General dentistry refers to the preventive and regular treatments we can offer to help manage oral health for kids and adults alike. These treatments help keep issues like tooth decay and gum disease at bay, and we offer them with a holistic approach, including metal-free dental restorations. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about general dentistry!
Your General Dental Checkup
A key component of general dentistry is the dental checkup. This is essential for smiles of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. When you arrive, we will talk to you about your oral hygiene routine and any possible symptoms you may be experiencing. We then take a close look at your teeth and gums with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, which obtain detailed and high-definition images quickly and comfortably. From there, we can make a diagnosis with precision, and assess the state of your oral health. We then create a treatment plan to correct any issues we uncover, and can offer tips for improving how you care for your smiles from home.
Cleaning Your Teeth
Another essential component of general dentistry is the cleaning, which takes place in the checkup visit. A dental cleaning allows our team to remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. The process is comfortable and only takes a few minutes, and improves your oral health to lower the risk of cavities and gum disease. This can also help freshen your breath and could limit the appearance of teeth stains. Again, this is essential for all ages and plaque can threaten the outer enamel and the gum health of everyone.
Diagnosing and Treating Bruxism
Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, is a serious oral health issue that can form in teens and adults. With this disorder, you grind and clench your teeth on a nightly basis, which places serious pressure on your smile and can damage teeth to increase the risk of tooth decay and infection. You also develop pain in the face and jaw, toothaches, sensitivity when you eat, and even headaches and migraines. Our team can examine your smile and assess the wear and friction on your teeth. We then create a treatment plan to bring relief. We can repair any damage with metal-free and lifelike restorations, such as bonding or custom crowns. With an oral appliance, we can offer a device that looks and fits like a mouthguard to shift the jaw and ease the stress and strain behind your bruxism. This also puts a soft barrier between your upper and lower teeth so you avoid further damage to your smile.
Metal-Free Dental Restorations
We want to offer a holistic method for restoring smiles, which is why we don’t use metal when we create and place restorations. Instead, we will opt for materials that are metal-free and safe for all ages and patient types. For example, we can use ceramic and porcelain for restorations like crowns and veneers, or to create replacement options like bridges, dentures, and implant restorations. Our team can also use a metal-free composite resin instead of metal fillings to treat tooth decay. Composite resin can also be used in a bonding procedure to mask cosmetic imperfections in only one sitting. You will be able to obtain results that are strong, bond with your tooth, and can last for years to come. The material can also be shaded so the restorations blend with your smile seamlessly. We could even discuss whitening your teeth beforehand so they match your brightest possible smile.
Botox
Did you know that we also offer Botox? Our team can use this to help ease the strain of TMJ disorder and bruxism, so you can enjoy relief from painful symptoms. Since the medication interrupts signals between muscles, this can also be used to ease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, so you have a more youthful appearance. The results can last for months to come, and we can re-administer during your routine checkup visits as needed.
If you have any questions about general dentistry, or if you would like to schedule that initial checkup and cleaning for yourself or a member of your family, then please reach out to our team today to learn more and get started.
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Provides General Dentistry
We want to offer holistic methods to keep your teeth and gums healthy and beautiful. To find out more about our approach to general dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
