General dentistry in Springfield
Everyday dental care, in one office.
From routine exams and cleanings to fillings, crowns, and root canals, general dentistry covers the care most smiles need. We aim to provide as much of it as we can right here.
What general dentistry covers
General dentistry includes the basic preventive and restorative treatments you need for a healthy, functional smile. At our office, that means exams and cleanings with digital x-rays, fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, extractions, dental implants, and bonding.
It also covers gum care, sealants and fluoride treatments, and advice on gaps in your routine at home. Our dentists also provide children’s dentistry, sedation dentistry, and cosmetic treatments. We try to offer as many treatments as possible in our office, so you do not have to visit several dental offices to get the care you need.
Checkups, cleanings, and x-rays
We recommend an exam and cleaning every six months. During the exam, your dentist looks for signs of decay or damage, and x-rays help diagnose cavities, gum disease, and other problems. Your dentist also checks for signs of oral cancer, which is more treatable when it is found early.
Next comes a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar. Left in place, they can lead to bacteria, decay, and cavities. If we find a problem, we will talk with you about your treatment options and answer your questions.
Digital x-rays let your dentist see what cannot be seen with the naked eye. Compared with older film x-rays, they take less time and expose you to less radiation.
Repairing and restoring teeth
To treat a cavity, your dentist removes the decay and fills the tooth with a tooth-colored composite filling. If you have old silver fillings, we can also replace them with composite.
Bonding uses a composite material, matched to your tooth color, to fix chipped or cracked teeth, close gaps, reshape teeth, or hide discoloration that does not respond to whitening. It needs little to no preparation and is often done in less than an hour. It does not last as long as veneers, but it can last for years.
For bigger problems, a crown can protect a broken or damaged tooth, and a bridge can replace one or two missing teeth by anchoring to the teeth on either side of the gap. We can make many crowns and bridges in our office with CEREC technology. When decay reaches the center of a tooth, a root canal may save a tooth that would otherwise need to be pulled.
Extractions and wisdom teeth
We try to avoid extractions whenever we can, but sometimes they are needed: when a baby tooth is blocking a permanent tooth, when a tooth is decayed or damaged beyond repair, or because of gum disease or an impacted tooth. Depending on the tooth, an extraction may be surgical or non-surgical, and sedation can help make it more comfortable.
Wisdom teeth, your third molars, usually come in between your late teens and your twenties. Often the mouth does not have room for them, so they cannot fully come in. That can crowd nearby teeth, and abscesses or cysts can form around the tooth. Our dentists also perform wisdom tooth removal.
Is this right for me?
General dentistry may be a good fit if you:
- Are due for your six-month exam and cleaning
- Have a cavity, or a chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
- Have old silver fillings you would like replaced
- Have a tooth that has been bothering you
- Have wisdom tooth pain in the back of your mouth
- Wear dentures or are missing teeth
What to expect
Your visit, step by step.
- An exam with digital x-rays to look for decay, damage, and gum disease.
- A professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar.
- If your dentist finds a problem, a conversation about your treatment options.
- Any treatment you need, such as a filling or crown, which we aim to provide in our office when we can.
- A return visit in six months for your next exam and cleaning.
Questions we hear
General dentistry FAQs
What does general dentistry include?
General dentistry covers routine exams and cleanings with digital x-rays, fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, extractions, dental implants, and bonding. It also includes gum care, sealants, and fluoride treatments.
How often should I have a checkup?
We recommend an exam and cleaning every six months. Regular checkups can catch problems before they become more serious, and dental problems tend to get worse, not better, when they are ignored.
Do I still need checkups if I wear dentures?
Yes. Everyone can benefit from general dentistry, including people who no longer have their natural teeth. If you wear dentures, we recommend a visit at least once a year so your dentist can check how they fit and look at the health of your gums and jaw.
Can you replace my old silver fillings?
Yes. We use tooth-colored composite fillings, and we can replace old silver amalgam fillings with composite for a more natural look.
Can I be sedated for an extraction?
Sedation dentistry can help make an extraction more comfortable. Ask your dentist which option fits you and your procedure.
Ready when you are
Let’s make your next visit something to smile about.
New patients are welcome. Call us or send a request, and we will help you take the next comfortable step.
Request an appointment