Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy with General Dentistry Services in Airdrie

Did you know that general dentistry and preventative care is the pillar of maintaining healthy teeth and gums for life? The goal of general dentistry, often called family dentistry, is to prevent and treat issues early on before they become serious dental and health conditions.

While brushing twice a day and flossing every day is key to maintaining good oral health, a visit to your dentist at least once a year is crucial. If you’re wondering what services fall under general dentistry in Airdrie, keep reading to learn more about the services we offer at Yankee Valley Dental.

1. Emergency Dental Service

Dental issues that fall under emergency services include a tooth abscess (infection), a knocked-out tooth, a chipped or cracked tooth, sudden and severe toothache, or bleeding that won’t stop. Generally, if you need to save a tooth, relieve intense pain, or stop bleeding, see us right away for emergency dental care.

2. Family Dentistry

Quality dental care for the whole family, from the precious toddler years during the important teeth development stage to the adolescent years of braces and seniors looking to preserve their natural teeth for as long as possible. Whatever stage you’re at in your dental health journey, we have the knowledge and expertise to help.

3. Children’s Dentistry

Children’s dentistry requires special attention as this is a crucial time in their teeth development process. We want to help ease their dental work in adulthood by catching issues early on, such as crowding, shifting of the teeth, bite issues, gaps, and more. You can start your child off on the right foot with early intervention, prevention, and equip them with the right knowledge on good dental hygiene.

4. Dental Cleaning

We recommend a dental cleaning at least once a year. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend going twice a year depending on your overall oral health. A dental cleaning is important because it removes built-up plaque and tartar which can cause decay and lead to gum recession. It will typically include a polish and fluoride treatment which will help protect your teeth from cavities. 

5. Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer screening should be done at least once a year beginning at the age of 18. Oral cancer can often go undetected and our goal with screening is to catch it in its early stages when it has a higher chance of being successfully treated.

6. Root Canals

Root canal therapy is needed when the centre of the tooth, the pulp, becomes infected or to save a damaged tooth. The main goal here is to restore the natural tooth instead of removing it. Root canal therapy tends to get a bad rep for being painful, however, this is not the case with our modern dental technology. The procedure is done with minimal discomfort and pain – in fact, we want to treat the infection or damage before it becomes severely painful.  

7. Dental Fillings

Dental fillings are done to protect a cavity and prevent further decay. They are quick, painless, and can be silver, gold, or tooth-coloured composite.

8. Wisdom Teeth Removal

If wisdom teeth are impacted, they need to be removed to avoid pain in the future. Even if they are not causing you any issues right now, it’s best to remove them to prevent problems. If you’re nervous about wisdom teeth removal, we can discuss sedation options to make the procedure smooth and with as minimal discomfort as possible.

9. Periodontal Care

Periodontal treatment is needed when gum disease, called gingivitis, has progressed and soft tissues are damaged. Without treatment, periodontal disease can lead to infections, extreme gum recession, bone loss, and eventually, teeth loss.

10. Dental Sedation

If you are anxious or nervous about a dental treatment, sedation is something that we offer to make the appointment go more smoothly. Sometimes, patients who have strong gag reflexes are offered sedation so that we can complete more dental work in one sitting and with minimal discomfort. 

11. Orthodontics

We offer orthodontic care for issues like a misaligned bite or crooked teeth. If the case is more complex, we can refer you to an expert orthodontist in Airdrie.

12. Sleep Apnea

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, we can help by conducting a sleep study and looking for signs in the mouth. Some of the first signs of sleep apnea are bruxism (grinding of the teeth) and dry mouth, which can increase your chances of tooth decay. If it’s determined that you do have sleep apnea, we can move forward with treatment such as a CPAP machine or an oral sleep appliance.

Prevention, early diagnosis, and prompt treatments are key to preserving your natural teeth and the health of your gums. Book an appointment for general dentistry services with us and enjoy good oral health for life!