General Dentistry

The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is an extremely wise piece of advice when it comes to your oral health.

Routine Dental Care

Small cavities can grow and require a root canal or, if left untreated for an extended period of time, can destroy a tooth completely. Likewise, when plaque and tartar build-up are left on your teeth’s crowns and roots for too long, gingivitis can develop and eventually lead to periodontal disease. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends that everyone see the dentist for a regular dental cleaning and check up every six months.

What Happens at My Initial Exam and Cleaning?

Not only is our practice committed to using the latest treatment techniques, we also employ the most advanced technology possible to provide the very best care for you and your loved ones. This is why we have upgraded from traditional x-rays and utilize advanced digital x-ray technology–this service saves you time, provides clearer dental photos and minimizes exposure to radiation. Using these precision x-rays allows us to identify hidden areas of decay, spot other issues before they become more problematic, and help you maintain your best oral health.

After your cleaning and exam, we’ll review all findings with you and discuss their significance. Should treatment be necessary, we will share our recommendations with you, but we’ll always make sure you know all the options before developing a treatment plan.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Have you ever noticed unsightly, dark-colored fillings in people’s teeth when they laugh or smile? Maybe you even have some of these in your own mouth. While metal fillings are perfectly functional, most people like to avoid noticeable restorations. At Smart Dental Care, we use composite resin, tooth-colored fillings that can be matched to the shade of your own teeth, often to the point of being imperceptible.

In addition to being more esthetically pleasing, tooth-colored, resin fillings offer several other advantages. Resin fillings are bonded to your teeth, unlike metal fillings which rely on mechanical retention to stay in place. This means there is less chance of leakage between the filling and your tooth.

Also, metal fillings need to be a certain thickness so that they have enough strength to withstand the abuse they take in the mouth. Because resin fillings bond directly to the tooth, they don’t need the additional room and more of the tooth structure can be saved.

White resin fillings also don’t cause temperature sensitivity like metal fillings can and offer the same life expectancy. Some people are also concerned about the mercury that metal fillings contain. While there are no studies that directly support evidence that these fillings are harmful in any way, most people would rather not take a chance when resin fillings are available and contain no mercury.

Dental Sealants

Many back teeth have deep grooves that have incompletely formed enamel at their depths. Because of this, the teeth lack a complete seal, and the second layer of tooth is exposed to the oral environment. These areas are also havens for decay-causing bacteria, as the crevices are very difficult to clean completely. We offer a simple, painless solution to avoid cavities in these highly susceptible areas: dental sealants. After the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, a small, preventative filling of tooth-colored material is placed, sealing these deep grooves and helping many people avoid larger fillings later in life.

Don't let your family's teeth control when you end up at the dentist.

Let's take the best care of the smiles most important to you.