By monitoring their oral health, we can address any issues as they arise and provide simple and conservative treatments.

Baby teeth are important as they not only hold space for permanent teeth but they are important for chewing, speech and appearance. Baby teeth may be "practice teeth," but that doesn't mean they don't have an important role to play! 

Here are some First Visit Tips:

• Take your child for a “preview” of the office 
• Read books with them about going to the dentist
• Always speak positively about the dentist and your own dental experiences 
• Never use words or phrases like “shot,” “needle,” “drill,” or “it only hurts for a minute.” 
• We may show your child the “jelly that helps your tooth go to sleep,” our “special toothbrush that rinses your teeth,” “Mr. Bumpy that shakes the sugar bugs out of your teeth,” or our “squirt gun” and “Mr. Thirsty,” our special suction straw. 
• Our doctors and staff are trained in using age-appropriate explanations and behavior management. We work very hard to make your child’s experience an enjoyable one. If they come to the appointment scared because they were told they’re going to get a shot, it is very difficult to reverse that fear and proceed with any treatment.

You will find that we are whole-heartedly dedicated to our youngest patients. Children receive a gold coin at the end of their appointments to use on our Toy Vending Machine. If your child has no cavities during their check-up, they get to enter our “No Cavities Club,” where we draw a name each month for a special prize. 

Our office also schedules family dental appointments for your convenience. You can arrange all your family’s office visits in one trip to our office. Save time, save gas, and avoid the hassle of repeated trips for individual appointments.

Dental Sealants

Prevention is key! Dental sealants are typically recommended on children, but can sometimes be beneficial for adults too. Highly effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your teeth, sealants are a simple, painless procedure in which a tooth-colored acrylic coating is “painted” onto the surface of your chewing teeth, typically your molars.

Dental sealants create a barrier and seal the deep grooves on your teeth, protecting them from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last many years before a reapplication is needed.

Fillings

Fillings are used when decay, or a “cavity,” is found in the tooth. The decay is removed and replaced with the filling to protect the integrity of the tooth. Our doctors use composite resin fillings, sometimes called “tooth-colored” or “white” fillings because of their color.

Composite resin fillings are made of a type of plastic (an acrylic resin) reinforced with powdered glass filler. This material is considered safe. The color or shade of composite resins can be customized to closely match surrounding teeth. It is usually hard to tell that a tooth has even been filled! Composite resin fillings have several advantages.

The “white” color is preferred by many patients due to its ability to blend in with surrounding teeth. It is also possible to make more conservative preparations when using composite material, thus enabling the dentist to preserve more natural tooth structure.

Extractions

You and one of our doctors may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed or infected; others may have advanced periodontal disease or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired.

Some teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth) or in preparation for dentures or orthodontic treatment.

If extraction of a tooth becomes necessary, you can rest easy knowing that our caring dental team is sympathetic to your apprehension. Our dentists will perform your tooth extraction as gently and smoothly as possible. Ask us about nitrous oxide for your procedure to ensure your comfort and help alleviate any anxiety.

Mouth Guards

Teeth clenching and grinding, also known as bruxism, can be painful and destructive to teeth. Bruxism is very common, and most people aren’t even aware of their own grinding because it usually occurs while you sleep. Some bruxism symptoms you may suffer from are teeth/crowns chipping, waking up with dull headaches, jaw soreness, TMJ or facial pain, or fatigue from lack of sleep.

Occasional teeth grinding may not cause any real concerns, but long-term, consistent bruxism can lead to broken teeth, loss of tooth enamel, and in severe cases, loss of teeth. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed that stress and anxiety play the biggest role. Other causes may also be consumption of alcohol or caffeine, smoking, sleep apnea, snoring, an abnormal bite, and crooked teeth.

Most cases of bruxism can easily be treated by wearing a night guard while you sleep. An impression is taken and a guard is made out of clear acrylic resin that is custom-fitted for you. The night guard works by putting a barrier between your teeth. When you clench your jaw, it helps to lighten the tension and give cushion to the muscles in the jaw. This cushioning not only helps to prevent face and jaw pain, but protects your teeth as well.