General Dentistry Services & Procedures in Alpharetta

Biannual teeth cleanings performed by a skilled dental hygienist at our Alpharetta office provide the first defense in preventative dental care, keeping your teeth and gums in great condition. During cleanings, one of our hygienists, each of which is experienced in general dentistry, will gently remove plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, polish them and then floss to test the condition of your gums.

After your cleaning, your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. In addition to a visual assessment, he or she will check your current restorations, examine your X-rays and screen for early signs of gum disease and oral cancer.

An important aspect of preventative dental care is assessing your oral health through the use of X-rays. At Stonewalk Family Dentistry, we utilize advanced digital X-rays, which are faster, more comfortable and emit less radiation than conventional X-rays. Using small, comfortable sensors rather than sharp pieces of X-ray film, these digital X-rays transmit the images directly to our computer screen in minutes.

To help us examine your entire mouth during your general dentistry appointment, we can also perform panoramic digital X-rays. The full view provided by this procedure allows our dentists to see any possible tumors or abscesses and is especially helpful during routine oral cancer screenings, as well as during complex full-mouth restorations and orthodontic treatment planning.

Patients who experience chronic migraines or tension headaches may be suffering from involuntary teeth grinding (bruxism) during sleep. During your general dentistry appointment, we can address these issues and provide you with a custom-fitted nightguard that will prevent your muscles from contracting at night, allowing your jaw to relax and your painful symptoms to subside.

If you’re an athlete, we can also provide you with a custom-fitted athletic mouthguard, a vital preventative dental care tool that will protect your teeth, gums, lips and cheeks from sports-related injuries.

If your jaw aches when you open wide or chew something tough, you could be suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly referred to as TMD or TMJ. TMD is a jaw disorder that causes frequent pain in the teeth and jaw, as well as chronic headaches, earaches, tooth sensitivity and persistent jaw clicking or locking.

During your general dentistry visit at our practice, our team will determine the cause of your TMD pain by taking X-rays and performing a thorough examination of your bite, jaw joint and facial muscles. Depending on the cause, we’ll then develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

When it comes to oral cancer, early detection is key. Routine preventative dental care and oral cancer screenings are an effective way to discover oral cancer at an early, highly-curable stage.

After performing a thorough visual examination of your gums and other soft tissues, our team will use a high-tech oral cancer screening device to detect lesions before they cause any pain or other symptoms. In addition, our advanced digital X-rays will aid in the detection of oral cancer by enabling our skilled dentists to detect tumors and other problems associated with the jaw.