People often separate medical care and dentistry in their minds, which is easy to understand; our teeth seem a lot less mysterious than our internal organs. But medical care is exactly what your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me provides. Oral health is very important to our overall well-being. In fact, a dentist makes use of some of the same diagnostic tools a general practitioner does, including x-rays. The difference in dentistry is that x-rays aren’t done only when we suspect a problem. They’re key to discovering the potential for problems, pinpointing locations and taking action. Much of what affects oral health happens below the gum line and at the roots of teeth, so accurate images help us find exactly where a problem lies and how best to treat it. Regular dental x-rays help us keep small problems from turning into larger ones. As your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me, we’ll do everything we can to avoid unpleasant surprises.

You know those every-six-month cleanings people dread? They’re immensely important. Even meticulous brushers and flossers don’t get everything, and a piece of food lodged in the wrong place can throw significant shade on a stellar dental record. Cleaning visits to your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me are an opportunity to learn brushing and flossing techniques and get other beneficial dental maintenance suggestions. Check-ups are also a smart investment. Taking the time to look helps in avoiding the development of problems that will be far more expensive than the cost of a cleaning and oral exam. Another reason people avoid check-ups is that they don’t want any unsettling news that might lead to painful treatments. If that’s the case for you, here are a few things we want you to consider: 

• It makes a lot more sense to treat a small problem than a big problem, if you want to avoid discomfort.
• You can’t catch a problem while it’s still small without a visit to your dentist-near-me.
• Whenever we treat you, your comfort is a major concern and focus.

There’s probably no need to go into a lot of detail here. You probably remember fillings from childhood visits to a friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me. A tooth develops some decay, the decay is removed and the empty space is filled in. What you may not know is that the days of fillings looking like chunks of metal are gone (not that there wasn’t good reason for that, since they actually were chunks of metal). The most common filling material these days is a composite that can be tinted to match the color of the tooth being filled; that’s especially helpful in the case of front teeth that affect your smile. There are quite a few other options when it comes to the material used, and we’ll be happy to explain them all.

If you’ve ever heard of getting your teeth “capped,” you’ve heard of dental crowns—a covering made in the exact shape and size of the problem tooth. Your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me uses them to strengthen teeth in situations when fillings and other treatments can’t be used. Just like fillings, dental crowns have come a long way since they were first invented; made of porcelain, they look natural and provide great long-term protection. Getting a crown usually takes two appointments. In the first one, we’ll take careful measurements and impression molds to make a temporary crown for you on the spot. The molds and measurements are then sent off to a dental laboratory, where the crown is made to those exact specifications. About two weeks later, we’ll bring you back to have the temporary replaced with your permanent crown. Among the instances in which a crown will be recommended: broken/fractured teeth, cosmetic enhancement, decayed teeth, fractured fillings, large fillings, or as part of root canal treatment.

When two or three teeth in a row are missing, a dental bridge is a great option for bridging the gap in your smile and protecting the exposed teeth on either side. Don’t confuse a bridge with partial dentures—a dental bridge is non-removable. We’ll review all of your options for bridges, but the most common type is made of porcelain fused to metal. It consists of two crowns attached to a series of artificial teeth. The crowns are applied to the exposed teeth on either side of the gap, with the artificial teeth filling in the space between them. Getting a bridge takes at least two visits to your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me. At your first appointment, the teeth on either side of the gap have some enamel removed, so the crowns can be applied.

Then, careful measurements and impression molds are taken and sent to a dental laboratory, where your bridge is custom-made (we’ll make you a temporary bridge to wear until your permanent bridge is ready). At your second appointment, the permanent bridge will be carefully checked, adjusted, and cemented in place. Occasionally, a third appointment is needed if you and your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me decide to only temporarily cement the bridge; sometimes, it’s best to let your gums and other teeth get used to having the bridge there. The full cementing process can be done at a later date. Among the instances in which a bridge will be recommended: maintaining facial shape, preventing remaining teeth from drifting out of position, restoring chewing and/or speaking ability, restoring your smile, upgrading from a removable partial denture to a permanent solution.

Dentures are partial or complete groups of removable artificial teeth, set in material intended to replace gum tissue in the affected area. Dentures were was called “false teeth,” but times have changed—there’s nothing false-looking about the dentures we provide at StarBrite Dental. Getting dentures requires multiple appointments over the course of several weeks. The process begins with accurate measurements and impression molds being made in order to ensure a denture made to the exact specifications of your mouth. A dental laboratory will then custom-make your dentures to the exact specifications we provide. After that, it can then take several “try-in” appointments, followed by adjustments of shape color and fit until you and your friendly, neighborhood dentist-near-me are satisfied that the denture is perfect and ready for a final fitting.

At your last appointment, we will precisely adjust and place the completed denture. Among the benefits of dentures—aside from the obvious plus of filling gaps in your mouth—is the improving of chewing, speech, and digestion, as well as the enhancing of your smile and facial tissues.