Taking care of your teeth is crucial for your oral health and a healthy smile. Dr. Bassam Abazid at Smile Land Family Dental in San Antonio, TX provides family dental care. Visit us regularly for preventive care such as cleanings, X-rays, and exams to keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape. With regular check-ups and cleanings, you can prevent major dental issues and the need for complicated treatments.
Our office has the latest technology and techniques to ensure thorough cleanings and high-quality general dental services. We will help you avoid common problems like tooth infections and gum disease. At Smile Land Family Dental, we prioritize your oral health to help you maintain a beautiful smile.
General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX
Our general treatments are part of preventive dentistry. Regular dental care helps stop problems before they become serious and expensive to fix. By treating common issues like tooth decay and cavities, we can prevent infections and save your natural teeth.
At our office, we offer many general dental treatments to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Our common preventive care services include cleanings and exams, dental fillings, and root canal procedures.
Dental Fillings
Dental cavities are common, and fillings are a natural way to treat them. Cavities form when harmful bacteria grow, usually in hard-to-reach places.
These bacteria feed on food left in the mouth and create plaque, a sticky film. The bacteria also creates acids that begin to break down the tooth’s outer layer. If you have tooth decay, you might notice soft enamel or holes in your teeth.
When bacteria reach the inside of the tooth, they attack the dentin, which is the layer below the enamel. Dentin has sensitive nerves that send pain signals if there’s a problem. If a cavity is too large, it can damage these nerves.
If Dr. Abazid finds a cavity, he will clean it out and fill it to protect the tooth. We use white fillings made from a tooth-colored material that blends in with your teeth. Unlike metal fillings, these white fillings are less noticeable. Composite resin fillings are a great choice for small cavities.
Root Canal Therapy
If you have toothaches and sensitivity that won’t go away, you might need a root canal. When an infection reaches the nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth, it can cause severe pain and spread to other teeth and gums if not treated.
Infections can kill a tooth and damage your mouth. A root canal can save the tooth and stop the pain. Root canal treatments are not painful and will help with the discomfort you are feeling.
Dr. Abazid will start by numbing your tooth. He will then remove the infected pulp inside the tooth and clean it out. After cleaning, he will fill the tooth with a special material and place a filling or crown on top. You might feel some discomfort for a few days, but it will soon feel better.
Finally, we will replace the temporary filling with a permanent one, called the core. We might also add posts to help support and strengthen the tooth. Then, Dr. Abazid will put a protective crown over the tooth.
Emergency Dentistry
Our emergency dental services are for patients who need urgent care. Dental emergencies are sudden issues that require immediate attention. Common emergencies include severe tooth pain, a broken tooth, or a lost dental restoration.
In our office, we’ll assess your emergency and suggest the right care. If you have a dead tooth, we might recommend a root canal or tooth removal. For other problems, we may need more time to prepare. If we can’t fix or replace damaged or missing teeth, we might suggest implants or crowns.
To learn more, see Emergency Dentistry.
Custom Mouthguards
Dr. Abazid offers custom sports mouthguards for patients of all ages. Wearing a mouthguard during contact sports can protect your teeth from damage, prevent tooth loss, and avoid injuries to your mouth and gums. We also make special mouthguards for patients with braces. Custom mouthguards stay in place better, so you won’t need to clench your teeth to keep them secure during sports.
To learn more, see Custom Mouthguard.
Sedation Dentistry
Do you feel anxious or scared about going to the dentist? Dental sedation can help if you need a lot of work done or if you’re nervous about the dentist. It makes sure you stay comfortable during your treatment. With sedation, you’ll feel relaxed and happy but won’t feel any pain.
Most dental sedation options don’t make you sleep. Instead, you’ll be in a relaxed state and might not remember much afterward. Our team is trained to keep you safe throughout the process.
To learn more, see Sedation Dentistry.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatments are an easy and effective way to keep your teeth healthy and prevent cavities. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth. It protects them from acidic damage. By rebuilding and reinforcing enamel, fluoride can reverse early signs of decay too.
During your dental cleaning, Dr. Abazid can apply a fluoride varnish, foam, or gel to your teeth. This process is quick, painless, and highly effective. Dr. Abazid will use a small brush or tray to coat each tooth with fluoride, paying close attention to areas at risk for cavities. The treatment only takes a few minutes, and the fluoride starts working right away.
To get the best results, it’s important to wait about 30 minutes before eating or drinking after the treatment. This gives the fluoride enough time to absorb into your teeth. Fluoride treatments are especially helpful for kids but can also help adults who are prone to cavities. Adults with a history of decay, or struggle with dry mouth, can also benefit from this quick and simple treatment.
Dental Sealants
Sealants protect hard-to-reach areas and molars from cavities. These teeth have lots of little nooks and crannies on the top where food and germs can hide. They are easy targets for decay. Even if you brush regularly, it’s tough to get into all those spots, especially for kids.
When you get sealants put on, Dr. Abazid will first clean and dry your molars really well. Then, he’ll use a special liquid to help the sealant stick to your teeth. He’ll paint on a thin layer of plastic to cover the chewing surfaces of your molars. A special light will harden the sealant to create a strong shield that can last for years.
We typically recommend sealants for kids once they get their permanent molars around age 6 or 12. But they can also help adults who are prone to cavities or have deep grooves in their molars. Getting sealants is quick, painless, and a great way to prevent cavities. With regular checkups and good oral care, sealants can keep your smile healthy and help you avoid getting fillings or other treatments in the future.
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
In our San Antonio dental office, we suggest getting regular cleanings along with other general dental services. Routine cleanings help stop dental problems that can harm your oral health.
Our dentist recommends visiting us every six months. However, if you have ongoing gum issues, you might need to come in more often. We’ll set up a schedule that works best for you.
Regular visits to Dr. Bassam Abazid keep your smile healthy. We can remove buildup that brushing and flossing alone can’t get rid of. Without these visits, small problems could turn into bigger issues.
Examining Your Teeth and Gums
During your visit, Dr. Abazid will use a small mirror to check for damage or infection. We’ll also look for signs of oral cancer, like unusual patches or sores in your mouth.
If needed, Dr. Abazid might take X-rays to find any hidden problems early. Based on the exam, we’ll suggest any further treatment and create a plan if necessary.
Removing Bacteria
Our dental hygienist uses stainless steel tools to clean your teeth and gums. These tools help get between your teeth and below the gum line.
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can build up on your teeth and gums if you don’t clean your mouth well. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar or white deposits between your teeth.
While brushing and flossing can remove plaque, tartar is tougher to get rid of. We use dental tools to carefully scale your teeth, scraping away bacteria from the teeth, gums, and under the gum pockets.
Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing
Our dental hygienist uses a high-powered brush and gritty toothpaste to clean the remaining bacteria off your teeth. We use fluoride toothpaste to protect your enamel and then polish your teeth to remove stains.
The hygienist flosses between each tooth to get rid of leftover food and bacteria. If you don’t floss often, your gums may bleed more. We suggest flossing at least once a day to keep your gums healthy and less likely to bleed. After flossing, we rinse your mouth to clear out any leftover debris.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
Dr. Abazid may recommend more treatments after cleanings to prevent problems like cavities and gum disease. These treatments help extend the results of your cleaning.
Do you need a dental cleaning? Call Smile Land Family Dental at 210-939-9689 to request an appointment. Our dental office serves San Antonio, Balcones Heights, Woodridge, Oakland Estates, and Leon Valley. If you have more questions about routine care, please call us.