General Dentistry
At the Mesa general dentistry practice of Scott LeSueur, DDS & Charles Dodaro, DDS, we can help you achieve optimum oral health whether your teeth and gums are in tip-top shape, or you haven’t been to the dentist in many years and are dealing with certain dental problems.
What is General Dentistry?
The aim of general dentistry is to help patients enjoy great oral health, by preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of dental problems. When you choose a dentist to provide your routine care, the dentist should be experienced in all the services you will need to correct common oral health problems such as cavities, cracked teeth, toothaches, and gum disease. At our practice, our experienced dentists offer the following comprehensive services for various dental needs.
Dental Hygiene & Teeth Cleaning
Dental hygiene and teeth cleanings are two of the best ways to enjoy great oral health. This combination allows patients to prevent problems from arising in the first place. By practicing proper hygiene at home by brushing and flossing daily will help you avoid decay, infection and other issues. Scheduling regular dental exams allow our dentists to spot signs of problems early and treat them before they get worse.
Family Dentistry
Family dentistry is a branch of dentistry that focuses on dental treatment for patients of all age. At Drs of Smiles, we strive to provide exceptional dental care to our patients as if they were our own children and relatives. Family dentistry services range from cosmetic dentistry treatments for adults to teeth cleanings for the youngest members of your family. Additional services include preventive orthodontics, root canal treatment, emergency dental care, and gum disease treatment.
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric dentistry allows us to educate our patients and their children about proper oral hygiene as early as possible. Foundational knowledge is especially important for children, who may be more likely to take good care of their teeth throughout life if they are taught the importance of dental hygiene early on. We encourage patients to bring their child for their first dental appointment as early as 1 year old. This allows for early detection which can help prevent serious dental problems in your child, such as periodontal issues.
Painless Dental Problems
The inner part of a tooth is the only part of a tooth that contains nerves. Therefore, patients can sometimes experience painless dental problems. For example, decay can set in before it reaches the nerve so the tooth is infected but does not cause the patient pain. Dental problems that can start out painless include fractures, cracks, chips, cavities, and loose fillings and crowns. By taking care of these problems before they reach the nerve can save time, money, and prevent any pain.
Root Canal
In the case that a tooth has severe damage or is infected patients may need to receive a root canal. A root canal removes the pulp tissue within the tooth and allows patients to keep their teeth rather than receive an extraction. While we do offer tooth replacement after extraction it is beneficial to keep your natural teeth.
Tooth Replacement
For patients that have lost a tooth due to damage or accident, our dentists offer tooth replacement. At Drs of Smiles, we offer removable appliances, such as partial dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants to replace the missing tooth. When patients lose a tooth from an accident or trauma they can call our office for emergency dental care. It is best to replace the tooth as soon as possible to maintain your oral health.
Dental Cavities
Dental cavities are an oral health issue that affects millions of Americans. A cavity forms when decay gradually erodes the health of your tooth’s outer and inner layers, the enamel and dentin. Cavities are commonly caused by eating food with sugar. When left untreated, cavities attack your teeth within the groove and eventually spread into the underlying dentin. Once the cavity has infected the tooth’s nerve patients must receive a filling, inlay or onlay, a crown, or a root canal. Both children and adults can develop a cavity.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are a restorative option for patients that need to replace damaged or missing teeth. A bridge is a false tooth that is fused between two crowns. The crowns provide stability and hold the bridge in place and the previously open space is now filled with the bridge. Bridges function and appear like natural teeth and only require a slightly altered flossing technique.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a replacement option that anchors replacement teeth in place. An implant is a titanium anchor that we implant into the jawbone. The implant sits just under the gum line and allows our dentists to attach a crown. Implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Dental implants are permanent replacements that can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all of them. In addition, implants reduce the risk of bone loss and support bridges and dentures.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a gum tissue infection. Gum disease attacks your gums just below the gum line and causes the tissue to break down. In the early stages, periodontal disease is called gingivitis and can be treated by brushing and flossing. However, if patients do not seek treatment gingivitis will develop into periodontitis. Periodontitis can often result in tooth loss. In addition, periodontal disease can have non-oral consequences and increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
Reconstructive Dentistry
Reconstructive dentistry is a branch of dentistry where our dentists restore beauty, function, and overall health to a smile after it has deteriorated. Drs of Smiles offers a range of reconstructive options including fillings, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. The type of restoration a patient requires will vary based on each patient’s specific needs. However, patients that have extensive damage can receive a smile makeover. This procedure includes a combination of reconstructive options to fully restore the mouth.
Restoration for Broken Teeth
Sometimes accidents happen and teeth can break. Fortunately, Drs of Smiles offers restorations for broken teeth. A broken tooth not only detracts from the rest of your smile but can alter the strength of your bite and lead to the need for a tooth extraction. Whenever possible, our staff tries to save the tooth before extracting it. We offer dental bonding, crowns, and veneers for restoration which all restore appearance and function to your smile.
Sensitive Teeth
Patients that have pain from food and drinks of extreme temperatures can be suffering from sensitive teeth. The tooth pain comes from the exposure of dentin. If the dentin is exposed then the thousands of tiny nerve-filled channels within your tooth are exposed. Once exposed, these hot and cold temperatures can affect the nerve and cause pain. At Drs of Smiles, we recommend desensitizing toothpaste, fluoridated dental products, soft-bristled toothbrushes, and avoiding teeth grinding. If these options do not relieve the symptoms we can cover the exposed root surfaces.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a common sleep disorder in which patients stop breathing for several seconds, sometimes multiple times, throughout the night. Patients can suffer from central sleep apnea, caused by miscommunication between the brain and breathing muscles, or obstructive sleep apnea which is caused by an airway blockage from soft tissue and other factors. At Drs of Smiles, our staff offers SomnoDent for sleep apnea patients. This oral device is capable of keeping both muscles and soft tissue in place during sleep to help ensure optimal airflow.
TMJ
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint which connects your jaw to your skull. When the joint is misaligned it can lead to TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD is a neuromuscular disorder that causes pain, damage to your teeth, and other symptoms throughout your body. Treatment for TMD can include neuromuscular dentistry which is an approach to correct misalignment of the jaw. Our staff at Drs of Smiles are trained in cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry and can apply their training in treating your TMD.
Laser Dentistry
At Drs of Smiles, we incorporate laser dentistry practices into our treatments and use lasers for gum contouring and whitening gel activation. Lasers allow our dentists to improve procedural outcomes and benefits patients by managing and reducing pain, providing a speedy recovery, and reducing inflammation. In addition, laser dentistry can be helpful for patients with TMD and other oral-related pain.
Drs of Smiles and Your Oral Health
At our practice, we can help every member of your family keep their teeth and gums healthy. Part of what we do is provide patient education, so you know what you should do to protect your oral health. Our dentists and hygienists not only perform general dentistry services, we also teach good dental hygiene habits and give you guidance specific to your own unique dental issues.
You deserve a healthy, beautiful smile. We have the experience and training to prevent damage and decay. However, if you are facing a more serious dental issue, our general dentists have the skills to restore healthy, strong teeth and gums. For more information on general dentistry practices view our dentistry FAQs.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about our general dentistry services, call 480.834.6991 to schedule a consultation at Drs of Smiles in Mesa, AZ.
