The practice of general dentistry entails a coordinated approach to the diagnosis, treatment, management, and overall care regarding the oral health of the patient, including the prevention of dental problems. General dental care is at the core of all dental specialties, supporting patients in keeping their teeth and gums healthy while often being the first to recognize abnormalities or concerns.
At Smile Makers Dental Center in Woodbridge, VA, our team is committed to providing comprehensive treatment and exceptional oral health care. Regular cleanings and examinations lay the foundation for general dentistry, where we assess and diagnose the condition of every smile. Patients of every age walk away with a personalized treatment plan or feedback that includes dental hygiene instruction and advice regarding proper oral home care.
Our goal throughout these interactions is to educate our patients about their dental health, as well as to address any questions or concerns they may have. We want to make sure that you are getting the best possible care at home by brushing regularly, flossing daily, and scheduling regular dental cleanings with our experts. Our team will work with you to ensure that you are using the proper techniques and products to achieve optimal results. General dentistry services include routine exams and cleanings, crowns and bridges, dentures and partials, treatments for decay or infections, and more!
At Smile Makers Dental Center, our highly trained dental professionals will work with you to help ensure optimal oral health for a lifetime. If you would like more information or want to schedule an appointment for yourself or another member of your family, contact our office today!
Cleanings & Exams
Dental cleanings and examinations are the first steps toward maintaining excellent dental health.
- Cleanings are an important part of preventive care because it helps remove plaque, tartar, food particles, and bacteria from your teeth. These appointments should occur at least every six months; not only will this prevent gum disease and tooth decay, but it can also prevent more serious ailments, such as heart disease.
- Examinations help our dentists to assess your dental health and recommend a course of action. An examination can be as simple as a check-up, which includes an assessment of the gums, teeth, jaw joint (TMJ), and bite, or it can be more involved through diagnostic tools such as x-rays, which can reveal teeth and bone structure that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Crowns & Bridges
Dental crowns are custom-created caps that are designed to fit over the natural tooth. Most often, they are placed after root canal treatment or following a dental implant procedure, but sometimes they are necessary simply to cover discolored teeth or repair a broken tooth. They are used to restore a tooth’s function and appearance, keeping the natural tooth structure safe from any further damage.
Dental bridges replace one or more missing teeth by utilizing a custom-made appliance. This appliance is built from a series of dental crowns that are fused together to span the gap from one natural tooth to another. The procedure involves taking an impression of the surrounding teeth and gums, then making a bridge-shaped restoration that covers or fills in the space with one or more artificial teeth. During the installation of a bridge, the outer crowns are attached to neighboring healthy teeth, which anchor the appliance in place.
Dentures & Partials
Dentures are artificial replacement teeth that can restore patients’ self-esteem and wellbeing if they have gaps in their smile. Denture appliances are crafted from polymer, gum-colored material that is designed to attach to your upper or lower dental arch. The artificial teeth are made from resin and selected to meet your preferences for color and size. At our practice, we offer both full dentures and partial dentures.
- Full dentures replace a full arch of missing teeth and are secured by either suction or dental adhesive.
- Partial dentures are designed to fill in empty spaces where you have lost one or more natural teeth. A partial can usually be attached by clasps or other adhesives.
Whether you need partial or full dentures, we will work with you closely throughout the design process to ensure the appliance meets your needs and preferences; our goal is to ensure the appliance fits comfortably, supports your facial tissue, and looks appealing when worn.
Root Canal
Root canal treatment is a procedure performed to remove diseased nerve tissue from inside the canals of the tooth root, and thus save them from extraction.
- This procedure involves removing the infected interior pulp of the tooth; the pulp includes the nerves, vessels, and tissues that have been exposed as a result of decay or fracture of the tooth.
- Once the infection has been removed from the tooth, we will clean and disinfect the root and tooth interior before filling it with a biocompatible material (gutta-percha).
- We will then close the tooth opening with a filling or dental crown to maintain its proper appearance and strength. Oftentimes, we utilize a crown to protect the entire tooth structure from further damage or decay.
Pediatric Care
Pediatric dental care is a field of dentistry that specializes in the oral health and treatment of children and adolescents. Pediatric care focuses on prevention and management of normal tooth development and eruption, maintenance of dental health throughout childhood into adolescence, and treatment of disease as it’s experienced by children under the age of 18.
Educating our young patients on how to take care of their teeth is a key part of the pediatric care we offer. We will also teach parents about how to help their children understand why it’s important to brush and floss properly, as well as encourage dental checkups for everyone in the family.
Emergency Dentistry
Emergency dental care is a service that provides dental treatment to patients who are suffering from urgent dental concerns, commonly caused by decay, infection, or injury. The importance of access to quality professional care becomes particularly evident in the event of an emergency, as it can be vital for the health and functionality of your teeth and gums to be restored.
At our practice, we are well-equipped to handle a full range of dental emergencies, putting you, your child, or another family member on the path to recovery and healing. Examples of some of the dental emergencies we handle include:
- Toothache
- Fractured tooth
- Lost crown, filling, or bridge
- Root canal infections
- Tooth abscesses
- Damaged dentures
- Loose permanent teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
If you are experiencing any of the above emergency situations or notice unusual pain in your teeth, gums, or other oral tissues, call our office as soon as possible!
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Full mouth reconstruction is a procedure recommended to patients with disease, decay, or trauma that has affected most or all of their teeth. Depending on the patient’s needs, we can provide different recommendations to rebuild the smile and improve its health, function, and aesthetics.
Overall, the goal is to vastly improve the lives of patients undergoing this procedure by greatly advancing their oral health and restoring their confidence. A full mouth reconstruction may include a combination of the following procedures or services:
- Placement of implants, crowns, or bridges
- Root canal treatment
- Gum disease treatment
- Orthodontics
Quality Care Close To Home
At Smile Makers Dental Center, we are pleased to provide a variety of services in the comfort of our Woodbridge, VA office. Patients of all ages can come directly to our practice and get the care they require without being referred to another facility. From general dentistry to cosmetics, restorative treatment to orthodontics, we take pride in seeing smiles transform under our care.
You will discover that under our roof, we provide a full spectrum of dental services that cover your immediate and long-term dental needs. We look forward to sharing our dental knowledge and caring for you. Call today to schedule an appointment!
