Our team wants to help protect your smile with general dentistry, which means taking action and offering care to protect teeth from a range of issues, from tooth decay or infection, and even gum disease. We can even repair teeth with metal-free dental work! In today’s blog, the team at Lake Orion Family Dentistry talks about helping smiles with general dentistry.
Dental Exams and Cleanings
General dentistry always starts with an exam. We want to know the state of your smile so we can plan personalized treatment and ensure you maintain good oral health. With digital imaging, we can look at the surfaces of your teeth and gums and peer beneath the gums and tooth structure too, making a diagnosis with precision and accuracy. From there, we can create a plan to return your smile to full function, health, and beauty once again, and for tips for better homecare habits too. This is essential for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest member of your family.
We also take time to clean your teeth, an essential procedure that removes all plaque and tartar from the teeth gently and comfortably. By doing so, we not only fight bad breath and teeth stains, but we can also limit the risk of cavities and even gingivitis and gum disease with a preventive approach.
Care for Kids of All Ages
We mentioned that kids need general dentistry too. Along with checkups and cleanings, we also offer preventive treatments to provide a way to fight tooth decay and prevent cavities. As part of their routine checkup and cleaning visit, we can apply fluoride to the teeth that helps naturally strengthen outer enamel to reduce the risk of cavities. Placement only takes a few seconds, and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes as it properly cures.
We also provide a way to fight tooth decay in the rear teeth. Cavities tend to form in the molars because kids often have trouble reaching these when they brush and floss, leading them more vulnerable. But with dental sealants, we coat these in a special acrylic layer so no food and drink particles can become trapped here, and cavities won’t form. They can stay in place for years to come, often as long as ten for some patients!
Bruxism Treatment
If you grind your teeth on a regular basis, this could damage or wear down teeth. Leaving smiles vulnerable to tooth decay and infection. The imbalance could also lead to a related issue, known as TMJ disorder, that is also a source of discomfort. To avoid jaw, facial, and head pain, and toothaches and sensitivity, we can provide an oral appliance. A custom appliance is a safe and convenient way to treat the issue and prevent further damage. We take impressions of your bite and use them to create a mouthguard-like device that is worn while you sleep, which repositions the jaw and provides a soft barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage! The appliance is easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you too.
Metal-Free Dental Work
We want to provide a holistic solution to your damaged teeth or cavities, or to even address missing teeth. Which means we don’t use metal materials, opting instead for more holistic and safe metal-free options, which are biocompatible and bond with your smile. For example, if you have a cavity, we can place a metal-free filling in one visit, which looks natural and lasts for years to come. We can handle more severe restorative concerns with a crown, one custom-made from durable and natural-looking materials. If you have lost a tooth, we could create porcelain bridges or even custom dentures, addressing minor or severe tooth loss with lifelike results and long-lasting prosthetics.
Botox Injections
Did you know that we offer Botox injections? For people with TMJ disorder and bruxism, this can help ease and relax muscles in the face or jaw, which helps prevent strain and discomfort in the bite, limiting symptoms related to TMJ disorder and teeth grinding, and provides relief. But this also offers cosmetic benefits for our patients too! We can use this to help ease the signs of fine lines and wrinkles, so you have a more youthful appearance. These are injected and the results tend to last about six months, so we can re-administer this during follow-up appointments.
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Preserves Smiles with General Dental Care
General dentistry helps us take a preventive and proactive approach to caring for your smile. To find out more about general dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213.
