General dentistry can offer treatments to address minor issues and also prevent serious oral health concerns, such as cavities or infection. Our team wants to keep these issues at bay, and this is possible with a checkup and cleaning visit. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about the benefits of general dental care.
Scheduling a Checkup and Cleaning
Our approach to general dentistry starts with a checkup and cleaning. Patients of all ages benefit from an exam every six months, so we can monitor the smile and catch serious problems in their earliest stages, often before you develop discomfort. We often watch for cavities, infections, gingivitis and gum disease, and issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). We then create a personalized care plan to address these concerns and keep smiles strong. In the same appointment, we help safeguard the smile against cavities, periodontal concerns, and bad breath and teeth stains with a dental cleaning. The procedure involves our team removing all plaque and tartar with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool, then polishing the smile to make it more difficult for buildup to form in between visits.
Creating Bruxism Appliances
Bruxism is a widespread concern that can impact all ages, and one we address with general dentistry. Essentially, you grind and clench your teeth at night, which places pressure on the teeth. Over time, this can wear down enamel and even rack or chip the teeth to make the sonnet of cavities and infection more likely, threatening smile stability. Bruxism could be caused by issues like high stress levels, misalignment, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, and the eruption of the wisdom teeth. Symptoms include toothaches, tooth sensitivity, pain when you bite down or chew, earaches, jaw and facial pain, and a discharge from the tooth or swelling.
Our team can provide a noninvasive solution with an oral appliance. A bruxism appliance is crafted for your smile based on detailed digital images and measurements. You then wear the device at night, which repositions the jaw to ease strain and tension. The appliance also puts a barrier between the upper and lower set of teeth to stop further damage to your smile. You will find the device easy to use and clean!
Helping Smiles with Botox
Did you know that we offer Botox treatments as part of our general dentistry approach? This is a unique medication that is administered through injections into specific portions of your face and jaw. The medication then interrupts signals between muscles, preventing stress and contractions. For people with TMJ disorder and bruxism, this eases strain in facial and jaw muscles to stop painful symptoms and help prevent further complications for your smile. But this also offers a cosmetic benefit too. Once injected, this can remove the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so you have a more youthful appearance. The results tend to last between three and six months, and we can re-administer them during your checkup and cleaning appointment.
Metal-Free Crowns and Fillings
We also offer holistic and metal-free dental work as part of our general dental care procedures. When we use metal-free material, we prevent contact with trace amounts of mercury, and offer restorations safe for all ages. When you have a cavity, we can place a filling that is shaded to blend with the smile and is biocompatible, so it bonds with the tooth and lasts for years to come. If you have more substantial decay or infection, or a tooth is damaged, we can offer repair with lifelike ceramic crown, one that can handle daily bite forces and pressures, but also be color matched to blend with the smile as a whole. These last longer and lower the risk of reinfection or further decay that can sometimes occur due to metal restorations.
If you have any questions about how we keep smiles strong and beautiful with general dental care, then contact our team today to learn more. We look forward to seeing your family and offering holistic treatments to keep your smile strong and healthy for years to come.
Speak With Your Lake Orion, MI Dentist’s Office About General Dentistry
We would like to help you and your loved ones enjoy good oral health and smiles free of discomfort. To schedule a visit for a general visit for you and your family, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213! A beautiful, healthy, and strong smile is possible, and we hope to see you soon to make this a reality.
