At JSA Family Dental Care, we welcome our new patients to our McDonough dental office. Our friendly staff is dedicated to caring for you and your entire family’s oral health and well-being. Our dentist provides a comprehensive new patient exam and consultation to assess your dental health and create a customized treatment plan for you. To understand what to expect from your first visit to our practice, please read through this page. You’ll find all the practical information you need. For more detail, contact us at 770-957-5214.
Dental Exam A clinical exam is more commonly referred to as a routine check up. A new patient exam lets your dentist essentially take inventory of the overall health of your mouth and teeth and diagnose any potential problems you may have.
A. The first thing your dentist will check during the exam is your face and neck. Checking visually, your dentist will look for any abnormalities, such as lumps, bumps or swelling.
B. Checking inside your mouth is next on the agenda. During this part of the check up your dentist will be looking for any abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers on your lips, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks. Your dentist will also perform an oral cancer screening and will check your bite and your jaw joint for any problems.
C. Next your dentist will check your gums and jawbone, as they are the foundation for your teeth. Your dentist will check them for any signs of gingivitis, gum disease and bone disease.
D. Checking your teeth comes next. Your dentist will be checking them for cavities and other problems. Finally, your dentist will be sure to look specifically at any areas where you may have symptoms or concerns.
X-rays In most cases a clinical exam by itself is not sufficient to completely diagnose all potential problems with your mouth. In fact, the majority of problems with your teeth and the jawbone are not visible to the naked eye. That is why x-rays play a key role in allowing a better, and more accurate look at what is really going on inside your mouth and below your teeth and gums. By using x-rays your dentist can check for any bone loss and determine the severity of the gum disease.
In addition to revealing any problems that were not visible during the clinical exam these initial x-rays will also provide your dentist with a benchmark with which to compare against during your future visits.
At JSA Family Dental Care we provide dental crowns and bridges solutions to our patients in McDonough. We create customizes dental crowns and bridges for those patients with missing teeth, fractured, damaged or decayed tooth. Our dental crowns and bridges look and feel like natural tooth. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. No matter how complex your dental condition, we are here to improve your dental health and appearance of your mouth with a dental crown and bridge at our McDonough dental office. Schedule an appointment with us or contact us to discuss your cosmetic goals, perform a comprehensive examination of your dental health to ensure that you receive exactly the care to restore your attractive and natural smile.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is tooth-shaped cap that is permanently cemented over a tooth, in order to restore the tooths strength, shape and size, and improve its appearance. The crown will cover the visible portion of the tooth above and right at the gum line, once it is cemented into place.
Crowns are used to hold weak, broken or cracked teeth together to avoid further fracturing. Crowns are also used to support large fillings, attach a bridge, or cover discolored or deformed teeth. Crowns may also be placed over dental implants.
The dentist usually requires two dental visits to install a crown. First, the dentist needs to prepare the tooth or implant for the crown. The dentist will grind and shape the tooth so that the crown can be fitted over it. Then, the dentist makes an impression of tooth and surrounding gums, which is then sent to a dental laboratory so that the crown can be created. The dentist fits a temporary crown over the tooth, until the permanent crown is ready. During the second visit, dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement the finished permanent crown onto the tooth.
Crowns generally last about five to eight years, and with good oral hygiene most crowns last longer. Certain habits such as fingernail biting, chewing ice, and grinding teeth can do damage to the crown, and should be avoided.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. Dental bridges are fixed, in that they are cemented on the supporting teeth, or in some cases fixed on the dental implant that has been placed next to the missing teeth.
Importance of Replacing the Missing Teeth Replacing the missing teeth will restore your ability to properly chew and speak besides its cosmatic advantage; in addition the space caused by the missing teeth may allow the surrounding teeth to shift into that space. This shifting could cause a misalignment in your bite that can result in problems with your jaw joint. These shifted teeth are harder to clean, making them more susceptible to gum disease, decay or even additional tooth loss.
The Dental Bridge Treatment It normally takes two or more visits for your dentist to complete your bridge. On your first visit the supporting teeth, which are typically the ones on either side of the missing tooth, are prepared. This is done to make room for the crowns that will slide over the supporting teeth. These crowns also serve as holders of the pontic, which is the missing tooth’s replacement.
Next, an impression of the supporting teeth is made so a dental laboratory can custom fit the bridge. Finally a temporary dental bridge is inserted to protect the supporting teeth as well as the space between them.
On your second visit the permanent bridge is placed and adjusted to insure proper fit and function. If the fit of the bridge is satisfactory your dentist will proceed with permanently cementing the bridge into place.
Dental Bridge Post Treatment Expectations After the successful completion of the bridge you may feel some discomfort, mild pain when biting or sensitivity to temperature changes for a few days. As advised by your dentist, you can take over-the-counter pain medicine, such as Advil that contains ibuprofen, to alleviate the discomfort. If these symptoms persist more than a few days, visit your dentist.
Cleaning Your Dental Bridge The longevity of your dental bridge depends in large part on the quality of the material in the bridge, as well as your oral hygiene, diet and the health of the supporting teeth and gums. Please ask your dentist for proper brushing and flossing techniques.
What Is A Cavity?& Why Did You Get One? Cavities, as their name implies, are essentially holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a cavity, as the area surrounding the hole generally looks dark brown or gray.
The main culprits to blame for your cavity are certain types of bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria are contained in plaque and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth. Once the acid succeeds in eroding the enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity. At this point the decay process rapidly speeds up and spreads deeper into the tooth.
Why Do I Need A Filling? A filling is necessary to treat your cavity because if left untreated the decay will eventually grow and will enter into your nerve canal. And yes, this can be as painful as it sounds. It can also lead to more serious problems such as infection or abscess.
A filling may also be needed to replace or repair an old worn down existing filling or to fix a chipped tooth.
In addition to potential pain and discomfort and possible tooth loss, if you wait to have your cavity filled it may end up requiring a more difficult process, such as a root canal, to save your tooth. And it could also cost you a lot more money to fix. The bottom line is you should get your cavity filled as soon as you can.
Composite Fillings
(Tooth-Colored Fillings) Composite is the filling material of choice when it comes to matching your tooth color. Composite fillings consist of plastic and glass particles. They have become the most popular filling materials because they can match your existing tooth color and they also solidly bond or glue to the tooth.
After the decay in your tooth has been cleaned a cleansing gel is applied. Next a bonding solution is applied, finally followed by the composite filling material. Composite is hardened by applying a high intensity blue light. It only takes a few seconds for the materials to harden.
Once the tooth is filled and the composite has hardened, the filling is checked to insure the proper shape and look. At this point any necessary adjustments are made and then your filling is complete.
New Composite Filling Expectations Following the filling procedure it is very common to experience some discomfort, normally at the site of the anesthetic or at the tooth itself. To alleviate the discomfort you can follow your dentist recommendation on taking an over the counter pain medication such as Advil that contains ibuprofen. If your symptoms persist then you should visit your dentist.
In some cases the decay could be quite deep and close to the nerve of the tooth. In these instances the nerve could already be infected with bacteria. Even though a filling has been placed, there is still a good chance that the tooth may need to go under root canal therapy to relieve the discomfort.
Also, composite fillings may change color over time and can sometimes chip away from the tooth.
Looking for professional teeth whitening dentist in McDonough? We are here for providing you the best teeth whitening treatment by our professional cosmetic dentist in McDonough.
A brilliant, attractive smile conveys confidence and vitality. As we age, our teeth naturally darken. One of the most popular ways to enhance your smile and improve your appearance is teeth whitening. Patients can visit the dentist at lunch and leave with a stunning, white smile.
With teeth whitening, we can bleach the enamel to remove discolorations and stains from teeth. Research and clinical studies show that under the supervision of your dentist, chair-side teeth whitening with carbamide peroxide and/or hydrogen peroxide is safe for both teeth and gums. You can choose from in-office whitening, like Zoom!, for an immediate transformation or take-home kits, which will gradually brighten your smile over a few weeks.
Why Teeth Stain
Tooth stains fall into two categories – extrinsic and intrinsic stains. The extrinsic, or external, stains only impact the surface of the teeth. Intrinsic stains are present inside the teeth and are harder to remove than extrinsic stains. Usually, extrinsic stains look yellow or brown, while internal stains are typically gray or blue in color.
You can develop teeth staining from a variety of causes including:
Beverages such as coffee, teas, and colas
Aging
Medication (antibiotic) staining
Trauma
Disease
Genetics
Tobacco
Excessive fluoride
Insufficient oral hygiene
Nerve degeneration
Taking the First Step
During your initial visit, our dentist will examine your teeth and gums. At that time, the doctor will explain the recommendations and discuss your options. If you choose to begin immediately, you can relax and listen to music while we remove stains and transform your smile from blah to brilliant.
If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss your teeth whitening options, contact us today or call our McDonough dental office at 770-957-5214.
FAQs about Teeth Whitening
What are my options for teeth whitening?
With teeth whitening, patients can choose either in-office or at-home whitening. For in-office whitening, such as Zoom!, we cover your lips and gums before applying a thin coating of gel on your teeth. Then the paste is activated with a special ultraviolet light. In one appointment, you can leave with a brilliant new smile.
For at-home whitening, we will take molds of your teeth and supply you with custom molds as well as professional grade whitening solution. Simply apply a thin layer of gel to the trays and wear them as directed each day. Most patients notice a difference in 10 to 14 days, and the full impact will appear at the end of the whitening time period.
Does teeth whitening work?
Professional teeth whitening can safely and effectively remove surface stains and renew your smile. Products like Zoom! Whitening and BriteSmile can lighten your teeth 10 to 12 shades in no time. Good oral hygiene, regular dental visits, and avoidance of products that stain will keep your smile looking fantastic.
What is the difference between professional teeth whitening and the kits I can by from the drug store?
Drug store whitening kits don’t have the strength that professional grade whitening provides, so many times, patients won’t achieve the results they desire. As well, these whitening kits often irritate gums and soft tissue because they aren’t customized to fit your mouth.
What if teeth whitening won’t work?
In some cases, especially where deep intrinsic stains exist, teeth whitening may not be the best option. We will review your case and can recommend other alternatives, like porcelain veneers or cosmetic crowns, if teeth whitening doesn’t fit your situation.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Many dentists consider teeth bleaching the safest cosmetic procedure available today. With careful supervision, you can lighten your teeth up to 10 shades and take years off your appearance.
What about side effects?
Some patients develop mild sensitivity after whitening. Time and toothpaste that alleviates this sensation will help minimize any discomfort you feel.
B. Checking inside your mouth is next on the agenda. During this part of the check up your dentist will be looking for any abnormalities in the soft tissue, such as discolorations or ulcers on your lips, gums, tongue, palate and cheeks. Your dentist will also perform an oral cancer screening and will check your bite and your jaw joint for any problems.
770-957-5214 
E-Mail Us 
JSA Dental Care
