General Dentistry

General dentistry is the branch of dental care that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral health conditions. Designed to maintain the health of your teeth and gums, general dentistry includes a wide range of services such as dental cleanings, routine examinations, and various procedures to correct mild to moderate dental problems. 

At its core, general dentistry is all about keeping your smile healthy. While perhaps not as exciting as cosmetic dentistry or as transformative as restorative dentistry, general dentistry is the foundation upon which all other dental specialties are built. Without a commitment to general dental care, it would be impossible to maintain the long-term health of your teeth and gums. 

If you are looking for a dentist in the Ayden, NC area, we would be happy to welcome you to our office. We offer a wide range of general dental services, and our team is dedicated to providing patients of all ages with the personalized care they need to achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Contact us today to schedule your visit!

Cleanings & Exams

One of the most important services we offer at our office is professional dental cleaning and examinations. During these appointments, our team will remove any plaque or tartar buildup from your teeth, and we will also check for any signs of oral health problems such as tooth decay or gum disease. 

We recommend that patients visit our office for a cleaning and exam at least every six months. This allows us to keep your smile healthy and catch any problems in their early stages when they are typically more manageable.

Fillings

If we find any areas of decay during your examination, we may recommend treatment with a dental filling. Fillings are designed to restore the strength and function of a tooth that has been damaged by decay. 

• Once all signs of decay have been removed, we will fill the cavity with the filling material. 
• After molding the material to the desired shape, we will harden it in place with a special light. 

A filling will preserve the health of the tooth—preventing bacteria from penetrating further beyond the enamel. This ensures the condition does not advance and requires more extensive measures, such as a root canal treatment or dental crown.

Same-Day Crowns

A dental crown is a “cap” that is placed over a tooth in order to restore its strength, size, and shape following extensive damage or decay. Traditionally, getting a dental crown would require two office visits: one to prepare the tooth and take impressions for the crown, and another to place the final restoration. 

At our office, we are proud to offer same-day crowns using CEREC technology. With CEREC, we are able to take digital impressions of your tooth and fabricate your crown right in our office—all in just one visit! The restoration is made from a high-quality ceramic material that will match the color of your natural teeth. The process goes as follows:

• First, the tooth is prepared for crown placement. Typically, this involves the conclusion of a root canal procedure and contouring the tooth to fit the restoration. 
• Next, digital impressions are taken of the prepared tooth using a small intraoral camera. These images are then used to design your custom crown. 
• Once the crown has been designed, it will be milled from a block of ceramic material right in our office. 
• Finally, the crown will be placed over the prepared tooth and checked for fit. Once we are satisfied with the result, the crown will be bonded into place. 

The entire process usually takes about an hour to complete, and you will walk out of our office with a brand new, beautiful, and durable dental crown.

Extractions

Although we always work to save damaged teeth whenever possible, there are some instances where tooth extraction may be the best option for preserving your oral health. For example, if a tooth is too damaged to be repaired with a filling or dental crown, extraction may be necessary. In addition, if a tooth is impacted (such as a wisdom tooth), it may need to be removed in order to prevent problems such as pain, infection, or damage to surrounding teeth. 

Depending on the location of the tooth and ease of access, the tooth may be removed by either simple or surgical extraction.

• Simple extraction is typically used for teeth that are visible above the gum line and can be removed with a simple dental tool called an elevator. 
• Surgical extraction is usually necessary for teeth that have broken off at the gum line or are impacted. With this type of procedure, the gum tissue is incised in order to access and remove the tooth. 

In either case, we will numb the area around the tooth prior to extraction to ensure your comfort. 

After the tooth has been removed, we will provide you with instructions on how to care for the extraction site.

Nightguards

Teeth grinding, or bruxism is a common condition that affects millions of people around the world. The condition can be caused by stress, misalignment of the teeth, TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), sleep disorders, or even certain medications. Left untreated, bruxism can lead to a number of problems—including headaches, jaw pain, damage to the teeth, and even tooth loss. In order to protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding, we may recommend that you wear a nightguard while you sleep. 

A nightguard is a flexible, comfortable appliance worn over the teeth to keep them from grinding against each other. The appliance will be custom-made to fit your mouth—ensuring a proper fit that relieves pressure on the teeth and jaw. 

If you are concerned about bruxism, or if you have been told that you grind your teeth at night, please call our office to schedule an appointment. We will be happy to evaluate your condition and recommend the best course of treatment.

Emergency Care

We understand that dental emergencies can happen at any time, and we are here to help. 

If you are experiencing a dental emergency such as a severe toothache, fractured tooth, knocked out tooth, or an abscess, please call our office right away. We provide same-day treatment for dental emergencies, and we will do everything we can to get you out of pain and on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.