General dentistry is a branch of dentistry that encompasses the overall health of your teeth, gums, and oral cavity. Both preventative dental services (such as examinations, x-rays, cleanings, etc.) as well as restorative dental services (such as fillings, crowns & bridges, partials & dentures, etc.) fall under the general dentistry umbrella.
Most of us were gifted with a full set of teeth. However, many people do not realize the importance of our teeth until it’s too late. Poor oral hygiene and scarce visits to the dentist can contribute to lackluster oral health, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Decayed or traumatized teeth, as well as red, inflamed gum tissue, can cause pain and discomfort, be unsightly, and somewhat inhibit you from living life to the fullest. Lucky for you, many of these issues can be reversed with regular visits to the dentist.
To be completely healthy, you must be able to eat your food properly. This proper chewing function aids in food digestion and the intake of proteins, vitamins, and minerals which fuel your body. Decayed teeth, as well as infected teeth and gums, can be a major cause of pain and misery, and inhibit you from truly enjoying your meals.
You are the one to decide whether or not to be proactive about your oral health. If you truly want to prevent dental problems from occurring, you will need to take some precautionary steps. The dental experts at Clarity Dentistry are there to provide you with world-class, professional help. Together we can create a dazzling smile for you that lasts a lifetime!
We aim to be the last dentist you’ll ever need, for the rest of your life. If you or someone you know is looking for a compassionate, caring general dentist, please give us a call at (317) 300-0205! We love meeting new patients!
Our dentist is well-equipped with the latest digital x-ray and intraoral camera technology, which aids in a more efficient and accurate diagnosis. We strive to provide you with dental care in an environment where you can enjoy uncompromised quality and comfort.
A picture speaks a thousand words, and with the help of dental imaging tools, we can co-diagnose dental problems with our patients. When our patients witness firsthand dental problems inside their own mouth on a large monitor, it’s easier for them to see and understand why our dentist has recommended the necessary dental treatment.
Many times problems with teeth aren’t visible to the naked eye, and therefore an x-ray is necessary to properly view the underlying problem. We use a digital x-ray system that emits a minimal amount of radiation to take a picture of your tooth. This is also digital in nature and is connected to the computer screen which you and the doctor can view together.
In conjunction with the dental imaging information, our dentist will inspect each tooth individually. Much of the time, decay is easily visible to the dentist. However, decay can form in-between the teeth or below the gumline, in which an x-ray or photo can only reveal.
As bacteria in our mouth breaks down sugars in foods, acids are created that destroy tooth enamel. This decay that develops over time has to be removed by a dentist to avoid further damage because it will not go away on its own. The tooth that had decay is no longer anatomically correct, so tooth-colored filling material is bonded to it in order to restore it’s natural shape, form, and function.
If a tooth is severely decayed or broken, and there isn’t enough enamel remaining to support a filling, a dental crown is the recommended treatment. It is basically a synthetic tooth made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold that is cemented to a reduced or prepared tooth.
During this procedure, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing excess enamel, shaping it to be a proper base for the new crown. After impressions are taken or the area is scanned, the crown is fabricated in a dental lab. The patient then returns for the delivery appointment in which the crown is cemented and the bite is adjusted.
A dental bridge is an outstanding solution for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Like a crown, it’s a string of 2 or more crowns that are attached to one another. They are cemented on the adjacent teeth that anchor the bridge into place, replacing any missing teeth. The preparation and delivery appointments are similar to those of a dental crown.
If you are missing 1 or more teeth, a partial denture prosthetic appliance can be custom made to sit comfortably in the oral cavity and replace the tooth or teeth. Partials are worn so that you have either your own or artificial teeth in place, and dramatically aid in proper chewing and aesthetics.
If you are missing all of your teeth on either arch (or both arches), full dentures are a great option to replace those missing teeth. They are an appliance that rests on the ridge of the mouth, where the teeth used to be, and have an artificial set of teeth attached to a base. You can even get dentures that can be anchored by implants for added stability and function.
If you wake up with sore jaws or grind your teeth at night, a custom night guard can be made to protect your teeth and jaw. In addition, our dentists and hygienists will often notice certain wear patterns on the teeth that are indicative of grinding at night. Wearing a night guard while sleeping will inhibit your teeth from coming into contact with each other and can even relieve some of the tension on the jaw muscles.
When playing contact sports such as football, basketball, hockey, rugby, wrestling, etc., it’s critically important to protect your teeth from potential trauma. A custom sports mouth guard should be worn to greatly shield the teeth from hard or incidental tooth-damaging contact.
