The key to maintaining a healthy smile starts with general care and prevention!
Take care of your smile through services designed to boost your oral wellness.
General dentistry is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders and conditions of the oral cavity. The oral cavity includes the teeth, gums, tongue, palate, cheeks, lips, and throat. General dentistry is a vital part of overall health care. It helps to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other problems of the mouth. It also helps to keep the teeth and gums healthy.
The Importance of the Basics
With general dentistry being a relatively basic field when compared to restorations or cosmetics, it can be easy to overlook its importance. However, general dentistry is the foundation for everything else. In order to enjoy the occasional teeth whitening procedure or endure implant surgery, you need to have a healthy mouth to start with.
If you’re in need of a general dentist in the Spokane, WA area, look no further than the office of Jonathan S. Judd, DDS, PS. Dr. Judd and his team of dental professionals provide quality care for patients of all ages. They offer a full range of general services designed to keep your mouth healthy and your smile looking its best. Call today to schedule an appointment.
Cleanings & Exams
Regardless of how well you brush and floss at home, it is important to visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings and exams. While you can easily remove some of the plaque from your teeth on your own, there are places that are difficult to reach and require professional tools. Plaque that is not removed can eventually turn into tartar, which is much harder to remove.
- During a professional cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. They will also polish your teeth and provide you with tips on how to improve your at-home oral hygiene routine.
- Once this is complete, our dentist will also conduct a thorough exam of your mouth, teeth, gums, and throat. We will look for any signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or other problems. If we notice anything that requires treatment, we will develop a plan to get your oral health back on track.
Regular dental cleanings and exams are an important part of maintaining good oral health. By visiting the dentist at least every six months, you can help keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come!
Same-Day Crowns
Dental crowns are a type of dental restoration that completely encapsulates a natural tooth to restore function and improve appearance. Dental crowns are often used to:
- Restore a tooth that has been damaged by decay or injury
- Protect a weak tooth from breaking
- Cover a dental implant
- Improve the appearance of an unsightly tooth
With the multiple uses for dental crowns, it’s no wonder that they are one of the most common dental restoration procedures. However, the only problem with them is that they often take weeks to be made in a dental lab; fortunately, that’s not the case at our office! Here, we offer same-day crowns, which means you can get your new dental crown in just one visit!
Same-day crowns are made using CAD/CAM technology. First, a digital impression of your tooth is taken. This digital impression is then used to design a 3D model of your tooth, which is then utilized to mill your new dental crown from a solid block of composite. The whole process takes about an hour, and you’ll walk out with a brand-new, perfectly fitting dental crown!
Tooth Extractions
While the mission at our office is most often to preserve your teeth, there are times when the best course of action is to have a tooth removed. Whether due to crowding, injury, decay, or disease, tooth extractions are a common dental procedure that our team is highly experienced in.
- When you come in for your appointment, we will first numb the area around the tooth to be extracted. We may also offer dental sedation to help you feel more relaxed during the procedure.
- Once you are comfortable, we will gently rock the tooth back and forth to loosen it from the socket.
- From there, we will simply remove the tooth.
After your tooth has been extracted, we will provide you with aftercare instructions and help you schedule a follow-up appointment. It is important to follow these instructions carefully to ensure a speedy and successful recovery.
Root Canals
While root canals may seem to be an intimidating procedure, they are actually quite common. In fact, over 15 million are performed each year.
A root canal is necessary when the nerve of a tooth becomes infected; this can happen due to a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, or any other injury that results in the interior of the tooth being exposed.
- During a root canal, the nerve and pulp are removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. This prevents the infection from spreading and safeguards the tooth against future damage. Once the procedure is complete, the tooth will be capped with a dental crown.
Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures, and with today’s technology, they are also one of the most successful. In fact, more than 95% of teeth that have had a root canal procedure can be expected to last a lifetime.