General Dentistry
Helping our patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile is the main goal of general dentistry. We prefer to provide more minor, preventive care than to see patients suffer with more intensive treatments from a problem that was not managed in time. We want to ensure that your oral health is in its optimal state and positively contributing to the health of your entire body. We are here to brighten your smile and pave the way for a brighter life.
Cleanings And Exams
Visiting the dentist for your regular cleanings and exams is essential to maintaining optimal oral health. In most cases, our Flint, Michigan dentists and hygienists will recommend visiting our office once every six months for your cleanings. Those who have periodontal (gum) disease may need to have professional cleanings more frequently. During your cleanings at our office, our dentist or hygienist will:
- Remove plaque to prevent it from developing into calculus (tartar)
- Remove calculus to prevent gingivitis and gum disease
- Polish the teeth for the “dentist clean” feeling
When you have your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis, your risk for tooth decay and gum disease is reduced. Remember that only a dental professional can thoroughly remove the plaque and calculus stuck on the teeth and gums. If you haven’t been to the dentist in over six months, we invite you to contact Heritage Comfort Dental to schedule your visit today. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy and radiant new smile.
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Emergency Care
Our highly trained doctors and staff are ready to manage all of your concerns. We have methods to alleviate the pain and help you feel calm during your emergency dental visit.
If you are facing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact us immediately at (810) 736-1500!
Extractions
An extraction is performed to remove a tooth, whether because of disease, crowding, or damage. When extractions are required, the area around the tooth will be numbed and your dentist will remove the tooth. A small amount of bleeding is normal, as your mouth will replace the removed tooth root by forming a blood clot in the area.
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Fillings
Composite fillings, also known as white or tooth-colored fillings, can be used as a natural-looking and durable alternative to traditional silver fillings. Designed to look and feel like your natural teeth, composite fillings are carefully matched to the color of your existing teeth. In a single visit at our office, one of our Flint, Michigan dentists will:
- Remove the damaged section of the tooth
- Clean the healthy tooth
- Place the composite filling
- Shape and polish the filling for an aesthetically pleasing result
Receiving a composite filling is a quick and comfortable process. For more information on the benefits of composite fillings, or to schedule your first appointment with one of our dentists, we invite you to contact Heritage Comfort Dental in Flint today. We look forward to hearing from you and your family soon!
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Night Guards
It can be beneficial to use a guard, or covering, to protect your teeth from grinding while sleeping. Similar to how a mouthguard protects teeth during sports, this layer prevents damage to the teeth that can occur naturally.
There are a wide variety of different types of mouthguards, ranging from pre-formed pieces to ones that are custom fitted to your teeth and jaws. Some of these can even be formed at home through a boil-and-bite process.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Because we care about our patients and their quality of life, we provide an oral cancer screening at every six-month check-up. Oral cancer can be a life-threatening disease and we aim to detect it in its earliest stages, when treatment is most successful. The oral cancer screenings that we perform during your visits are:
- Thorough
- Comfortable
- Safe
- Potentially life-saving
Having regular oral cancer screenings can protect you and your family from the potential dangers of oral cancer. Please contact our office today if it has been over six months since your last visit to the dentist. Our Flint, Michigan dentists will gladly help you achieve optimal oral health and provide you with a thorough oral cancer screening.
Preventative Dentistry
It is important to brush your teeth at least twice daily to help remove plaque and food particles that get stuck to your teeth. It is recommended that you brush your teeth for two minutes (or longer), though most people rush through this time. You need to make sure that you reach every side of each tooth, including the inside and outside. To help keep your breath fresh, you should also brush your tongue. Then, you can begin flossing.
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Root Canals
Through rotary root canal therapy, or endodontic treatment, our Flint, Michigan dentists can restore significantly infected and/or damaged teeth. Rotary endodontics involves using an electronic handpiece to quickly, effectively, and quietly perform the procedure so that you have a more comfortable and relaxing experience. With rotary root canal therapy, you can keep your natural tooth without worrying about harming the surrounding teeth. Our dentists may recommend rotary root canal therapy to restore a tooth with:
- Pulp decay
- Significant injury or trauma
- An abscess or infection
In just one or two visits to Heritage Comfort Dental in Flint, Michigan, your root canal therapy will be complete and you will have a healthy smile once again. To protect the tooth and restore the aesthetics of your smile, our dentists will typically place a custom dental crown over the treated tooth. Please contact our office today if you have any dental discomfort or pain. We will do everything in our power to restore your oral health, function, and comfort as quickly as possible.
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Sealants
When we apply a dental sealant, we paint a plastic coating on top of your teeth. This makes your teeth smooth getting rid of the rough edges, depressions, and grooves that are commonly found on teeth. It is essentially a protective coating against tooth decay and cavities.
The most common place to paint sealants is on back teeth since they are often irregular. They can also be very hard to reach, even if you brush your teeth regularly. We use it more on children though we do perform sealants on adults too!
Sports Mouth Guards
As dentists, we are determined to make sure your mouth and teeth are well protected during sports activities, no matter what your passion is. To do this, we offer many different types of mouth guards, depending on the types of activities in which you are involved. There are some mouth guards for low-impact sports and others for high-impact sports.
Mouth guards not only protect your mouth and teeth, but also have other purposes. Mouth guards will help decrease the impact if you get hit in the jaw. They have also been shown to increase an athlete’s performance.
Many people clench their teeth while playing, which can give them temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). Clenching your jaw the whole time can be quite exhausting. Mouth guards help to relax your jaw, allowing you to completely focus on the game!
Teeth Whitening
A common request we receive is how to make a smile whiter and brighter. This is a relatively simple and quick treatment option that can be performed periodically. Certain foods and beverages, such as wine and coffee, stain the teeth and contribute to discoloration. The teeth whitening process provides a solution that lightens the shade of the teeth. Additionally, the process actually rids the teeth of plaque and tartar that tend to lead to dental problems.
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Wisdom Teeth Extractions
The wisdom teeth are usually the final four teeth to erupt in the mouth. Because there is often no room for the wisdom teeth to erupt properly, they tend to create problems with your oral health. Improperly erupted wisdom teeth can cause:
- Tooth decay
- Infections
- Abscesses
- Tumors/cysts
- Periodontal (gum) disease
At Heritage Comfort Dental in Flint, we aim to remove the wisdom teeth before these problems occur so that you and your family can enjoy optimal oral health for life. Wisdom tooth extractions at our office are performed in just one appointment with the utmost care and gentleness. After the procedure is complete, remember to follow the instructions our Flint, Michigan dentists give you to ensure that you heal timely and properly. For more information on wisdom teeth extractions or any of our procedures, we invite you to call or visit our office today.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, a common health disorder often associated with snoring, occurs when your airway is blocked while sleeping. This airway blockage is usually caused by your tongue falling back in the throat. Eventually, the brain will realize it is not receiving enough oxygen and will jolt you awake, causing you to gasp for breath. This occurrence is known as an “apnea” and those who suffer from severe sleep apnea can experience hundreds of apneas every night. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk for:
- Depression
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Stroke
If you snore or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, we are here to help you. Our Flint, Michigan dentists have the training and experience necessary to provide you with a custom snoring or sleep apnea appliance, depending on your needs. We invite you to contact Heritage Comfort Dental today to learn more about your sleep apnea appliance options, which include CPAP alternatives, and to find out how we can help improve your quality of sleep.
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Teeth Clenching and Grinding Treatment
Clenching and grinding of the teeth, otherwise known as bruxism, can cause significant damage to your teeth and oral health. At Heritage Comfort Dental in Flint, Michigan, we offer clenching and grinding treatment to protect your teeth, prevent costly future dental problems, and help prevent jaw pain, headaches, and ear pain. Depending on your situation, our Flint dentists may recommend one or more of the following solutions:
- Custom night guard – an individualized appliance that you wear at night while you sleep
- Stress management
- Diet changes
- Behavior modification
- Orthodontic adjustment
- Oral surgery (in severe cases only)
If you have been diagnosed with bruxism, or if you notice that your teeth have worn down, please call or visit our office today to discuss your treatment options. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthier smile through comprehensive, compassionate dentistry.
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