Country Lakes Family Dental delivers world-class dental care, specializing in full-service dentistry for the entire family with a gentle touch. We want what is best for our patients, and we are known for our honesty and trustworthiness. Click on the service below to learn more!
A comprehensive exam lays the foundation for excellent dental care. At Country Lakes Family Dental, we strive for you to experience the easy, gentle way to comfortable dental health. We recommend a “comprehensive dental exam” for all patients that are new to a practice and for “established” patients, those who are already in the practice, every three years.
The mouth is really a window into the body. Medical conditions may be discovered by a comprehensive dental exam before symptoms show up elsewhere in the body. By doing a comprehensive dental exam, we can together devise a strategy for long-term health and comfort.
Many dental issues, such as cavities can be totally prevented with good oral health care.
Your comprehensive dental exams will include:
RADIOGRAPHY (DIGITAL X-RAYS)
A full set of X-rays is one of the first and most important tools in monitoring the health of your mouth. We utilize state-of-the-art digital technology for all dental X-rays. These computer-aided X-rays provide images of unmatched quality, making it easier to identify and diagnose oral health concerns. Combined with an oral cancer screening, digital dental X-rays can identify any issues in the supporting structures in the mouth. As a benefit, digital dental x-rays produce almost undetectable amounts of radiation, even less than your cell phone, ensuring a safe means of diagnosis.
PERIODONTAL EXAM AND CHARTING
The health of your gums is every bit as important as the health of your teeth. That is why all of our dental exams include a thorough periodontal exam as well as charting. Periodontal charting consists of measuring the depth of gum pockets, the areas that form between teeth. Pocket depths are a distinctive indicator of gum health and are essential in monitoring for issues such as gingivitis or periodontal disease that may result in loss of the supporting structures of your teeth. A preventative and proactive approach to your gum health will improve the longevity of your teeth.
BITE ANALYSIS AND TMJ EXAM
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that hinges the lower jaw to the skull. As many patients know, this joint is prone to causing pain due to several different factors. At your dental exam, we can discuss any TMJ symptoms you may have and determine what treatment is best to relieve your discomfort. Similarly, a comprehensive bite analysis can determine if your teeth need adjusting in order to create a more comfortable bite and prevent unnecessary tooth wear.
DETAILED TOOTH EXAMS
Perhaps the most important aspect of your dental exam is the inspection of each tooth for both present and potential issues. These may include minor chips or cracks that you may not even be aware of but have the potential to cause pain. In addition, old restorations that are at risk of recurrent decay or fracture may be identified for replacement. By identifying cavities early, the teeth can be repaired before they start causing pain and keep much more of their original structure intact, preventing more excessive dental treatment.
Regular dental cleanings usually go hand in hand with a comprehensive oral exam or a regular (recall) evaluation. Once your exam has been completed, a hygienist will perform a regular cleaning, or prophylaxis. During the first part of your regular cleaning, your hygienist will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove debris, calculus, and plaque from between your teeth and around your gum line. If you need a break or experience any sensitivity, please let your hygienist know, so they can adjust settings to make you more comfortable. If needed, they may use a hand scaler as well.
When this portion of the cleaning is done, you will have each tooth polished using a special paste. Afterwards, they will floss your teeth using dental floss, and may make recommendations or suggestions about proper flossing technique.
Dental sealants are a quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive solution for preventing cavities. Sealants are done most often on children generally as soon as their adult molars erupt. This preventative procedure can help save lots of money in pediatric patients who would otherwise need fillings or other restorative procedures to rid the teeth of cavities.
Sealants are a safe plastic material that is placed in the grooves and pits of the premolars and molars that often collect bacteria and food. It is often hard for children to get their toothbrushes back there where extra protection of the premolars and molars is needed. The sealing process is completely painless and is a quick procedure done by a dental hygienist or dental assistant.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical that helps prevent tooth decay. It works by slowing the breakdown of your tooth enamel, or the outside surface of the tooth. This surface is subject to the wear and tear of everyday eating.
Fluoride treatment drastically reduces the incidence of cavities, and can cut down on dental costs. It is used during almost all routine dental visits for children and can be requested by adults. Fluoride can also be used to treat sensitivity after in-office bleaching.
Fluoride treatment after a check-up requires you to not eat anything sticky or hot for at least one hour. You can drink water, but be sure that you do not brush the fluoride off of your teeth. Allowing time for the fluoride to be absorbed into your teeth is important.
Dental fillings are a treatment option to help restore the function and appearance of a tooth that is damaged or decayed. Dental fillings are most commonly used to treat a cavity or to repair tooth fractures or aging restorations. Having a tooth “filled” is a very common procedure and can be completed in one appointment at the office. Our office uses tooth colored composite resins only to not only provide the most esthetic option, but to ensure the longevity of the tooth by resisting tooth fractures, having improved ability to repair, and resist staining from leaching metal.
Dentistry is an art as well as a science, and crown replacements are a perfect example of this. Crowns are covers that fit over your entire natural tooth to protect and secure the remaining part of the tooth. A crown could be needed because a tooth has been significantly weakened by decay, there is more filling material than natural tooth structure leaving your tooth susceptible to fracture, or for cosmetic reasons. Crowns strengthen damaged teeth, allowing them to function normally again.
Dr. Matt invests in state-of-the-art technology to make our procedures more comfortable, more efficient, and more precise. By utilizing the best technology and keeping our office up to date, we are continually learning new ways to enhance our procedures and make our dentistry services more comfortable and convenient for our patients.
Now, using CEREC® technology we can get most of our restorative dentistry procedures done in fewer appointments. CEREC® is an acronym for “chairside economical restoration of esthetic ceramics.” It uses CAD/CAM technology to create virtual impressions, models, and milled restorations here in our Asheville office. There are no second visits, trays sent to labs, or re-dos. CEREC® crowns are completed in a single appointment and are precisely detailed, leaving no room for human error.
The process begins with prepping your tooth as normal. Once an adequate shape is achieved, we take a virtual scan that is transferred into our computer software. From here, we select the color of ceramic being used and the final tooth design in mind.
While you wait, the milling equipment carves a beautiful, custom restoration from a solid piece of ceramic. In just a short amount of time, the new crown is ready to be fitted and bonded in place.
Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
The first step in the dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan using 3D scanning and dental radiograph technology. Next, the tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from six to 12 weeks.
Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post -- called an abutment -- is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make the new tooth or teeth your teeth are digitally scanned using CEREC® technology to create a model of your bite (which captures all of your teeth, their type, and arrangement). The new tooth or teeth is based on this model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then designed and fabricated using CEREC® technology and attached to the abutment. The abutment is then placed into the implant and connected at a designated force to ensure stability of your new tooth. Because the implant is stabilized within the bone, the crown is easily replaced by simply removing the abutment and crown apparatus and replacing with a new crown if necessary.
Instead of one or more individual crowns, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture.
We also will match the color of the new teeth to your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth.
Veneers are very thin pieces of durable, tooth shaped porcelain that are custom made (for shape and color) with CEREC®. They are bonded onto the front of teeth to create a beautiful and attractive smile.
Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile. They can often be alternatives to crowns and the ideal solution in treating many dental conditions.
Reasons for porcelain veneers:
- Cosmetic, to create a uniform, white, beautiful smile
- Crooked teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Severely discolored or stained teeth
- Teeth that are too small or large
- Unwanted or uneven spaces
- Worn or chipped teeth
If a person’s oral health is not maintained while they age, then other problems can result, which is why senior dental care should not be neglected. Dr. Matt received focused training concentrating on the care of senior patients during his advanced dental residency. We take extra steps to make our senior patients comfortable and provide a senior discount to help with costs.
INHALED MINIMAL SEDATION
You breathe nitrous oxide -- otherwise known as "laughing gas" -- combined with oxygen through a mask that's placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. We can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
IV MODERATE SEDATION
You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation and is mostly used for wisdom teeth extractions.
Regardless of which type of sedation you receive, you'll also typically need a local anesthetic -- numbing medication at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth -- to relieve pain if the procedure causes any discomfort.
A root canal treatment is a treatment option available to “save” a tooth that has sustained damage, inflammation, or infection in the pulp, deep inside the tooth. Put simply, the damaged internal sections are removed from your tooth and replaced with material to seal the tooth. In most cases a crown is placed over the tooth to protect it from further decay and damage.
A tooth extraction, put simply, is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Dental extractions are most often performed because a tooth has sustained damage or decay, or cannot be saved by root canal treatment, or to prepare for the placement of a dental Implant. Advanced gum disease may be another contributing factor in a tooth extraction.
Other reasons for a tooth extraction include making space in the mouth for braces or other orthodontic treatment, or in the case of pediatric patients, to allow room for adult teeth to grow.
Full or partial dentures can be a helpful restorative option for people who are missing several or even all of their teeth. Dentures are designed to be worn every day and removed at night. They are designed to sit over the gums and around any existing teeth. However, it is important to note that dentures cannot serve as a replacement for teeth; rather, they are an alternative to the absence of teeth
ORTHODONTICS
Dr. Matt received additional continuing education in the area of orthodontics and Invisalign in order to provide orthodontic treatment for children and adults. Orthodontics is the formal name of the dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance and correction of bad bites. The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy bite—straight teeth that properly meet opposing teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.
If your teeth are crowded, protrusive, spaced too far apart, meet in an abnormal way, or do not meet at all, correction may be recommended. Braces and aligners are the “appliances” orthodontists most commonly use to guide your teeth into their proper positions. Retainers preserve and stabilize the results of your orthodontic treatment.
In the past, orthodontic treatment was associated with children and teens, but today many adults seek orthodontic treatment to correct long-standing problems, or problems that stem from maturational changes. Orthodontists can help people of any age achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
INVISALIGN
Invisalign aligners are used to straighten crooked or crowded teeth, as well as close gaps and adjust overbites. The treatment involves wearing clear, plastic trays that are custom-designed for your mouth, making Invisalign a less-noticeable alternative to metal braces. For best results, it's recommended that you wear the aligners at least 20 hours per day throughout your entire treatment. This treatment is great for adults that don’t want the look of traditional braces and for teens that need flexibility while playing sports and instruments.
Occlusal guards more commonly known as night guards are removable devices that fit over the teeth and are used to help prevent the wearing down of teeth during sleep due to nighttime grinding and clenching. Sometimes these guards are also worn during the day if the patient's problems are more serious than just the average teeth grinding problems.
Take-Home Whitening System
Opalescence take-home whitening gel offers professional results in a customized whitening treatment you can do in the comfort of your own home. Available in a range of formulations and flavors, Opalescence take-home whitening gel is delivered via custom-made trays, further tailoring the treatment to your smile.
In-Office
In-Office whitening uses a 40% hydrogen peroxide power bleaching gel. Opalescence Boost whitening offers brighter, whiter teeth in less than one hour in the dental chair. This professional treatment is administered start to finish in our office for more immediate results. Many patients choose to combo efforts with an in-office treatment and take-home to maintain their smile.
We recommend that parents bring their children for oral exams and cleanings beginning at 12 months, and every 6 months after that. Bringing your child early and regularly is an important way to establish your child’s confidence and comfort during regular dental visits, and create a positive relationship with the dentist and staff.
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