Take it from us when we say general dentistry in New Oxford doesn’t have to be boring or a bad experience. Dr. Kari Stuntz and the team at Dentistry on the Square can change the way you feel about dental care. (It’s all about having humor and a little laughter to lighten up your day.)
The general and preventive dental services we offer to you are some of the most common, most popular treatments. But they are far from being anything but routine. Everything we do has a purpose, to help improve both your oral and overall health.
The funny thing is, so many people overlook their smiles. They may brush and floss every day and go to the dentist for regular dental hygiene visits. But there are so many advantages that go hand-in-hand with having a smile that’s whole and healthy.
3 Advantages of Healthy Smiles
Advantage #1 – People with healthy smiles tend to show them off more, smiling for the world to see. In doing so, they’re actually releasing feel-good endorphins for an improved mood.
Advantage #2 – General dentistry in New Oxford can positively affect more than just your teeth. When you take the time to make dental hygiene a priority, it will enhance your overall health too. By taking care of your teeth and gums, you’re significantly reducing your risk of severe health issues elsewhere in your body such as heart disease and diabetes.
Advantage #3 – It might go without saying, but everyone knows when your teeth are clean and free of disease or damage, you’re definitely more attractive. When you look good, it makes you feel good. You’ll find yourself drawing people in, creating more personal and professional relationships. You’ll be happier and have a more positive outlook on life. It’s a win-win for you and your smile.
We hope you see how general dentistry in New Oxford can actually be fun and can also dramatically change your life. We offer everything from comprehensive exams and oral cancer screenings to dental hygiene and high-tech digital x-rays at Dentistry on the Square. Let’s share some laughs and help you have a smile you love.
Comprehensive Exams
Every person and every smile deserves a comprehensive exam. It’s how we see what’s really going on inside your mouth. We rely on state-of-the-art x-rays, perio charting (looking at your gum health), and screening for any signs of oral cancer. If you’re a new patient coming to Dentistry on the Square for a more specific reason, then we’ll take the time to focus on any issues you’re having.
You can’t practice general dentistry in New Oxford and not offer comprehensive exams. It’s our way of seeing what your oral health needs may be, and what services or treatments we can provide to help you feel better. Aside from all of the dental business, these exams are also a time for us to get to know one another. Tell us about your life, your health, your goals. We might even share a laugh or two in the process! We love our patients and want to see your smile every time you step foot into the office.
Oral Cancer Screenings
The Oral Cancer Foundation says approximately 53,000 people in the United States will receive an oral cancer diagnosis in 2019. Oral cancers can include:
- Mouth cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Tonsil cancer
- Throat cancer
It’s up to a dentist with a specially-trained eye like Dr. Stuntz to carefully check any abnormalities or bumps. She looks deep within your mouth, throat, and lips by conducting a thorough visual and manual screening. She can look at what’s going on inside your mouth and throat to look for abnormalities. She’ll look for pre-cancerous warning signs. Dr. Stuntz can also tell if you’ve got a more frequent dental issue such as an ulcer, a bite to your cheek, or painful spots from dentures that no longer seem to fit quite right.
These things share many similarities to dangerous lesions and need to be monitored by a dental health professional. The important thing to remember about oral cancer is the earlier we detect and diagnose it, the better chance you have of overcoming it. Remember this: if you have a sore, discoloration, irritation, or hoarseness that hangs around for more than two weeks, with or without treatment, you should call us for an appointment right away, so we can take a look.
X-rays
Forget about the traditional x-rays, complete with heavy lead vests and warnings galore. Part of providing cutting-edge yet caring general dentistry in New Oxford is having the very best technology. We want everything we do for you and your smile to be minimally-invasive and always 100 percent safe. Digital x-rays provide us with an immediate, high-tech view of what’s going on inside your mouth from your tooth’s root to tip. Have an annoying wisdom tooth that’s been giving you pain? The x-rays will tell us where it is if it’s impacted or coming in crooked. These powerful x-rays are an integral part of your treatment planning if your smile has a thing or two that needs to be improved. Both you and Dr. Stuntz can immediately review your results together, to see what the black and white of what’s happening with your teeth.
Hygiene
Dental hygiene at Dentistry on the Square is how we keep your smile looking and feeling healthy and clean. Gone are the days of scraping and scratching teeth. We rely on state-of-the-art Cavitron technology. It’s a kind of ultrasonic scaler that makes having your teeth cleaned a more comfortable and efficient experience. The Cavitron is specially designed to use high-frequency sound waves to clean your teeth. Sounds out of this world, right? These special waves vibrate away plaque, tartar, and other stuff stuck on your teeth. The device itself can sound a little screechy, sprays water, and does have a small vibration. Since there’s no need for scraping any more, you’re going to notice that your dental hygiene visit is easy and pain-free. Another added benefit of using the Cavitron for dental hygiene is that the water and ultrasound waves can kill and wipe out bacteria. With the hand instruments of the past, you run the risk of moving bacteria around in your mouth, not getting rid of it. Come and see how cool the Cavitron is. It will change the way you feel about having your teeth cleaned!
Periodontal Therapy
Gum health and your overall health are deeply connected. As science and research progress each year, we’re learning more about how periodontal (gum) disease can lead to more serious overall health complications such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. If you’ve got problems, don’t worry! We have solutions that are highly effective and affordable. At Dentistry on the Square, we offer prescription-strength Prevident treatment. This type of fluoridated toothpaste is used at home, once daily to help give weak, cavity-prone teeth a dose of essential vitamins. It also helps to prevent unwanted, uncomfortable tooth sensitivity.
We might talk to you about Peridex. It’s a prescription-strength mouth rinse that’s used to treat mild cases of gum disease. The active ingredient known as chlorhexidine immediately destroys nasty bacteria and continues to do so even after you rinse it out.
For our more seasoned or geriatric patients in need of periodontal therapy, we teach something called adaptive brushing to help keep you safe from the spread of nasty gum disease.
Fluoride Treatments
Have you ever been at a dental hygiene appointment and wondered if you really need a fluoride treatment? It all depends on if you’re an adult or a child. When we see little ones, we often encourage them to have a fluoride treatment at every visit if the parents say OK!
With adults, it’s a little bit different. You don’t necessarily need a fluoride treatment every time, but there are some cases where it could help. Studies have shown that a professional fluoride treatment has the power to benefit someone who’s a high-risk for cavities. Some prescriptions can make your mouth dry, blocking saliva production. This leaves your teeth at a heightened risk for developing cavities. Extra fluoride protection can help protect your smile.
We use silver diamine fluoride at Dentistry on the Square. It’s applied directly to your teeth and cavities to stop decay in its tracks. This type of fluoride is the first and only dental therapy that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fast-tracked through an approval process. It’s that good!
Mouthguards
When you think about general dentistry in New Oxford, mouthguards probably don’t pop up in your mind first. However, having a custom mouthguard created in our office has many benefits for your smile.
One of the biggest reasons your kiddo might need a mouthguard is for sports. We all know how active and excited kids get on the playing field. From kids to teens, they should wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth. At Dentistry on the Square, our mouthguards go above and beyond the traditional boil-and-bite mouthguards from the sporting goods store. These are expertly customized to fit your smile and last quite a while.
Maybe you choose your bed over the boxing ring, but there’s a good chance you still need a custom mouthguard too. So many people struggle with bruxism or grinding their teeth while they sleep (and not even know it!) We can create a custom night guard that’s comfortable and designed to help dental damage due to grinding.
Anesthesia
It’s no secret that so many people are nervous about seeing the dentist. Sometimes, people will put off seeing the dentist for decades because they’re just too anxious to make it to the dental chair. At Dentistry on the Square, we care about your wellbeing and comfort. From having a major procedure done to more routine dental work, we never want you to feel frightened or anxious. Dr. Stuntz offers oral sedation for nervous patients who need help. You receive a prescription for a mild sedative before your appointment. By the time you’re ready to laugh and learn with us in the dental chair, you’re feeling just fine. Oral sedation is safe and effective. We’re ready to talk about your sedation options whenever you are! Please don’t hesitate to call our office and ask to speak with someone about our oral sedation options for nervous patients. One phone call can change everything you think you know about general dentistry in New Oxford.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is sort of a strange disorder because most people have it and don’t even know it. What patients do know is they have all of these not-so-fun symptoms such as:
- Snoring
- Feeling tired all day even though you had a good night’s rest
- Depressed
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
It’s important to take these things seriously and find out if sleep apnea is affecting your sleep and your life negatively. Dr. Stuntz can provide you with an easy, take-home sleep study. It comes with a device specially designed to measure your heart rate, sleep patterns, and teeth grinding. When we get the results, Dr. Stuntz can refer you to a physician for a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, we can suggest an oral appliance solution such as a SomnoDent sleep oral appliance. This type of visit is generally covered under your medical insurance. We’re happy to accept it, pending insurance approval.
Emergency Care
Dental emergencies happen, and they can be a real pain! Part of what we offer as general dentistry in New Oxford is emergency care. Maybe you’ve got a tooth that’s making you wince with deep nerve pain. Or perhaps you were playing with the kids and took a baseball to your teeth, and one fell out. Whatever happens to you and your smile, we invite you to call us right away. We’ll get you into the office as soon as we can to get you out of pain. We’re going to be there for you every step of the way, by your side. We understand how any emergency can be challenging. That’s why we’ll help you feel comfortable and relaxed, while we find the perfect solution to fix what’s ailing your smile. Remember to call Dentistry on the Square as soon as you have an issue with a tooth or teeth! The sooner you call, the quicker you’ll be out of pain.
