Family Dental Care in Bartow, Florida
At our office, you and your family will feel right at home. We treat generations of families, from grandma and grandpa all the way on down the line to the newest grand-baby. We are a family-owned and operated dental practice with two generations of dentists, and are also veteran-owned. We see patients of all ages and have the unique skills and experience necessary to serve the needs of everyone from infants to the elderly.
CALL US: (863) 533-0955 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
General Dentistry for Families and Individuals
When it comes to maintaining your overall dental health, there is nothing so important as getting back to the basics. Things like brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and keeping up with your routine dental cleaning visits and checkups help your teeth to stay healthy and strong.
Why Do I Need Preventive Dental Care?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say, and preventive dentistry is the first line of defense against things like tooth decay and gum disease. Our prevention services can help you achieve and maintain lasting oral health by identifying potential threats and treating them before they become a problem. We can also help you by providing advice and feedback regarding your daily oral hygiene habits to help you do the little things at home that make all the difference to the long-term health of your teeth and gums.
Dental Cleanings & Oral Hygiene Matter
Perhaps you sometimes feel tempted to just skip your regular dental visits. Maybe you think routine dental checkups and cleanings are just for kids who eat too many sticky snacks. No matter the condition your smile is in, you do need to visit your dentist on a regular basis. It is during these cleanings and checkups that we have our best opportunity to identify potential problems before they become serious and to treat them effectively.
During a routine cleaning visit, one of our friendly hygienists will clean your teeth, removing accumulated plaque and tartar from around and between the teeth, as well as below the gum line where you can’t see it and where it can lead to decay or gum disease.
Gingivitis affects most adults, yet many are unaware that they have it. When allowed to progress untreated, the gum disease gingivitis develops into the more severe disease periodontitis. When this occurs, you may experience a receding gum-line, as well as the loss of teeth or jawbone tissue.
Gum disease can also potentially exacerbate other seemingly unrelated health conditions such as diabetes, rheumatism, stroke, and heart disease. For these reasons, it is crucial to keep up your daily oral hygiene as well as your routine dental office visits.
Top 10 Best Daily Oral Hygiene Habits
Now that we understand why daily oral hygiene habits are so important, let’s look at some practical tips that can help you maximize your oral health with your daily routine:
- Brush before bed – Brushing before bed helps remove accumulated germs and plaque that may give bacteria time to breed during the night.
- Brush thoroughly – Brushing your teeth isn’t just a formality. It’s very important that you take your time and remove all the plaque you can, getting into each area of your mouth.
- Clean your tongue – One often-neglected area of oral hygiene is your tongue. Your tongue can harbor bacteria which can eventually lead to bad breath and other health problems.
- Use fluoride toothpaste – Fluoride remains one of the most effective lines of defense against cavities and tooth decay.
- Floss daily – Many people who are very faithful to brushing their teeth neglect to floss because it seems inconvenient or unimportant. Flossing is just as important as brushing for removing plaque where the brush can't reach!
- Consider flossing tools – If flossing with dental floss is difficult for you, consider using other dental tools like water flossers and picks to remove debris and plaque from around and between your teeth.
- Try mouth wash – Mouth wash can help reach bacteria in hard-to-reach places and alleviate bad breath. Different types are available for sensitive teeth, children, and other special cases.
- Stay hydrated – Water isn’t just good for your health; it's also great for your mouth as well. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your mouth clean and remove food residue from your teeth after each meal. Remember, we’re recommending pure water, not sticky sodas and fruit juices or staining coffee and tea!
- Eat less sugar – This may seem obvious, but sugar is one of the biggest contributing factors to tooth decay, thanks to the way it converts to acid in your mouth and feeds the bacteria that produce plaque.
- Avoid acidic foods – Certain foods and drinks like tea, coffee, and acidic fruit juices can wear down or stain the enamel of your teeth. Less exposure means healthier teeth overall!
Senior Dentistry
Maintaining your oral health as you get older is important, as the health of your mouth can often impact the health of your entire body in profound ways. Neglecting your dental health can take a serious toll on your body. Studies have linked gum disease to many health conditions experienced by seniors, ranging from diabetes to rheumatism, stroke, and heart disease.
It can often be tempting to skip your routine dental checkups, especially if you have already had some or all of your natural teeth replaced by implants, bridges, or dentures. However, you can still experience decay or gum disease, even in these cases. You might experience pain, difficulty sleeping, or a diminished ability to enjoy your favorite foods or activities if you don’t take proper care of your teeth and dental restorations.
We have the expertise and experience necessary to help you deal with the unique challenges of maintaining your oral health in your senior years. Our friendly and accommodating staff are happy to answer any questions you may have as well as addressing your oral health needs.
Dental Restorations for the Whole Family
If you find yourself in a situation where your teeth require restorative treatment, you can count on us to help you with a wide variety of treatment options. We can discuss the available options with you and help you make a confident, well-informed decision on which treatment is right for your individual needs. Whether you need a crown, implant, bridge, veneer, or other treatment, we are here to help!
Why Would I Need Dental Restoration?
There are many reasons why you might need dental restorative treatment. Dental restorations can:
- Fill in unsightly gaps between teeth
- Prevent the loss of a tooth
- Improve your smile
- Restore your normal eating and chewing abilities
- Repair damaged or decayed teeth
- Relieve dental pain
- Improve or correct an improper bite
- Replace outdated or unappealing dental treatments
- Replace missing teeth
Fillings, Crowns, and Bridges
Although these types of restorations are common dental procedures, it is still important to get them done right the first time. Our Bartow family dental team has over 30 years of experience in providing high-quality restorative services in a comfortable and pleasant environment.
Fillings: Traditionally gold, silver or other metals were used to replace small areas of decay. Today more people prefer the advanced biocompatible, white composites that provide strength and durability and are also very natural looking. We offer fillings with your choice of the traditional or new filling material and the information and expertise to help you determine which one will best fit your needs and your budget.
Crowns: Also known as dental caps, these strong prosthetics are used to cover a damaged tooth and restore its form and function. We offer crowns made of gold, resin, ceramic, porcelain, and zirconia for damage that can not be repaired with fillings or other restorations.
Bridges: If you have one missing tooth, a dental bridge can fill the gap and restore chewing and bite function. The teeth on either side of the gap are topped with crowns with an abutment tooth suspended between them. Bridges can prevent other teeth from shifting into the gap and help maintain your facial structure. They can be made from the same variety of materials as crowns and custom-designed to restore one tooth or several in a row.
Dentures and Partial Dentures
Dentures differ from other restorations in that they are removable. Partial or complete dentures are the treatment of choice if you are missing many or all of the teeth on either the upper or lower arch. Our team has the skill and experience to help you determine what type of denture will fit your needs and provide the most benefits.
Dentures Can Provide:
- Improved ability to eat the foods you love
- Confidence in your smile
- Support of facial structures
- Improved speech
Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliance Therapy in Bartow
If you suffer from sleep apnea or bruxism, we can provide the right dental appliance for your needs. We offer mouthguards that are custom designed to protect your teeth from clenching or grinding while you sleep, or from injuries that can occur during sports activities. Mouthguards for sleep apnea or snoring work by pulling your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open and stop the vibrations of soft tissue. If you have a sleep disorder or play active sports, we can provide a mouthguard that fits your needs.
Quality Dental Care, From Our Family to Yours
If you live in Mulberry, Bartow, Lakeland, Lake Wales, Winter Haven, FL, or anywhere in Polk County, FL, our office can help your family achieve the healthy smiles they deserve. Contact us to schedule an appointment so that we can determine the appropriate services for all your dental needs.
CALL US: (863) 533-0955 REQUEST APPOINTMENT