General dentistry can help patients of all ages, from kids to adults, enjoy better oral health and a smile free of issues like tooth decay and periodontal disease. Our team wants to help you safeguard your smile with general dentistry, and that starts with a dental checkup. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about helping smiles with general dentistry, so you and your loved ones can smile with confidence and enjoy better oral health!
Starting With Your Checkup
The checkup is an essential part of general dentistry and the first opportunity for our team to look at your smile in detail, employing advanced digital x-rays and intraoral cameras so we can make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. Our team will look for common issues that impact smiles of all ages, like tooth decay and gingivitis. But we also want to address concerns that impact specific age ranges too. Once we have obtained images, we can assess the risks posed by any issues we uncover, and create a treatment plan to address them. A visit now means we may be able to address issues before summer begins!
Cleaning Your Teeth
In the same visit as your checkup, our team will also clean the teeth thoroughly. A dental cleaning allows us to remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. Removing the buildup helps lower the risk of bad breath, teeth stains, cavities, and even gingivitis and gum disease. The process only takes a few minutes, and afterward we polish the teeth to not only brighten them, but make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the teeth before your next checkup visit.
Creating Bruxism Appliances
We can stop teeth grinding with general dentistry! Kids and adults alike can experience chronic teeth grinding, known as bruxism, which occurs at night and over time, can wear down enamel and even crack or chip teeth, changing the appearance of your smile and increasing the risk of complications like tooth decay, infection, and even TMJ disorder. To bring relief, we can offer a noninvasive solution with an oral appliance. To begin, we will gather detailed digital images of your smile from multiple angles, and then combine them to create a 3D model. With this information, we can design and craft an oral appliance that fits like a mouthguard and is worn as you sleep. The device helps reposition the jaw to ease tension and stop bruxism and TMJ symptoms. This also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent damage to the smile. The device itself is easy to use and clean, and can travel with you too!
Metal-Free Dentistry
Our team believes in a holistic approach to dental care, and that includes restorations that contain no metals and no trace amounts of mercury. Instead, we use options like ceramic to craft restorations that are safe for all ages and patient types, and provide biocompatible repair that can last for years to come. For example, our fillings are made from composite resin and shaded to match the color of the teeth, offering treatment that lasts for many years to come. If you need a crown, we can offer a custom option that looks natural and can handle daily bite forces with ease. The same goes for our bridges and dental implant restorations, so we can offer durable results that look natural too. We’re proud of our metal-free dental work, and want to help you obtain results that look lifelike!
Botox Infections
Did you know that we offer Botox? For people with TMJ disorder and bruxism, we can use this medication to help interrupt signals between the facial and jaw muscles, so you avoid tension and stress in the smile. This eases symptoms and helps treat the concern. At the same time, Botox can smooth out fine lines and wrinkles in the face, which offers a more youthful appearance. The effects can last for months at a time, and can re-administer the medication during your routine checkup and cleaning visits. If you have any questions about general dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more, or to schedule your first visit.
TALK TO YOUR LAKE ORION, MI, DENTIST ABOUT GENERAL DENTISTRY
Our team wants to help you enjoy good oral health and a smile that shines before summer starts. Find out more about general dentistry by contacting Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213! We want to work with you to help you and your whole family enjoy their best possible smiles!
