Kennesaw General Dentistry

General dental care is important to start early – we start seeing little ones at three – to acclimate your child to dentistry, keep an eye on developing teeth and jaws, and protect them from the damage that modern life and diets start inflicting on even the littlest teeth.

But this kind of care is important to keep up as your child progresses into the teen years… and it is important for you as well! Our adult general care keeps teeth bright and protected and gums clear of the bacteria that can lead to all kinds of whole-body issues such as inflammation, heart disease, and even certain cancers. We will also keep an eye out for the first signs of oral cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers today. Our team will diagnose jaw and bite problems commonly linked to migraines and tooth damage.

Of course, we offer sedation dentistry for anyone who feels nervous because of dental anxiety, has difficulty sitting comfortably, or has a strong gag reflex. We want you to be comfortable in mind, body, and spirit while you are with us. You are, after all, part of our smile family and that makes you a VIP in our eyes!

Comprehensive Exams

Dental exams let us monitor what is going on in your mouth. We start with a comprehensive dental examination to discover foundational problems and create a baseline from which we can assess your health in the future. We screen for wear and changes in your tooth structure, measure your gum tissue, check for the tiniest signs of oral cancer, look for indications of TMJ disorder, and inspect your bite. In short, we evaluate every aspect of your mouth – tooth, tissue, and bone structure – to make sure everything is functioning as it should. If we find problems, we will discuss your options in detail with you and come up with a plan of attack to get you healthy and smiling in no time.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are as important as any other cancer screenings you have done, in fact, maybe more! Mouth cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers today and some studies suggest that oral cancer is the tenth most common cancer today. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 45,000 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer each year. The screening is quick and easy and can be completed when you come in for your regular cleanings. We check your mouth, your throat, and your lips. We will look for abnormalities in texture, small sores, or other irregularities. Because we know your mouth so well, we are able to catch the earliest signs – before you may notice any symptoms yourself. Early detection is key and regular checkups can help detect any potential issues.

X-Rays

X-rays allow us to see everything that is happening under the surface. We use digital x-rays for clear, easy-to-read imaging with lower radiation exposure. Panoramic x-rays allow us to get a full picture of your entire head and neck. They’re also useful in aiding with the diagnosis of TMJ disorder or other jaw problems, and can help us discover bone degeneration. We even use the DIAGNOdent to help us find the most minuscule signs of cavities – cavities that even x-rays might miss! Our technology is here to keep you healthy and smiling for years to come.

Hygiene

Clean teeth are happy teeth. We all know that. But did you know that cleanings are important to your gums – and your whole body – as well? When teeth aren’t kept properly clean with regular, professional hygiene visits, plaque and tartar can build up and cause infection in your gums. And since your gums are a direct pathway to your bloodstream, that infection can wreak havoc on your entire body leading to anything from inflammation and malaise to serious heart disease, strokes, diabetic complications, pregnancy issues, and even certain cancers. But even if you don’t want to think about those scary possibilities, do it for the fresh clean feeling you leave with! That is something you can enjoy and feel good about right away!

We use both the Cavitron and the Titan ultrasonic scaler for the ultimate clean with superior comfort. We think you are worth it!

Periodontal Therapy

Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? Better get an appointment scheduled to see us! Any bleeding is abnormal and could be a sign of periodontal disease. You wouldn’t brush it off if your fingertips bled when you washed your hands, would you? Even if you don’t have bleeding, redness, swollen or receding gums, or any other symptoms your gums could still be infected. Periodontal disease, more commonly referred to as gum disease, can be present without any noticeable symptoms. It’s why we measure your gum pockets at every checkup! We have mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: Gum disease doesn’t just affect your gums. It has an effect on your entire body and can lead to all kinds of health problems. Study after study proves it. But don’t worry, if we find the early signs of gum disease we can stop it in its tracks and even reverse it. We will deep clean your teeth and below your gums, and then apply Arestin, a topical antibiotic that stays in your gum pockets for 21 days of constant treatment and healing, or another antibiotic therapy. Your gums – and the rest of you – will be healthy and feeling great in no time.

Fluoride Treatments

Kids need fluoride! Those young teeth are under constant attack from acids, plaque bacteria, and sugars in the mouth, but so are yours! Fluoride helps remineralize everyone’s teeth and protect them from the hazards of the modern diet. Fluoride can also help reverse early decay. That’s why we suggest that kids have a fluoride treatment at every visit to keep their teeth strong, and that adults have treatments as needed for the very same reason. Your teeth will thank you for it!

Mouthguards

We know, we know. We talk a lot about protecting teeth around here. But when you care as much about keeping teeth healthy and bright as much as we do, it’s hard not to! Mouthguards are one of the many ways we go out of our way to offer our patient’s smiles – young and old alike – protection and safety.

For the active family, we offer sports mouthguards. These mouthguards help cushion blows that could cause broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face, or jaw. But that’s not all: Custom-made sportsguards, like the ones we offer here at Hester Dental, can also reduce the incidence and severity of concussions. And you can relax knowing that your child is more likely to actually wear his guard – unlike over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards. Our guards are created just for your child so it fits well, feels more comfortable, and stays out of her pocket and on her smile where it belongs.

We also offer bruxism guards, sometimes referred to as nightguards, for our adult patients. These guards keep you from damaging your teeth and valuable restorations when you are stressed or sleeping. Sound mysterious? Many people clench or grind their teeth (also known as bruxism) in their sleep or in moments of stress without ever realizing it! If we see signs of bruxism such as enamel wear, shortening of teeth, cracks, or even broken crowns, we will suggest that you wear one of our custom-made devices that cover your teeth and keep them safe – even if it is just from yourself.

Anesthesia

We never want you to feel nervous or uncomfortable when you are with us. That’s why we offer nitrous oxide anesthesia to help you relax. Nitrous oxide is our dental sedation of choice because it is super gentle, can be used on almost anyone, takes effect immediately, and is easily reversed with the administration of a little bit of oxygen. That means you don’t need to bring a driver and your child will feel like himself very quickly after any procedure. We use nitrous oxide dental anesthesia to help calm frightened patients, ease discomfort for those who can’t sit still for long periods, support those with a strong gag reflex, and offer relief to patients who have a hard time getting numb. Call today and see if dental anesthesia might help you or someone you love get the dentistry you need.

TMJ Treatment

That nagging headache. The snap-crackle-pop in your jaw. The pain and stiffness in your neck. Believe it or not, they could be originating from the same thing – your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Often chronic headaches, combined with jaw noise and upper body pain, originate in TMJ dysfunction — an impairment caused by disharmony between your jaw joint and your teeth. We can help by using a bite splint to bring your teeth and jaw back into balance. Splints are similar in look and function to traditional mouthguards, and patients are often amazed at the huge amount of relief they provide. If you have chronic headaches or upper body pain, please give us a call and find out if our TMJ treatment can help.

Emergency Care

Life happens – and sometimes what happens is an actual emergency. When one of those emergencies involve your smile, it can be especially distressing. We are here for you. Call us and let us know the exact nature of the emergency and we will either get you in for an emergency appointment or direct you to the emergency room. We want to hold your hand and make everything all better when we can. You are part of our smile family, after all!

This is general dentistry the whole family will love!
Give us a call today and discover care that really keeps you smiling.