Dental Services
We offer a variety of dental services, from preventive care to restorative treatment.
Check-Ups
A routine dental check-up is a regular visit to the dentist to monitor your oral health. During the check-up, the dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth for signs of cavities, gum disease, or other dental issues. X-rays may be taken to check for problems that aren’t visible during a visual exam. These visits are typically recommended every 6 to 12 months to ensure that any dental problems are caught early and to keep your smile healthy!
Cleanings
A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning of your teeth performed by a dental hygienist. It involves the removal of plaque, tartar (hardened plaque), and stains from the teeth to prevent gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues. The cleaning typically includes scaling (removing plaque and tartar), polishing (to smooth the surface and remove surface stains), and flossing to ensure the teeth and gums are thoroughly cleaned.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. It’s typically used when a tooth is cracked, severely decayed, or after a root canal treatment. Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination. Once placed, it completely covers the tooth, providing protection and restoring its function and appearance.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of two crowns placed on the teeth on either side of the gap (called abutment teeth), with a false tooth (or teeth) in between to fill the space. The bridge is cemented in place to restore the appearance and function of the missing teeth. Bridges can be made from materials like porcelain, ceramic, or metal, and they help prevent neighboring teeth from shifting into the gap.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post or frame that is surgically placed into the jawbone beneath the gums. It acts as a replacement root for a missing tooth. Over time, the bone bonds with the implant, providing a strong and stable foundation for attaching a crown, bridge, or denture to restore the function and appearance of the missing tooth. Dental implants are a popular choice because they look and feel like natural teeth, are durable, and help prevent bone loss in the jaw that can occur after a tooth is lost.
Dental Implants may be used for:
- Difficulty chewing and biting
- Dissatisfaction with smile appearance
- Loose dentures or partials
- Maintaining the position of remaining teeth to prevent over-eruption and shifting
- Bridge retention – providing an option for a fixed dental bridge vs. a removable denture
Children's Dentistry
Our dentist and team members enjoy seeing children in our Tifton family dental practice. It is our pleasure to watch them grow up with a healthy smile!
We are honored to earn the trust of our patients and their families, and we know that we have a very important job in providing dental care for your child. Our goals are to teach them to take care of their smile as well as do our part in helping to prevent dental problems
Key Components:
- Preventive Care: This includes teaching children good brushing and flossing habits, applying fluoride treatments to strengthen teeth, and placing dental sealants on molars to prevent cavities.
- Monitoring Growth and Development: The Dentist keeps track of the growth of teeth, checks for alignment issues, and monitors the eruption of permanent teeth. If necessary, they may recommend orthodontic treatment or other interventions at the appropriate time.
- Cavity Treatment and Fillings: If cavities are detected, a child may need fillings, usually in materials safe for kids, like tooth-colored resin.
- Guidance and Education: The dentist and team provide advice on diet, proper brushing techniques, and habits like thumb-sucking or using a pacifier, which can affect dental development.
- Early Intervention: The dentist can detect and treat early dental problems, such as misalignment or bite issues, before they become more serious as the child matures.
Children’s dental care focuses on building positive habits that will last a lifetime, making visits fun and educational to reduce fear and encourage lifelong oral health practices!
Root Canals
A dental root canal is a procedure used to treat a tooth that has a damaged or infected pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels). When the pulp becomes infected due to deep decay, cracks, or injury, it can cause severe pain, swelling, and even an abscess.
During the root canal treatment:
- The dentist removes the infected pulp from inside the tooth.
- The space is then cleaned, disinfected, and shaped to prepare it for a filling.
- Finally, the empty space is filled with a special material, and the tooth is sealed.
After the root canal, the tooth is often restored with a crown to protect it and restore its function. The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia, so the patient is comfortable throughout, and it helps save the tooth from extraction.
Surgical Tooth Extractions
We know that tooth extractions are not a favorite topic for our patients. At Tifton Family Dentistry, we want each of our patients to enjoy a healthy, vibrant smile for a lifetime.
Our goal is to help you prevent tooth infection and avoid tooth pain whenever possible, however, sometimes our dentist does recommend a tooth be removed.
Common reasons for a tooth extraction are:
- Severe Tooth Decay: When a cavity becomes too large and reaches the tooth’s pulp (the inner nerve), it can cause infection that may not be easily treatable with fillings or root canals. In these cases, extraction may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to nearby teeth or the rest of the body.
- Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease): Advanced gum disease can cause the supporting structures of the teeth (bone and ligaments) to deteriorate. When this damage becomes severe enough, the tooth may become loose and require extraction to prevent further damage to surrounding teeth.
- Trauma or Injury: A tooth that has been severely fractured or damaged due to an accident or trauma may be beyond repair. If the damage is extensive and the tooth cannot be restored through fillings, crowns, or root canals, extraction might be necessary to preserve the health of the surrounding teeth.
- Impacted Teeth: Teeth that fail to emerge properly through the gums, such as wisdom teeth, can become “impacted.” Impacted teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth. In many cases, these teeth are extracted to relieve symptoms and prevent future problems.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that lightens the color of natural teeth to remove stains and discoloration. It is one of the most popular and non-invasive ways to enhance the appearance of your smile.
When is teeth whitening recommended?
- Stained or Discolored Teeth: Caused by coffee, tea, red wine, or certain foods and medications.
- Yellowing Due to Aging: As enamel wears down over time, the yellowish dentin underneath can become more visible.
- Before Cosmetic Work: Whitening may be recommended before getting crowns, veneers, or bonding to ensure color consistency.
- Special Occasions: Such as weddings, job interviews, or public appearances where a brighter smile is desired.
- Improving Your Smile: A whiter smile can make people feel more confident about their appearance and smile more freely.
Cosmetic Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored material (porcelain) that are designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. They are bonded to the tooth to improve its appearance, providing a natural-looking solution for various cosmetic dental concerns. Veneers are an ideal option for patients seeking a way to enhance the color, shape, or alignment of their teeth.
When are veneers recommended?
- Stained or Discolored Teeth:
When teeth are deeply stained and cannot be whitened effectively with traditional whitening treatments, veneers can cover up the discoloration for a bright, uniform appearance. - Chipped Teeth:
Veneers are an excellent option for repairing minor chips or cracks on the front teeth, restoring their appearance without the need for extensive dental work. - Misshapen or Uneven Teeth:
For teeth that are uneven, have irregular shapes, or are slightly worn down, veneers can be designed to create a more symmetrical, aesthetically pleasing smile. - Gaps Between Teeth:
Veneers can be used to close small gaps between teeth, providing a more uniform appearance without the need for braces or other orthodontic treatments. - Minor Misalignment:
If your teeth are slightly crooked but you’re not ready for orthodontics (braces or aligners), veneers can help create the appearance of straight teeth without the need for extensive treatment.