At Halliburton Family Dentistry, Dr. Denise Halliburton takes a personalized approach to help her patients maintain their oral health. During routine exams, Dr. Halliburton can diagnose dental problems and create personalized treatment plans. She consults with her patients to understand their specific needs. She also takes the time to review treatment options during a dental consultation.
General dentistry is a service that maintains your healthy smile. Early detection of issues and treatment helps prevent future oral health problems. Addressing dental fear, dental emergencies, or infections head-on stops them from worsening. All of these reasons are why you should visit us biannually for routine dental appointments.
General Dentistry in Ellicott City, MD
Our general dental services help prevent future oral health problems.
Dental Sealants
A dental sealant is a layer of resin that Dr. Halliburton can place on the surface of your back molars. The protective barrier will help prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants are available for adults who are cavity-prone, and for children when their permanent teeth erupt.
Custom Mouthguard
Do you play contact sports like lacrosse, soccer, basketball, or football? Then you need a custom sports mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums. Sports mouthguards prevent athletes from needing cosmetic and restorative care for chipped, broken, or even lost teeth.
Compared to store-bought mouthguards, our custom mouthguards make it easier to speak and drink. Our mouthguards also stay firmly in your mouth, so you don’t have to clench your jaw to keep them in.
Emergency Dentistry
We are here for our patients that need prompt treatment with Emergency dental care. Severe toothaches, excessive bleeding, broken dental restorations, and knocked-out permanent teeth are dental emergencies that we treat. Do not try to fix your dental emergency on your own! We will help you get professional care to immediately treat your dental problem in our Ellicott City dental office.
Family Dentistry
As a family dental office, we serve patients of all ages. We help parents maintain their child’s teeth and offer restorative and cosmetic treatments for patients as they grow older. Learning how to care for your child’s primary teeth can prevent problems prevalent among children. Cavities and tooth decay are just a few issues we can quickly fix.
Tooth Extraction
Patients with severely infected, overcrowded, or impacted teeth may need a tooth extraction. Dentists can conduct two types of tooth extractions: simple and complex. We always ensure that patients feel comfortable, whether they need a quick extraction or a complex procedure. Our goal is to provide comfortable and effective oral health treatments.
Why is Preventative Care Important?
Preventative care is the basis of general dentistry and your oral health. And it has to take place both in the dentist office and when you’re at home, too. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once daily.
We believe in patient education at our office. We’ll help you with the best techniques and recommend particular products if we think they’ll be beneficial to you. If your smile is more susceptible to things like gum disease, we’ll make sure you know the best toothpaste and mouthwash to use.
But you still need to visit the dentist every six months, even with the most diligent care at home. Your toothbrush can’t reach every nook and cranny in your mouth. We use specialized dental tools whose whole purpose is to get into these hard-to-reach areas.
Without these dental cleanings, plaque and tartar begins to build up in these areas. This puts you at a higher risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
At the office, we perform a thorough oral exam as well. Many oral health problems like oral cancer and gum disease have early symptoms that aren’t painful, so you might not notice them. We can spot these early signs so we can flag them before they become more serious issues. With x-rays and other diagnostic tools, we can see exactly how your mouth has changed since your last visit.
Age-Specific Dental Care
As a family dentist in Ellicott City, MD, we provide dental care for all ages. We recognize that the most prominent problems in some age groups won’t be the most prominent in others. For example, young children are at a higher risk of tooth decay than adults. Kids have sugary diets and aren’t as adept at brushing and flossing.
We recommend dental sealants for an extra layer of protection against bacteria. We apply sealants on the most cavity-prone areas to add a protective layer to the teeth.
In the late teens and early twenties, wisdom teeth develop. They make the mouth cramped and can cause crooked teeth if they erupt. Wisdom teeth can also cause pain and infection if they stay impacted under the surface.
We almost always recommend extraction for the benefit of your oral health. Invisalign can help straighten out cramped or crooked teeth. We’ll create a personalized treatment plan to get your smile straight again.
As we age, the years take their toll on our smiles, just like on the rest of our bodies. Seniors’ teeth are more worn down, can break and chip, and go missing. Fortunately, our restorative dentistry services can take years off your smile.
Dental crowns fix wear, tear, and breaks. We have multiple solutions to replace missing teeth as well. Usually, we recommend dental implants as the best option to replace your missing teeth.
Diet and Oral Health
Your diet plays a big part in maintaining a healthy smile. Some foods contain crucial nutrients, while others have harmful impacts.
Things Your Smile Needs
It is important to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in our diets. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals essential for healthy teeth and gums. They also help stimulate the production of saliva, the body’s natural defense against tooth decay. Saliva helps neutralize acids in the mouth and wash away food particles and bacteria that can cause plaque buildup.
Calcium-rich foods are another important component of a healthy diet for good oral health. Calcium is crucial for building and maintaining strong teeth and bones. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium, as are leafy green vegetables, almonds, and tofu. Including these foods in our diet can help strengthen our teeth and prevent tooth decay.
Whole grains are also important for oral health, as they provide essential nutrients and help keep the gums healthy. They are also fiber-rich, which can help reduce inflammation in the gums and prevent gum disease. Foods such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, and oatmeal are good choices for promoting oral health.
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is important to maintain good oral health. Water helps wash away food particles and bacteria that can lead to plaque buildup and tooth decay. It also helps hydrate the mouth and stimulate saliva production, which can help protect the teeth against acids and bacteria.
Things to Avoid
One of the main culprits in poor oral health is sugary foods and drinks. Sugary snacks and beverages can feed the harmful bacteria in our mouths, leading to the production of acids that can erode tooth enamel and cause cavities. To protect your teeth from decay, it is best to limit the consumption of sugary treats like candy, soda, and pastries.
Acidic foods and drinks are another category to be cautious of regarding oral health. Foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vinegar can wear down tooth enamel over time, making teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity. It is important to enjoy these foods in moderation and rinse your mouth with water after consuming them to help neutralize the acids.
Sticky and chewy foods can also cause problems for your oral health. Foods like caramel, gummy candies, and dried fruits can easily get stuck between your teeth and promote the growth of harmful bacteria. These foods can also be difficult to remove with just brushing and flossing, so it is best to avoid them whenever possible.
Crunchy and hard foods can be damaging to your teeth as well. Foods like popcorn kernels, ice cubes, and hard candies can chip or break your teeth if you bite down on them too hard. It is best to be cautious when eating these foods and avoid biting on extremely hard objects to prevent dental emergencies.
Alcoholic beverages can also have a negative impact on your oral health. Alcohol can dry your mouth and reduce saliva production, which is important for washing away food particles and neutralizing acids. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to an increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer. It is important to drink alcohol in moderation and stay hydrated with water to protect your oral health.
Lastly, acidic and sugary drinks like sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit juices can be harmful to teeth. If consumed frequently, these beverages can erode tooth enamel and lead to cavities. Drinking water throughout the day is best to stay hydrated and protect your teeth from the damaging effects of acidic and sugary drinks.
General Dentistry FAQs
Read answers to questions about general dental services.
When should I schedule my child’s first dental visit?
We recommend that parents bring their children to the dentist after their first tooth erupts and before their first birthday. Early dental care can prevent oral health problems like cavities later on.
Are tooth extractions painful?
Patients may feel some swelling or soreness following their tooth extraction. But we provide pain medication and ice packs for a quick recovery. Ultimately, tooth extractions alleviate pain caused by impacted and infected teeth.
Can sports mouthguards help treat teeth grinding?
No, we do not recommend sports mouthguards for bruxism, or teeth grinding. We can provide night guards for bruxism, which often occurs as a result of TMJ disorders. Sports mouthguards consist of a different plastic with a larger thickness. They cannot efficiently treat the bite and jaw problems that accompany teeth grinding.
Get Dental Care Today
Contact Halliburton Family Dentistry today at 443-232-0656. You may also request a dental appointment with Dr. Halliburton and her team on our website. We serve patients in Howard County, MD, including Ellicott City, Columbia, and Elkridge. Please let our team know if you have questions about your general dental care.