General Dentistry
Overall Care and Health
General dentistry refers to the overall care and health of the teeth, mouth and gums. Dentists are accredited medical professionals who specialize in such care.
The human mouth is not only an integral part of the digestion system, but also plays a very important part in aiding the overall health of the body. Apart from eating, drinking and breathing, the mouth is also the first place symptoms of diseases both of the skin and of the gastrointestinal tract sometimes manifest. Many of these cause pain, and some may even impact you significantly in speech, taste or bite. Even minor lesions, pain in the gums or sores in the mouth can cause distress and irritation. Therefore, regular checkups and adopting good brushing and flossing habits can help you maintain healthy teeth, gums and mouth.
To learn more about our dental care services or to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, contact Marietta Smiles today.
Dental implants require a sufficient amount of bone structure to be successful. The surrounding bone must have enough width and height to stabilize the implant and provide the most effective long-term tooth replacement. Many patients who have lost one or more teeth are told that they are not candidates for dental implants because their jawbone has atrophied or reabsorbed. This can occur over time as a result of gum disease, trauma or previous extractions.
By restoring this loss of bone volume with a bone grafting procedure, patients are able to take advantage of the remarkable benefits of dental implants. At Marietta Smiles, we are proud to serve patients with excellence in implant dentistry, as well as general dentistry. We are qualified and equipped to complete your dental implants from start to finish, including performing bone grafting for patients who need it prior to their implant surgery.
Bone grafting can repair an implant site that was otherwise incapable of supporting a dental implant. Bone grafting is the replacement or augmentation of missing bone around the teeth. There are three types of bone graft procedures: autogenous (using a patient's own bone), allograft (using cadaver bone), and xenograft (non-human bone source). Your type of bone graft will be determined based on your specific needs and preferences.
Dental implants have the ability to look, feel and function most like your natural teeth. If bone loss is preventing you from taking advantage of dental implants, ask about your candidacy for bone grafting. We are happy to explain the procedure in detail and help you make an informed decision about the future of your smile.
To learn more about bone grafting for dental implants, please contact Marietta Smiles today. We believe that every patient deserves a confident smile, regardless of their age or dental history.
Book an AppointmentAt Marietta Smiles, we want to improve every aspect of getting the general dental care you need. Our team utilizes the latest dental technology to give you and your family efficient and comfortable care during your dental appointments. We have invested in CEREC technology to give our patients access to beautiful, protective dental crowns in just one visit to our office. Same day crowns save you time during your tooth repairs and restorations.
What is CEREC?
CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This advanced technology allows our team to design and create new ceramic dental crowns in our office. This improved option is quicker and more comfortable for our patients than the traditional lab-created crowns that many dental offices offer.
Dental crowns are used for tooth repairs, dental implants, dental bridges and other dental restorations. Ceramic crowns designed and milled using CEREC can be color-matched to your smile, creating a natural-appearing covering for your damaged tooth or dental restoration. You can have a durable, beautiful crown made in one day, helping improve your dental experience.
Why Wait? Get Your Crowns in One Visit!
The traditional dental crown procedure can take up to 2-3 weeks and a few visits to the dental office to complete. An impression must be made of the tooth, which can be slightly uncomfortable. The impression is sent to a dental lab; in the meantime, you must be fitted for and wear a temporary crown until the new crown comes back from the lab.
With CEREC, everything to make the new crown can be done in about one hour at our office. The advanced CAD/CAM technology creates a 3D image of your tooth – no impressions are needed. The milling equipment uses the image to create your new crown on the spot. You leave the same day with your new, permanent crown in place.
Marietta Smiles is your source for dental excellence, including same day dental crowns. We accept most dental plans and have convenient payment options. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment.
Book an AppointmentThe health of your smile is vitally important. Not only does the condition of your teeth and gums affect the future of your smile, but it also impacts your overall health. At Marietta Smiles, we understand the strong value of preventative and general dental care. Beyond brushing and flossing on a daily basis, seeing your dentist for a routine teeth cleaning and checkup is critical to your dental health. Our dentists are experienced, gentle and equipped to treat patients of all ages. We use cutting-edge dental technology and a tailored approach to ensure we create the most rewarding and comfortable experience possible.
Comprehensive Dental Exams
We have a friendly and talented team of professionals who provide comprehensive dental checkups by examining your entire mouth for signs of decay, infection, gum disease and oral cancer. By focusing on top quality dental exams, we can help patients avoid the time, cost and pain associated with future dental problems. Your checkup will include a professional dental cleaning, which is the only way to remove hardened plaque and stubborn stains that regular brushing cannot.
At Marietta Smiles, we implement our advanced technology during routine dental exams. Our dentist and hygienists use ultrasonic scalers, laser cavity detection, oral cancer screenings and low-dose radiation digital x-rays to ensure we thoroughly evaluate your smile health with respect to your comfort and time.
If your dental exam reveals an area of concern, you can trust that we can handle it with ease. Our office provides complete restorative, cosmetic and implant dentistry, including crowns, veneers, tooth colored fillings, tooth whitening, TMJ treatment and more.
Routine Checkups & Cleanings for the Whole Family!
Our ability to treat your entire family under one roof is an invaluable advantage for our Marietta patients. We even provide family block appointments for the most convenient service possible. At Marietta Smiles, we consider it a privilege to care for your smile through all stages of life. You will find that we are committed to building long-lasting relationships with our patients. In doing so, we get to know the person behind the smile and take extra measures to earn your trust.
Contact our office today to schedule your dental cleaning and checkup at Marietta Smiles. We welcome new patients with flexible appointment times for your convenience.
Book an AppointmentDo you have a chipped tooth or cracked tooth that needs repair? At Marietta Smiles, we carry deep experience and refined skill when it comes to restorative, cosmetic and general dentistry. Although your teeth were designed to last a lifetime, they are susceptible to damage from time to time. If you have cracked or chipped a tooth by biting down on something too hard or from a mouth-related injury, we want to see you promptly. Left untreated, a cracked tooth can threaten both the aesthetics and health of your smile.
We are a family dental practice that is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art dentistry with a focus on patient comfort. When it comes to cracked tooth repair, we use durable materials that provide the most natural-looking results. Restoring your smile to its optimal function and beauty is our highest priority. To keep you relaxed and at ease during your visit with us, we offer modern patient amenities, and the latest minimally invasive techniques in modern dentistry.
Repairs to Damaged Teeth
Damaged teeth can be repaired a variety of ways, depending on the severity of your damage. Our dentists are often able to use tooth-colored dental bonding to quickly and affordably restore minor tooth damage. If the damage is more extensive or goes beyond enamel repair, we may recommend a dental crown or porcelain veneer. For patients who have tooth damage that has penetrated the tooth center (pulp), a root canal may be needed prior to a crown placement. Rest assured that our office is equipped with the most proven materials and techniques in restorative dentistry. Whether you have a minor chip or deep crack, we can restore your tooth with excellence. At Marietta Smiles, we keep the durability, aesthetics and health of your smile in mind as we repair tooth damage.
Contact Marietta Smiles today to schedule your cracked tooth repair appointment. Our practice offers emergency dentistry and flexible scheduling. To help you afford unexpected dental concerns, we also offer flexible financing plans and accept dental insurance. Don't let a cracked tooth compromise your smile confidence.
Book an AppointmentOften patients with discolored or decaying teeth, aged crowns and bridge work are self-conscious about their appearance. Porcelain crowns are a beautiful, natural-looking general dentistry treatment to bring strength and confidence back to your smile.
A crown or "cap" is used to cover a tooth that has been structurally weakened due to decay, broken down fillings, or trauma. Crowns can be designed with porcelain facings over metal or all-porcelain, depending on biting forces and location of the tooth in the mouth.
Porcelain Dental Crowns
Crown design begins with a thorough examination of the teeth and gums to determine your smile shape, size, symmetry and oral health. To prepare a tooth for a crown, we remove any decay or broken filling material and shape tooth structures to serve as support for the crown. We then take impressions and work with temporary crown materials and shade guides to ensure we achieve your esthetic goals for your smile.
Our doctors then work closely with dental laboratory technicians to fabricate your custom-fitted crown and evaluate the completed crown on appearance, fit, bite and speech before final placement. We also offer CEREC Same Day Crowns so our patients can receive a crown in just one office visit.
Are You Hiding Your Smile?
Take back your smile by filling out an appointment form to schedule your free consultation today and let us help you smile with confidence. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
Book an AppointmentInjury to the teeth can be a frightening experience, regardless of your age. Not only are patients worried about the aesthetics of their smile, but they may also be concerned with the health of their teeth and gums with general dental care.
At Marietta Smiles, we are ready and equipped to help you during a dental emergency. Whether your child has suffered a mouth trauma while playing baseball or you have a sudden toothache that is keeping you from going to work, you can trust our family dental practice for excellence in emergency dentistry. We understand that dental emergencies commonly occur during the most inopportune times. However, neglecting to seek immediate treatment can result in worsening pain and more costly repairs. Our dentists at Marietta Smiles are available to handle your dental emergency with the prompt and personalized attention you deserve. Let us know if you are suffering from one of the following dental concerns:
- Toothache
- Dislodged Tooth
- Broken or Chipped Teeth
- Loss of Filling or Crown
- Abscessed Tooth
Our practice offers a full menu of restorative and cosmetic dentistry to patients of all ages. This means that we can handle all types of dental emergencies for any member of your family. Our emergency dental treatment may include procedures such as a root canal to bring you out of pain from an infected tooth, dental bonding to repair a chipped tooth or dental implants to replace a tooth that needs to be extracted. Although your emergency dental concerns are often unpredictable, the treatment you receive doesn't have to be. Marietta Smiles puts your comfort as a top priority when delivering modern dental care. We use the latest dental technology and offer sedation dentistry (per request) to reduce your discomfort and anxiety.
For an experienced, deeply qualified and caring emergency dentist in Marietta, contact us today. We want to restore your smile the way you deserve.
Book an AppointmentGum disease is an oral health condition that should never be taken lightly. Although its early stages are easily treated, advanced periodontal disease can pose serious threats to your smile and your overall health. Gum disease is not only the leading cause of tooth loss, but it has also been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature birth. At Marietta Smiles, we provide diligent care and treatment for gum disease to help patients avoid these consequences. Practicing good oral hygiene and attending your routine general dentistry treatments are vitally important to prevent gum disease and detect it at its earliest, most treatable stage.
Symptoms and Causes of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, occurs when bacteria in the mouth multiply enough to cause swelling or inflammation in the gums. This marks the beginning stage of gum disease (gingivitis) and may also be accompanied by bleeding gums. Poor oral hygiene can cause plaque to build up and harden into tartar, which eventually damages the soft tissues around the teeth.
While gingivitis is easily reversed, more advanced gum disease can be more difficult to manage. At this point, deep pockets can form and the gums may start to pull away from the teeth. As these pockets get infected, the surrounding bone also becomes at risk for destruction. If periodontitis is not treated, tooth loss can occur. Understanding the signs of gum disease can help you detect gum disease and seek proper treatment before it is too late. Marietta Smiles offers a wide range of gum disease therapies depending on the severity of your condition. We always educate patients on the following gum disease symptoms:
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
Contact Marietta Smiles to learn your specific risk for gum disease. We proudly offer the most proven methods for treating periodontal concerns. Let us restore your smile health today.
Book an AppointmentAre your relationships suffering because of your bad breath? Bad breath, or halitosis, can be an embarrassing problem to deal with on a daily basis. While you may be able to temporarily mask the foul odor with mints or chewing gum, the most effective and long-term halitosis treatment can be found at your dental office. As part of our general dentistry treatments at Marietta Smiles, we proudly offer treatment for halitosis so that you can regain a confident smile and improved quality of life.
Although you may have unpleasant breath in the morning or after eating certain foods, chronic bad breath is a condition that needs to be investigated. Our dentists help patients find the root cause of their bad breath so that an effective remedy can be put in place. In many cases, bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth, especially on the tongue. The back of your tongue can host large quantities of naturally occurring bacteria, which thrive on food particles, dead skin cells and post-nasal drip. Unfortunately, this can result in the formation of foul smelling sulfur compounds. It is possible that your bad breath is due to a certain medical condition or medication you are taking. Dry mouth is also a common culprit to bad breath. At Marietta Smiles, we consider all potential causes for your halitosis and conduct a thorough examination or your mouth before recommending treatment.
Put an End to Chronic Bad Breath
You don't have to live with bad breath. There are a variety of ways we can help at our practice. Your treatment plan may include instructions on proper oral hygiene, a professional dental cleaning, tooth decay repair, gum disease therapy or other methods. If bacteria or plaque accumulation is causing your chronic bad breath, your risk for gum disease and cavities is greatly increased. Therefore, for the sake of both your social confidence and your smile health, we encourage you to seek halitosis treatment sooner rather than later.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment for halitosis treatment in Marietta. We always use a knowledgeable and non-judgmental approach when addressing your oral health concerns.
Book an AppointmentEffective general dental treatment for periodontal disease can save your teeth and protect your overall health. At Marietta Smiles, we take gum disease seriously. We help patients realize that in order for their teeth to last a lifetime, they must also take care of the structures that support them: the gums and surrounding bone. Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can destroy these supporting tissues if it is not treated properly. Therefore, our dental professionals are always diligent to monitor your gum health and detect its earliest signs.
Treatment for Periodontitis
If gum disease is allowed to advance, periodontitis can result. At this stage, the gums have likely developed deep pockets. You may notice that your gums are red, swollen, bleed easily and are receding. Our Marietta practice offers a variety of periodontitis treatment methods, depending on the severity of your gum disease. Treatment can range from a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) or laser gum therapies to more advanced surgical treatments in severe cases. Regardless of what type of treatment you need, you can trust that our dental professionals are equipped to restore your smile to optimal health. We help patients avoid tooth loss whenever possible. However, if you need tooth replacement, we proudly offer the highest standard of care in dental implants.
Gum Infection Therapy
The best way to prevent a gum infection is to practice proper brushing and flossing habits at home to eradicate bacteria and plaque buildup. However, it is important to know that hardened plaque can only be removed with a professional dental cleaning. We are confident that we have the capability to treat your gum infection, but we prefer to help patients avoid dental complications in the first place. We can also explain your individual risk factors for gum disease, such as those that involve specific dietary habits, smoking or family history.
Contact Marietta Smiles today to learn more about our advanced treatment options for periodontitis. We want to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime!
Book an AppointmentWhen the nerve of a tooth becomes infected as a result of dental disease or trauma, our doctors may recommend root canal therapy as a general dentistry treatment. During a root canal procedure, a small opening is made in the crown of the tooth so that the infected nerve and tissues can be removed and the roots of the teeth can be disinfected and sealed. Following a root canal procedure, the tooth is restored with a crown to protect it from breakage.
When a tooth becomes infected, a root canal is usually the recommended procedure to save the tooth, rather than removing it. By having the root canal treatment, the tooth can continue to serve as a vital function to the body by remaining in position and supporting the bone structure and opposing bite forces in the mouth. If the tooth were removed, this function would typically have to be replaced with a "false" tooth via a dental bridge or implant, which are more costly procedures.
In some cases, our doctors may recommend that a root canal specialist, or Endodontist, perform the root canal procedure. We then work closely with the Endodontist to coordinate placement of a dental crown following root canal treatment.
Prevention is the key - don't wait until you have a problem to schedule your dental examination. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation right away.
Book an AppointmentDo you suffer from tension headaches in the morning? Is your jaw or teeth sore upon waking? You may be a candidate for TMD treatment. Marietta Smiles is pleased to offer safe and highly effective general dentistry treatment options for patients who suffer from painful TMJ symptoms. We have a team of skilled dental professionals who carry deep experience in neuromuscular dentistry. We understand the intricate workings of the bones, nerves and muscles that are impacted by your bite and jaw movement.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders refer to a cluster of complex problems of the jaw joint. Patients who have TMJ disorders often experience tension headaches, jaw pain, ear pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears and occasionally neck and shoulder pains. TMD can have a profound impact on a person's quality of life and can eventually pose a threat to your health if not treated properly. Nighttime bruxism (teeth grinding) is also commonly associated with TMJ disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to seek professional help so that the longevity of your smile is protected.
Jaw Pain Relief
If you suspect that you have a TMJ disorder, please schedule a consultation at Marietta Dentistry. We will listen carefully to your symptoms and concerns and perform a thorough evaluation before recommending a treatment plan. Our family practice offers a full menu of TMJ treatments including custom splints or mouthguards, bite adjustments, neuromuscular therapies and orthotics. We are diligent about working with each patient to find the safest, most comfortable and most effective therapy for them.
To learn more about our modern and customized TMJ treatments in Marietta, please contact our office today. We specialize in restoring the form and function of your smile so that you can lead a more comfortable and confident life!
Book an AppointmentIt is our goal to help you preserve your natural teeth for a lifetime. However, there are times when a tooth extraction is needed. If we recommend a tooth extraction at Marietta Smiles, you can trust that it is in order to protect your smile health. Our dentists are gentle and highly experienced when it comes to extracting teeth and other general dental care. We use the latest technique, cutting-edge technology and sedation dentistry to keep you comfortable. When necessary, our practice offers complete implant dentistry, which allows patients to have the most natural and secure tooth replacement option available.
A tooth may need to be removed due to a variety of reasons, including the following:
- Trauma or Disease (when tooth damage is too extensive to repair)
- Orthodontic Treatment Preparation (to alleviate crowding)
- Impacted Wisdom Teeth
- Baby Teeth (to encourage proper eruption of a permanent tooth)
Regardless of the reason, you can rest assured that a tooth extraction is typically a very routine procedure. The complexity of your procedure will depend on the location of the tooth and whether the tooth is impacted or not. At Marietta Smiles, we carefully explain your procedure before we begin and provide detailed post-operative instructions to accelerate healing at home. Our practice is known for providing state-of-the-art dentistry in a stress-free and comfortable environment, and our tooth extractions are no exception.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth represent the third set of molars to erupt. Unfortunately they are not known for their functional necessity and they often cause more harm than good. Wisdom teeth removal is commonly performed in young adults to prevent the high likelihood of complication. Wisdom teeth that erupt sideways, partially erupt or become impacted can cause significant pain and disrupt your smile health and alignment. You can trust that our dental professionals at Marietta Smiles are exceptionally equipped to provide wisdom teeth removal as part of our commitment to address all aspects of your smile, at every stage of life.
If you would like more information on tooth extraction or wisdom teeth removal from a gentle and skilled dentist in Marietta, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We work hard to minimize your discomfort and maximize your smile confidence.
Book an AppointmentGet in Touch
To learn more about our dental care services or to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, contact Marietta Smiles today.