Comprehensive General Dentistry
General dentistry encompasses a wide variety of services and procedures. It seeks to accomplish several goals, including helping patients keep their natural teeth for as long as possible, maintain optimal oral health, and keep their mouths looking and feeling great for their entire lifetime. When your smile looks great, and your teeth and gums function as they should, you will have no problem eating, speaking or smiling with confidence.
At Mall of Georgia Dentistry, Dr. Vancil and his associates offer a range of general dental services to help you enjoy your best smile. From effective prevention to comprehensive restorations, you can count on us to offer the care your smile needs. Contact our Auburn, Buford or Dacula office to schedule your visit!
Promoting Your Complete Wellness
There is an essential connection between good oral health and your overall well-being. Research has shown that there is a significant relationship between poor oral health and serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease. Persistent oral infections and pain from decaying teeth can negatively impact your health and enjoy everyday activities, including eating correctly.
As your dental team, we strive to help you enjoy a healthier mouth through effective prevention and restorative treatment. With consistent care, you can protect your oral health and your quality of life.
How Prevention Protects Your Smile
Preventive care is the core of promoting optimal oral health. While brushing and flossing are a vital part of maintaining your oral health, you also need regular dental care, even if you haven’t noticed any problems with your teeth or gums. Patients should have regular dental exams and cleanings every six months. This frequency allows the dentist to detect any changes in your oral health that could quickly grow into more complex dental issues.
Professional cleanings remove plaque from areas you can’t reach with routine brushing and flossing. If left, the plaque will harden and become tartar, which only special tools can remove. Regular cleanings at the dentist could prevent or identify gum disease at its earliest stage when it is easier to deal with, and before any significant damage is done.
Patient Education
Educating patients on how to maintain good oral health is another area that our dentists will focus on. We help you understand your oral health in a caring and patient manner, and always take the time to answer your questions. Our goal is to help build a foundation for proper oral hygiene habits that will carry through a lifetime.
Some of the things we educate our patients on include proper brushing and flossing techniques, nutrition, and warning signs of dental problems. If you have any questions about your oral health or how you can protect it, please don’t hesitate to ask us!
5 Tips from the Dentist for Protecting Your Smile
Caring for your smile every day can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips that will promote better oral health and wellness:
- Brush twice a day for two minutes.
- Limit sugary or acidic foods.
- Drink water after meals to help cleanse your mouth.
- Keep floss handy for when you eat at the office or go out to eat.
- Chew sugar-free gum with xylitol.
Dental Extractions
While the goal of preventive care and good oral health habits at home is to prevent tooth loss, there are times where it may be necessary to have a tooth extracted. An extraction is needed when nothing else can be done to save the tooth.
Reasons You Might Need An Extraction
Having to extract a tooth is usually the last resort because it is always best to try to repair and keep the natural tooth in your mouth. The most common reasons for extracting a tooth include:
- When deep decay is present that would not allow for a successful root canal treatment
- If you have extra teeth in your mouth, like baby teeth that are not allowing your teeth to align properly
- Periodontal disease where damage to the gums and jawbone can no longer support the tooth
- When a tooth has been fractured beyond repair
- When a tooth needs to be removed before braces to allow space for realigning the teeth
We offer wisdom tooth extractions so long as they are not impacted. If the teeth are impacted, we’ll refer you to a trusted oral surgeon to ensure the safe removal of the tooth.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (also called TMJ or TMD) is a common condition that affects many adults with jaw pain and soreness. Many people may not realize that they have this condition or that it’s something a dentist can treat. Its symptoms can be painful and may even interfere with your daily life. A dentist can test, diagnose, and create a plan to manage your TMJ.
Common Symptoms of TMJ
You could have TMJ without realizing it. Let the dentist or hygienist know if you experience symptoms like:
- Severe headaches
- Varying degrees of jaw pain
- Earaches
- Dizziness
- Intermittent ringing in the ears
- Grinding teeth
Treating TMJ Through Dentistry
The most common cause of TMJ is misaligned teeth, also known as a “bad bite.” However, it could also be caused by trauma to the cartilage in the jaw’s joint. Stress can increase the intensity of TMJ symptoms. Left untreated, TMJ can lead to loose teeth and eroded jawbones.
Once the dentist has diagnosed TMJ, multiple treatments can be used to provide relief, including:
- Prescribing a specially-molded bite guard to stop teeth from grinding at night
- Realigning teeth to correct bite problems
- Providing advice on how to lessen stress to prevent clenching and grinding of teeth
- Prescribing muscle relaxants if necessary
Oral Appliances for Healthy Teeth
A general dentist may prescribe various types of dental appliances to treat a variety of conditions or to prevent damage to your teeth. These appliances can do everything from protecting your teeth to correcting bite problems.
TMJ Appliances: These devices are designed to protect your teeth from grinding at night, a common cause of bruxism. They prevent your teeth from being worn down and your jaw from soreness caused by constant pressure.
Sleep Apnea Appliances: A custom device can be used to help keep your airway open at night, allowing you to breathe and have a more restful sleep. The most common devices are Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), which draw the jaw forward, and tongue-retaining devices, which keep the tongue and soft tissues from collapsing the airway.
Sports Mouthguards: Most sports today recommend (if not require) mouthguards to protect teeth during play. The dentist can use impressions to create a custom mouthguard that fits perfectly to your teeth, providing greater protection.
Gum Disease Prevention and Treatment
Preventive dental care is also designed to prevent and identify gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss. Our team will look for signs of gum disease during your regular cleanings and dental exams.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Gums that bleed easily or while brushing your teeth are usually a telltale sign that you have gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Your gums may appear puffy and irritated. If left untreated, gingivitis can advance into periodontitis, where the infected gums form deeper pockets around your teeth and begin to recede and expose tooth roots.
Types of Gum Disease Treatment
In its earliest stage, gingivitis may be treatable with a few professional cleanings and good at-home care. We may recommend periodontal scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning, which helps to eliminate infection below the gum line.
First, an antibacterial treatment eliminates bacteria in the pockets, and a special tool is used to scrape hardened tartar from the root. Then, the tooth surface is smoothed out to prevent bacteria from latching on again, and to encourage the gums to reattach.
Comprehensive Dentistry
At Mall of Georgia Dentistry, we know how important it is for you to be able to trust in your dental team. Our dentists and team take the time to get to know you personally and provide treatment with compassion, not judgment. No matter the state of your smile, we’ll always do our best to help you with skillful care and customized treatments.
Come visit our welcoming dental practices in Auburn, Buford, or Dacula today! Mall of Georgia Dentistry welcomes patients throughout Gwinnett and Barrow counties.