General dental care helps patients maintain their oral health. As a general dentist in Sarasota, FL, Dr. Melvin Benson is dedicated to assisting patients in finding the best solutions to their dental problems. Dr. Benson and his team are highly educated and compassionate. Our goal is to ensure that you have a positive dental experience and that we maintain the health of your teeth over the course of your lifetime.
Dr. Benson provides complete oral health services that serve as a foundation for the long-term stability of your smile. Routine dental care is an integral part of general dentistry. Scheduling biannual dental visits for a dental cleaning, professional evaluation, and digital X-rays can repair tooth and gum health. We also provide comprehensive dental services to our new and existing patients in Sarasota, FL.
Routine Dental Care Is Important For Your Health
Routine dental care is not only key for good oral health, but it is also vital to maintaining your overall health. The goal of general dentistry is to help prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide range of oral health issues. As your primary dental care provider, Dr. Melvin Benson is responsible for helping you keep your oral health in check.
We recommend that you schedule two dentist appointments a year with Dr. Benson. Regular dental visits are how we prevent dental problems and catch them in the early stages.
What to Expect During Each Dentist Appointment
A Complete Dental Exam: Dr. Benson will conduct a full exam to assess your oral health. He will look over your face, neck, lips, and oral tissues to check for signs of swelling, discoloration, or other abnormalities. These signs could mean you have a dental problem that he needs to investigate further.
Screening of All Teeth: Dr. Benson will look at all your teeth. He is looking for signs of tooth decay, dental cavities, cracks, chips, or other issues. He will also assess any dental work you have, like dental fillings or dental crowns. This is make sure they are functioning correctly.
Assessment of your Gums: Dr. Benson will examine your gums for signs of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). Signs of gum disease include redness, swelling, bleeding, or pockets between the teeth and gums. Catching this progressive disease in the early stages is vital to minimizing the damage it causes.
Oral Cancer Screening: An oral cancer screening is a simple procedure to detect early signs of mouth or oral cancer. Dr. Benson will check for signs of oral cancer by examining your tongue, throat, cheeks, and other oral tissues.
X-rays May be Taken: Depending on your oral health history or problems you’re having, we may take X-rays. Dental X-rays help us identify issues not visible during your oral exam, such as cavities between teeth or issues in the jawbone. We prefer to take preventative diagnostic X-rays once a year if your dental insurance allows it.
A Teeth Cleaning: One of our licensed dental hygienists will clean your teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Then they will use a prophylaxis (prophy) paste to polish your teeth. This specially formulated abrasive substance helps remove surface stains, plaque, and minor tartar buildup from the tooth enamel.
Root Canals and Dental Fillings
Root canal therapy is needed when a cavity has reached a tooth’s pulp, causing an infection of the nerve, or when severe trauma has affected the tooth. If the pulp has become infected, it must be treated to avoid further issues since it cannot heal alone.
Some signs that a pulp is infected include sensitivity to hot or cold foods or liquids, pain, swelling, or a bad taste in the mouth. Some patients are unaware of the infection until they are seen by their dentist and have an x-ray taken of the site.
Dr. Benson will remove an infection from the pulp and disinfect the tooth’s canals. Once the area has been disinfected, the canals are filled with a special material to prevent further infections and help heal the tooth. We use the composite filling to fix decayed or fractured teeth.
In one appointment, we can remove the decay, clean the tooth, then fill the tooth to match the existing color. These fillings are aesthetically a great choice and will be unnoticeable among healthy teeth. A core build-up and crown are sometimes necessary to restore a tooth’s function.
General Dentistry in Sarasota, FL
General dentistry services help to preserve your oral health. They also help us ensure that your mouth is healthy and can be used to repair any damages. Learn more about each of the general dental treatments that we offer to repair and maintain oral health:
Custom Mouthguard
Do you play contact sports? It is important to wear a sports mouthguard that feels comfortable and stays in the mouth when playing sports. Sports mouthguards prevent dental damage, tooth loss, and damage to orthodontic appliances. To learn more about our sports mouthguards, see Custom Mouthguards.
Emergency Dentistry
If you have a dental emergency, contact our office for immediate care. We can address multiple dental emergencies, including tooth pain, knocked-out permanent teeth, and broken restorations in-office. Promptly addressing emergency dental problems can prevent further oral health problems and complications. To learn more about what to do in the event of a dental emergency, see Emergency Dentistry.
Family Dentistry
As a family-friendly dental office, we see children and adults who require dental care. Sealants and fluoride are important aspects of regular dental care that we offer for children to strengthen their teeth as they grow. Our restorative and cosmetic treatments can also benefit our patients as they encounter dental problems over time. To learn more about our family dentistry services, see Family Dentistry.
Sedation Dentistry
Dental sedation helps keep patients comfortable and relaxed during their dental procedures. Sedation dentistry also benefits patients with dental fear or anxiety who require dental care. If you or a loved one have a fear of the dentist, loud noises, or dental care, contact us so we can accommodate you for your next visit and review your sedation options. To learn more about our dental sedation options, see Sedation Dentistry.
Tooth Extraction
Sometimes patients may need a dental extraction to remove decayed and damaged teeth. If we cannot save a tooth with root canal treatment, we will recommend an extraction. Our team ensures that patients feel comfortable with local anesthesia and/or dental sedation during tooth extractions. To learn more about dental extractions, see Tooth Extraction.
Request a Routine Dentist Appointment in Sarasota, FL
Has it been some time since your last dental visit? Contact our office today at [new_patient_phone_span. You can also request an appointment with our team online. If you have any developing or current dental concerns, please let us know, and we will plan an examination. We’re here to help solve your oral health problems.