General Dentistry San Antonio, TX

Preventative dental care is part of general dentistry. Routine dental care, including cleanings and exams, root canal therapy, and fillings, can prevent future dental problems. Early intervention is essential to preserve the smile and avoid complex dental care. We offer general dentistry treatment at Smile Land Family Dental in San Antonio, TX.

We aim to keep your teeth and gums healthy with quality dental care. Our office uses expert techniques and state-of-the-art technology to provide routine cleanings and general dentistry services. 

General Dentist in San Antonio, Texas

General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX

Regular dental services help prevent dental problems that require more complex and invasive treatment. Addressing common problems like tooth decay and cavities can prevent the spread of infection. General dental treatments can also potentially save natural teeth.

Dental treatments that fall under preventative dentistry include:

Tooth Cavity Treatment (Fillings)

Dental cavities are common dental problems, and fillings are natural treatments for cavities. Cavities develop when harmful bacteria multiply, typically in areas that are difficult to clean.

Harmful bacteria feed on food particles left in the mouth and form plaque. These bacteria also produce acids that begin to eat away at the natural tooth enamel. This is why patients can experience soft enamel and holes in the teeth when tooth decay occurs.

Once the bacteria reach the inside of the enamel, they attack the dentin or underlayer beneath the enamel. Dentin is the part of the tooth that contains sensitive nerve fibers. The nerves send out signals of sensitivity and pain to indicate a problem. When the cavity is too large, it can damage the nerve.

However, we will recommend a dental filling if we find a cavity soon enough. Fillings seal teeth after we treat cavities.

Our fillings use tooth-colored materials. Unlike traditional metal fillings, white fillings blend in with the smile. These fillings use tooth-colored materials, so fillings blend in with your mouth.

Root Canal Therapy

A root canal treats damaged tooth nerves within the tooth. Once a tooth infection reaches the blood vessels and nerves within a tooth, we recommend a root canal. Some patients may think this treatment is painful. However, we ensure your comfort throughout treatment.

Before your root canal, we will numb your tooth. During root canal therapy, we thoroughly clean the canal within the tooth.

After we remove harmful bacteria from the canal, we provide a temporary filling. The infected area usually heals quickly. There may be discomfort for a few days before the area feels normal again.

The next step is to fix the tooth permanently. We replace the temporary with a permanent filling called the core.

To finalize this procedure, we may install posts into the canals. These posts help support and strengthen the core. Finally, a crown covers the entire area to provide a protective cap for the tooth.

Emergency Dentistry

Our emergency dental services are best for patients who require urgent dental care. Dental emergencies are sudden dental problems that need prompt, professional treatment. Common emergency dental problems include severe tooth pain, a broken tooth, or a lost dental restoration.

Our office can assess your emergency and recommend the proper care. We may recommend a root canal or tooth removal if you have a tooth infection. Other problems will require more preparation. We may recommend implants if you lose a permanent tooth or crowns if you have a broken tooth.

Custom Mouthguards

We recommend professional, custom sports mouthguards for patients of all ages. Custom-made sports mouthguards use flexible materials that cover the top teeth.

Wearing a mouthguard during contact sports protects against tooth damage, knocked-out teeth, and soft tissue damage. We also create athletic mouthguards for patients with braces.

Sedation Dentistry

Do you have dental fear or anxiety? We’re here to help. Dental sedation is a valuable dental tool we recommend for long dental treatments. We may also recommend it if you have dental fear. Sedation helps ensure you feel comfortable during treatment.

Laughing gas and oral conscious sedation are two common types of sedation. Under sedation, you will feel relaxed and happy but will not feel pain from your treatment.

What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?

In addition to general dentistry services in our San Antonio, TX office, we recommend cleanings. A dental cleaning is a common and routine treatment. Cleanings are preventative, meaning they help prevent dental problems that affect oral health.

We recommend that patients visit our office every six months. Patients with chronic gum disease may see us more frequently. Our team will recommend a dental schedule that fits your dental needs.

The steps of a professional dental cleaning include:

Perform an Examination

First, we examine your smile with a small dental mirror. We will look for signs of damage and decay. Our team will also look for signs of oral cancer, including white and red patches in the mouth and chronic mouth sores.

Based on this examination, we can recommend further treatment. We may also take dental X-rays to catch and treat dental problems early. Then, we can create a treatment plan.

Remove Plaque and Tartar

Scaling treatment removes bacterial buildup from the teeth and gums. During scaling, we use a stainless steel dental tool to remove plaque and tartar.

Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that can cover the teeth and gums if you do not thoroughly clean your smile. Tartar is a hardened plaque and can appear as white deposits between teeth.

Scraping is normal during dental cleanings. This scraping sensation removes calculus, or tartar, from the teeth, gums, and underneath the gum pockets.

Perform a Gritty Toothpaste Cleaning and Polishing

A gritty toothpaste cleaning removes the remaining bacterial buildup from the teeth. You can choose your toothpaste flavor, and the fluoride will help protect the tooth enamel. This toothpaste also polishes the teeth, smoothing the tooth to prevent bacteria from affecting rough tooth surfaces. 

Flossing and Rinsing

Dental floss removes food and bacteria from the mouth. We will floss each tooth during your cleaning. If you do not floss regularly, you may encounter bleeding gums. We recommend flossing at least once a day to reduce gum irritation and bleeding.

Flossing before brushing removes bacterial buildup, which contributes to gum irritation and inflammation. After we floss your teeth, we will rinse the mouth to remove any leftover debris.

Perform Fluoride Treatment

Our team typically performs a fluoride treatment after a dental cleaning to strengthen the tooth enamel. The enamel is the outer layer of the teeth. Protecting this outer layer helps prevent harmful bacteria from entering teeth. Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens teeth and rebuilds natural enamel after damage.

During treatment, we apply a varnish or gel over each tooth. We recommend waiting 30 minutes to eat or drink after treatment to allow the fluoride to penetrate the enamel.

Visiting our office for regular dental cleanings and examinations helps you maintain your smile. Our team can remove bacterial buildup from your smile that you cannot remove with brushing and flossing alone.

You can develop dental problems like cavities and gum disease without regular dental visits. These problems may start small but can permanently damage your smile.

Schedule a Dental Visit

Do you need to treat a dental infection or schedule a dental cleaning? Call Smile Land Family Dental for preventative, general dentistry treatment in San Antonio, TX, at 210-939-9689. You can also schedule an appointment on our website.

Our dental office serves the communities of Balcones Heights, Woodridge, Oakland Estates, and Leon Valley. If you have further questions about routine dental care, please get in touch with us. We are here to help.