Routine dental cleanings and exams are essential for maintaining optimal oral health. Our skilled hygienists perform thorough cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup, preventing gum disease and cavities. Regular exams allow us to detect early signs of dental issues and provide timely treatment, ensuring your smile stays healthy and beautiful.

Diagnostic x-rays are an integral part of our general dentistry services, providing detailed images of your teeth, jawbone, and surrounding structures. These images help us assess your oral health, detect hidden dental problems, and plan personalized treatment strategies. We use advanced digital x-ray technology for minimal radiation exposure and precise diagnostics.

Fillings restore damaged tooth structure caused by decay or fractures. Our team replaces old amalgam or metal fillings containing mercury with white composite fillings, restoring your teeth and smile to a natural look and feel.

A cavity starts as superficial decay in the enamel. Left untreated, it can penetrate deeper into the tooth, causing extensive damage. When a filling isn’t sufficient, a root canal (endodontic treatment) preserves the tooth’s integrity, preventing extraction.

When teeth lack space or grow in the wrong place, they can become impacted, potentially causing damage and infections. In such cases, extraction may be necessary to prevent further complications. Our advanced equipment and Sedation Dentistry ensure minimal discomfort during extractions.

Caries, or tooth decay, is a preventable disease. While it may not endanger your life, it could negatively impact your quality of life, which is of course something our team wants to help you avoid. When your teeth and gums are consistentley exposed to large amounts of starches and sugars, acids may form that begin to eat away at your teeth’s enamel. Examples of these carbohydrate-rich foods include candy, cookies, soft drinks, and even fruit juices. These foods leave deposits on your teeth which can bond with the bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting.

When the weather changes – so do your teeth. Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature, so hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating nerve endings. Just breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth.

Periodontal, or gum disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss, and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria in the mouth called plaque. Gums in the early stage of disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Some signs of gum disease are consistent bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth, or gums that bleed when brushing. The good news is that gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily brushing and flossing.

Proper oral hygiene, daily dental care and regular dental checkups with our team will help minimize the risk of gum disease. Gum disease can range in severity from mild (gingivitis) to moderate (periodontitis) to the severe (periodontitis). The effects of gum disease can be damaging to your dental health. However, through proper preventive care and oral hygiene, you can avoid problems associated with gum disease.

To ensure your breath always makes the best impression – daily brushing and flossing is a must! Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the buildup of food particles, plaque, and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth will deteriorate and cause bad breath. While certain foods may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem. If you think you may be experiencing these symptoms, give us a call to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. They have a white or gray base and are surrounded by a red border. While they typically last one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents.

A bite that does not meet properly, is called a malocclusion and can be inherited, or acquired. Some causes of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of time, may cause malocclusions.

The “Temporomandibular Joint,” more commonly referred to as the “jaw joint,” assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Although conventional wisdom suggests that “popping” sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a “popping” sound is present when chewing or talking. At Linden Oaks Dental, we offer a TMJ exam that evaluates the joint tissue in the “hinge” of the jaw. Possible problems include swelling, deterioration of the joint tissue or damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth).