General dentistry refers to an array of treatments designed to help prevent major issues and preserve the health and stability of your smile. A preventive approach means you can lower your risk of discomfort and major issues, including tooth loss! In today’s blog, your team at Celina Family Dentistry talks about helping smiles of all ages with general dentistry.
Checkups and Cleanings
A major component of general dentistry is a checkup and cleaning visit. We want to see your entire family for one every six months. When you undergo an exam, we can closely monitor your smile and catch issues that could threaten your oral health and address them before they cause serious pain or even lead to issues with stability. Our team will conduct an exam with precision and accuracy using advanced digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. The process is quick, comfortable, and convenient.
In the same visit, we also conduct the cleaning portion. With a dental cleaning, our team will gently and thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. Our team then polishes the teeth, which not only helps them shine, but lowers the risk of serious buildup occurring before we see you again!
Children’s Dentistry
We don’t just offer treatment for adults, but we can help kids using general dentistry too! With children’s dentistry, we also monitor your little one’s smile with a routine checkup and cleaning every six months, starting at around age two. But we also have treatments designed to help prevent the onset of tooth decay. For example, our team can provide fluoride directly to the teeth with a special varnish, which takes seconds and helps keep outer enamel strong and resistant to tooth decay. We can also apply dental sealants to the rear teeth, which coats them and prevents food and drink particles from being caught between hard-to-reach rear molars. These can stay in place for years to come to prevent tooth decay in little smiles!
Sedation Dental Care
We want our patients to feel comfortable and relaxed when they undergo care, even if they have dental anxiety or special needs that could complicate the ability to undergo treatment. Likewise, this can also ensure comfort during more extensive and involved treatments, such as dental implant placement or tooth extraction. Our team can choose from three different sedation options. The mildest form is nitrous oxide, given in a gas form the patient breathes in. The effects end when the procedure does, and you could even drive yourself home.
But we also have oral conscious sedation, which is a deeper form given in a pill or liquid form. The effects are more dramatic and longer-lasting, and you need someone available to take you home afterward. The deepest form of calming is IV, administered intravenously and allowing you to stay in a deep and sleep-like state throughout the procedure, with no memory of the process at all!
Treatment for TMJ Disorder and Bruxism
Our team also uses general dentistry to take on TMJ disorder and bruxism. With TMJ disorder, strain on the jaw joints creates an imbalance linked to painful symptoms. With bruxism, you grind and clench your teeth nightly, which causes painful symptoms and images your teeth. Untreated TMJ discomfort can lead to bruxism and vice-versa. Without care, you risk damaged and decayed teeth, infection, and pain in the face, neck, head, and shoulders. Your teeth could ache too, and feel sensitive when you eat or drink. You could also have a popping sensation in your jaw.
But we can help! Our team will take detailed digital images of your bite, which we use to custom-fit an oral appliance, one you wear as you sleep at night. The device will fit like a mouthguard and helps reposition your jaw to ease underlying stress and strain, so you avoid symptoms during your waking hours. If you grind your teeth, the same custom appliance also places a soft barrier between the upper and lower teeth to help prevent further damage.
If you have any questions about how we safeguard smiles with general dentistry, or if you want to schedule a visit for you and your family, then reach out to our team today to learn more and start your treatment journey!
Celina Family Dentistry Secures Smiles with General Dentistry
General dental care can help improve the health, comfort, stability, and even the overall appearance of your smile. To learn more about our approach to general dentistry, please call Celina Family Dentistry in Celina, TX at (214) 851-0130 today.
