General Dentistry
General Dentistry in South Bend, IN
At Elite Dental of South Bend, our dental professionals offer a wide range of services to patients of all ages, including general dentistry. General dentistry services include routine and preventive care for your teeth, gums, and other oral structures. Our team provides diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental and oral health conditions, helping you maintain the function and beauty of your smile at all life stages. Call now to schedule an appointment for general dentistry in South Bend, IN.
Benefits of Routine General Dentistry Services
Routine dental care can help you prevent emergencies, lower your oral healthcare costs, and protect your overall health. Some of the other benefits of staying up to date with general dental care include:
- Early detection of diseases like gum disease, tooth decay, dental cavities, infections, and oral cancer
- Prevention of tooth stains, damage, decay, and loss, as well as gum recession
- Personalized guidance in improving oral and overall health, treating bad breath, and avoiding future dental problems
Our General and Family Dentistry Services
We provide routine, preventive, and emergency dental care to patients of all ages. Our general and family dentistry services include pediatric dentistry, teen dental care, adult dental services, and dental care for seniors:
- Comprehensive dental exam
- Professional teeth cleaning and preventive treatments
- Digital dental x-rays and imaging
- Periodontal disease treatment
- Gum therapy
- Oral cancer screenings
What Happens During a Dental Checkup?
A typical dental checkup includes an exam, dental cleaning, and a discussion of your oral hygiene routine, lifestyle, and future treatment. At least once a year, you will also have dental x-rays taken as well as preventive treatments and screenings, like oral cancer screening. A routine exam may take around 45-60 minutes and include:
- A review of your dental and medical history and lifestyle
- A visual examination of your teeth, mouth, and jaw
- A professional dental cleaning to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria
- An assessment of your risk for tooth decay, dental cavities, gum disease, and other issues
- Treatment of any existing issues
- Discussion of your oral hygiene routine and future treatment needs
- Personalized guidance on improving your oral and overall health
How Often Should You Visit a General Dentist?
You should visit your dentist every six months for a routine checkup, comprehensive examination, and professional teeth cleaning. Doing so allows us to catch early warning signs of problems that could get more uncomfortable, dangerous, and expensive over time.
Signs You Should Schedule a Dental Exam
While you should make a dental appointment every six months or twice per year, you may need to visit more often if you are at risk of oral health issues, or make an emergency dental appointment if you see signs of a problem, like:
- Tender, inflamed, discolored, or bleeding gums
- New or worsening sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
- Chronic or worsening bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Tooth staining or discoloration
- A tooth that is gray, black, or has holes or pitting
- Persistent or recurring tooth pain, or tooth or jaw pain when eating or putting pressure on the tooth
- Chronic dry mouth
- A pimple or cyst on your gum tissue
- A cracked, chipped, broken, or damaged tooth
Why Choose Elite Dental of South Bend for General Dentistry
Elite Dental of South Bend has been providing general and family dentistry to our community for over 30 years. We prioritize patient comfort, personalized care and guidance, and modern preventive, curative, and emergency dental care. We have built a loyal following due to our commitment to providing gentle, comfortable services in a welcoming environment, making it easy for young patients and those with dental anxiety to get the treatment they need. Our comprehensive suite of dental services improves the health of patients of all ages, and we offer cosmetic and restorative dentistry to enhance smiles and replace damaged and missing teeth.
Call Now to Schedule a Dental Exam and Teeth Cleaning
If you can’t remember when you last visited the dentist or are experiencing tooth pain or other symptoms, we can help. Call us now or reach out to us online to schedule a dental exam and teeth cleaning in South Bend, IN. Our compassionate, friendly team of dental professionals will offer personalized dental care and oral health guidance in our modern, state-of-the-art dental clinic.
FAQs About General Dental Care
A general dentist is your primary oral healthcare provider. They provide services that improve your overall oral and dental health, including diagnosing, treating, preventing, and managing your teeth, gums, and other oral structures. They provide services like exams, teeth cleanings, oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, dental fillings, root canals, and more.
A general dentist provides routine, preventive care and treatments as well as some oral surgery, cosmetic dental services, and restorative dentistry. A specialist has added education, training, and experience in a more focused, complex area like oral and facial surgery, orthodontics, periodontal disease, endodontics, or pediatric dental care.
We offer after-hours and same-day appointments for dental emergencies. Call us right away, and we will ask you about your symptoms and either have you come in and see us or direct you to the closest emergency room.