Dentist Columbia MD

What is General Dentistry?

General dentistry is a variety of preventative maintenance procedures that our top Columbia dentists offer to maintain the health of your teeth and gums over time. This includes cleanings, fillings, X-rays, and routine dental exams. Patients of all ages should see a general dentist at least twice a year.

The Columbia Family Dentist team provides general dentistry solutions in Howard County and patients of all ages are welcome into our office–even the youngest member of your family. As your trusted dentist in Columbia, Maryland, we understand the importance of a healthy, beautiful smile and hope to share our passion for good dental hygiene with you.

general dental care in Columbia MD

General Dentistry in Columbia, MD

We offer various general dental services to ensure your mouth stays healthy.

Emergency Dentistry

Whether you are experiencing a knocked-out tooth or sudden tooth pain, our doctors are here to provide care. We want to restore your dental health and peace of mind. We aim to treat all dental emergencies promptly to avoid further discomfort or pain. Contact our office immediately if you are experiencing a dental emergency.

Pediatric Dentistry

We provide pediatric dentistry services for our youngest patients. Our staff enjoys working with kids and knows exactly what to say to help them through their first appointment.  We explain all the normal dental procedures and assure them they are being taken care of. Additionally, we happily answer any questions they may have on our processes and procedures.

Laser Dentistry

Our doctors are experienced with laser dentistry or using lasers for procedures that involve working with soft tissues like your gums, cheeks, and tongue or hard tissue like tooth enamel. Lasers have been used in dentistry for several years, and we look forward to showing you the advantages this technology can have for your dental healthcare.

Mouthguards

Columbia Family Dentist is happy to provide customized mouthguards to interested patients. Our mouthguards fit snuggly in your mouth, and we tailor them specifically to fit the shape of your smile. Whether you want to protect your mouth during impact sports or break the habit of tooth grinding, our customized mouthguard services could be exactly what you’ve been looking for to meet your needs!

Sedation Dentistry

For patients experiencing dental anxiety or fear of the dentist, our sedation dentistry services assist in keeping patients calm. Even our most nervous patients can sit back, relax, and enjoy our services using prescribed oral sedatives.

Tooth Extraction

Whether you need a wisdom tooth removal or suffer from overcrowded teeth, our doctors can provide tooth extraction services. We may recommend the removal of a tooth as part of an orthodontic or restorative treatment plan to improve your oral health. Our Columbia dental care team is here to assist you through that process. We ensure you enjoy a swift and healthy recovery.

The Importance of Preventative Care

Preventative care provides the basis of your oral health and the backbone of our dental practice. It’s all about maintaining your oral health and preventing more severe dental problems from occurring. But you must ensure you care for your oral health at home and in the office.

When you’re at home, brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once daily. This prevents plaque and tartar from building up on your teeth and causing problems. Food particles and bacteria build up when you don’t brush and floss, making you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. However, just caring for your teeth at home can’t guarantee you won’t have dental problems. Bi-annual dental visits aren’t often enough to keep your teeth clean.

You also need to come in for biannual office visits. We provide a thorough dental cleaning, using specialized dental tools to reach places you can’t clean properly with tools at home. Even if you’re brushing and flossing well at home, plaque and tartar can still build up in the areas you can’t reach.

We don’t only provide cleanings at these visits. Certain oral health issues have early warning signs that are hard to recognize when you don’t know what you’re looking for. Things like gum disease don’t have painful early signs, so you may not know you have it. Oral cancer can be hard to detect as well. We have training to notice early signs and diagnostic tools to see what the naked eye can’t. Early detection means treatment solutions that are more conservative and less expensive.

Diet and Oral Health

Your diet plays a big part in your oral health. Certain foods harm your smile, while others provide essential nutrients for keeping your smile strong.

Foods That Benefit Oral Health

Calcium is one of the most important nutrients for your smile. It keeps the outer enamel layer that protects your teeth strong and healthy. It helps your jawbone, too. Dairy products contain this and casein, a protein that helps prevent enamel erosion. Look for dairy products fortified with Vitamin D, essential for helping your body absorb calcium properly. Phosphorus is an additional nutrient that’s beneficial for tooth remineralization.

For your gums, Vitamin C is essential. It helps collagen production and ensures your gum tissue stays strong. Antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of inflammation and infection. Vitamin C also boosts your immune system and helps protect your mouth from harmful bacteria.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables act like natural toothbrushes when you eat them. They help get between your teeth and dislodge food particles. They also increase saliva production. Saliva is essential to a healthy smile. It neutralizes acids in your mouth that harmful bacteria emit when they feed on sugar. It also washes away food particles and bacteria from your smile. Drinking water is also important for these reasons.

Foods That Hurt Oral Health

Sugar is one of the most harmful foods for your oral health. Harmful bacteria in your mouth thrive when there’s a lot of sugar in your diet. They feed on it and release an acidic byproduct. It burrows through your tooth enamel, causing cavities and tooth decay. The more you eat sugar, the more your teeth are exposed. If you eat it consistently throughout the day, you’re constantly exposing your teeth to acid.

Acidic foods increase enamel erosion and tooth decay. Though brushing is normally recommended, you should wait at least 30 minutes after you consume acidic foods, as it can increase the rate at which the enamel breaks down. Eating foods that combine sugar and acid is one of the most harmful things you can do for your smile.

Schedule an Appointment

Ensure your smile is staying healthy. Call our office or schedule an appointment online.