General Dentistry Lansdale PA

If you have been avoiding the dentist or seeking a more personalized dental care experience, we welcome you to contact our Lansdale dental office for an appointment. Routine dental care is an important part of overall health and wellness. Patients who schedule regular appointments benefit from in-depth dental cleanings and exams.

Our dental team also provides routine screenings for various dental problems at these visits. At Brookwood Dental Associates, we provide general dental services at routine appointments and offer general dentistry through preventative treatments. Because general care is preventative in nature, we can spot developing concerns and prevent them from becoming complex issues.

General Dentist in Lansdale, Pennsylvania

General Dentistry in Lansdale, PA

Our general dental services help prevent the development of future oral health problems:

Emergency Dentistry

In a dental emergency, contact our office for prompt care. We can treat patients who are experiencing excessive bleeding or tooth pain. Our dentists can also repair or replace broken restorations, injured teeth, or lost permanent teeth. We recommend that patients call us immediately if they have a dental emergency so we can provide them with immediate treatment.

Dental Sedation

Our office uses nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Dental sedation is a treatment method that relaxes patients and allows us to provide pain-free care. Sedation is also beneficial for patients with dental fear or anxiety. Please let us know if you or a loved one have dental anxiety and require accommodations. We will work with you to help you get the dental treatment you need.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extractions are often essential to improve the health of the teeth and gums. Patients may think dental extractions are painful, but we use local anesthetic and/or dental sedation for patient comfort. In addition, dental extractions can relieve tooth pain caused by impacted or infected teeth. If you notice any changes in the comfort of your smile, contact our office for treatment.

Sports Mouthguard

If you or your child play contact sports like soccer, basketball, or lacrosse, they need a sports mouthguard. Our custom-made sports mouthguards help prevent damage to orthodontics and tooth injuries or loss. Compared to store-bought mouthguards that can easily fall out during a game, our mouthguards are meant to fit patients precisely.

Family Dentistry

As a family dentist office, we can see patients of all ages. Our dentists encourage parents to schedule visits for their children so they can learn the best ways to care for their smiles. Early dental care in a warm and friendly environment also helps prevent dental anxiety in patients as they grow.

The Importance of Preventative Care

Preventative care provides the foundation of your oral health. You have to properly care for your smile both at home and with regular visits to our office. If you only do one portion of oral healthcare, you still risk developing oral health conditions.

At home, brush at least twice daily and floss at least once daily. Preferably, brush and floss your teeth after every meal. This prevents food particles and bacteria from building up. We provide thorough dental cleanings at regular checkups, but twice-yearly deep cleans aren’t enough to keep your smile healthy all year round.

Regular trips to the dentist provide deep cleanings for your teeth every six months. Even if you’re brushing and flossing diligently at home, there are areas of your mouth that you can’t clean properly with over-the-counter dental tools. Plaque and tartar build up in these areas, making you more likely to suffer from tooth decay and gum disease.

However, we don’t only provide cleanings at regular dental visits. We also perform an oral examination. Some serious oral health problems, like oral cancer and gum disease, have early warning signs that are hard to pick up on. Many adults have gingivitis because the warning signs don’t hurt, so they don’t realize they have it. If you have gingivitis that progresses to the other stages of gum disease, it’s more difficult to manage.

Our dental team has advanced training to detect early warning signs of conditions before patients can. We also have advanced diagnostic technology to ensure you get the correct care. Technology can detect growing problems before they are visible to the naked eye.

Your Diet and Oral Health

Your diet plays a big part in the health of your smile. We need certain nutrients to keep our mouths as healthy as possible. You should also avoid consuming certain things in the best interest of your oral health.

Essential Oral Health Nutrients

Calcium and Vitamin D are two of the most important nutrients for your smile. Calcium strengthens your bones and tooth enamel, making you less susceptible to tooth decay. Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium better. Dairy products and leafy green vegetables are good sources of these. You can often find milk and other dairy products fortified with Vitamin D.

Vitamin C is essential for gum health. It promotes collagen production, which is crucial for healthy tissue. Vitamin C also helps boost your immune system to fight infection and reduce inflammation, another component of gum disease. Citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries are all good sources.

Fresh, fibrous fruits and vegetables are like natural toothbrushes for your teeth. When you chew them, the fibers get between the teeth to dislodge stubborn food particles. They also require a lot of chewing to break down. Chewing triggers saliva production, which is essential for your oral health. Saliva washes away food debris and neutralizes acids in your mouth.

Limit These Foods

Sugar and acid are the two biggest enemies of your smile. When you eat sugar, harmful bacteria in your mouth consume it as their favorite food. When they process this, they release an acidic byproduct that eats away at your tooth enamel, eventually reaching the inner layers of your teeth. This becomes a dental cavity and can also lead to the need for a root canal or other procedures.

While you may think only sweet things are sugary, starches also break down into sugars. A salty snack can be just as bad as a sweet one. Things like pretzels and potato chips also expose your teeth to sugars. They also make a paste or shatter into pieces that collect between the teeth or in the indentations of your molars.

While sugar is already bad for your smile, adding acid to the mix is even worse. It increases the rate of enamel erosion, weakening the outside of your teeth. This makes it easier for bacteria to eat through the enamel. If you consume acidic things, rinse your mouth with water afterward. Water helps neutralize the acids in your mouth. While brushing your teeth right after eating is usually good, wait at least 30 minutes after acidic foods, or it can increase the rate of enamel erosion.

General Dental FAQs

Do you want to know more about your general dental options? Learn more with these answers to these frequently asked questions:

When should my child begin visiting the dentist?

We recommend that parents schedule their child’s first dental visit after the child turns one year old. Pediatric dental visits are important because they create a foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. We will examine the child’s smile at routine dental visits and may provide a dental cleaning. As children grow older, we will also recommend treatments that prevent cavities, including dental sealants and fluoride.

What are the signs of tooth decay?

The most common symptoms of a dental infection often include:

  • Tooth sensitivity
  • White tooth stains
  • Visible holes in the teeth
  • Tooth pain

Tooth decay is caused by harmful bacteria that irritate and eventually eat away at the tooth enamel. Patients can prevent decay by brushing and flossing twice a day. We encourage patients to schedule dental appointments bi-annually or twice a year.

Is dental sedation safe for children?

Yes, nitrous oxide is a safe sedation method in our office. We can use this mild sedative for complex procedures, including tooth extractions or dental fillings, and we use it for patients of all ages.

What’s the most common general dentistry problem?

Tooth decay is the most common problem we face in our dentist office. By age 34, over 80% of US adults have had at least one cavity.  Many people have at least three dental fillings due to cavities. A big part of general dentistry is informing patients on diet and hygiene practices to try and avoid cavities.

Should I use a manual or electric toothbrush?

Both are effective if you use them properly. An electric toothbrush may be better if you have a movement disorder and it’s hard to make the necessary cleaning motions. Electric toothbrushes can also be helpful for children. Many have timers so kids know how long they must brush their teeth.

How do I get rid of bad breath?

Bad breath is usually caused by poor oral hygiene. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly are essential to maintaining a healthy mouth and fresh breath. If you’re doing everything right, there’s a chance that it’s not a dental problem. Sinus issues and stomach problems can impact your breath, among other conditions.

Call Our Dental Office Today

Are you looking for a new professional dental office? Schedule a consultation with us by calling 267-651-7247. You can also request a dental appointment online. We serve patients in Chalfont, Lansdale, and the surrounding areas.