General Dentistry

Dental Cleanings/Checkups

In the absence of gum disease, we recommend a cleaning and checkup every 6 months. Tartar (calculus) may build up on the teeth, which can only be removed by instruments used by your hygienist.

This buildup, which forms when plaque on the teeth combines with components of saliva, provides a collection point for more plaque to accumulate. This can lead to inflamed gums and the initial stages of gum disease, as well as cavities.

At your cleaning appointment, you will have a complete exam to determine the health of the teeth, gums, and surrounding soft tissues and bone. The doctor will also complete an oral cancer screening.

New Patient/Comprehensive Exams

A comprehensive dental examis a major part of preventative dentistry. Also known as a complete dental exam, this type of examination takes longer than a routine check-up. The dentist will examine the patient’s mouth looking for dental issues and will perform an oral cancer screen.

During a comprehensive dental exam, the dentist thoroughly examines each of the patient’s teeth and the surrounding gum tissues. They also note any signs of gum disease, such as gums that bleed easily when touched.

A complete dental examination typically includes diagnostics like X-rays. The dentist uses these images to evaluate the bone structures beneath the gums and the inner layers of the teeth, allowing them to detect issues such as tooth decay or infection.

Emergency Dentistry

When you experience pain or a dental issue that requires urgent attention between check ups, we perform a “Limited, Problem-Focused Exam.” Relieving pain is a top priority.

Sports and Mouth Night Guards

Our Carlisle office can fabricate custom athletic mouth-guards to provide better protection for your teeth by taking an impression for a precise fit.  We also offer various types of protective night guards to shield your teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching while you sleep.

Fillings

We use bonded, tooth colored, composite resin material to repair tooth cavities. If not treated, tooth decay can lead to tooth pain and infection requiring more extensive treatment.

Tooth Extractions

When decay or a fracture severely damages a tooth beyond repair, we may need to extract it. For a simple extraction, we elevate and remove the tooth without affecting the surrounding bone. In more complex cases, we require a surgical extraction, which involves removing a small amount of bone to fully extract the tooth and its roots.

We provide extractions for wisdom teeth, fractured teeth, orthodontal extractions, and pediatric extractions. To determine whether you need an extraction, we may need to take a scan of your mouth. If you’re curious about what that means, check out our page on Digital X-ray and CBCT scans:

Sealants

We use a sealant to fill narrow grooves in a tooth that brushing cannot adequately clean. In some cases, the tooth structure has fine grooves or pits which accumulate plaque, not because the person doesn’t brush, but because they’re too narrow to allow any bristles in between them.

These will develop cavities over time, and you don’t want that. So the dentist will brush on a coating that seals the grooves and pits, making it possible to brush off all the plaque and keep your teeth healthy.

Deep Cleanings

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth – collectively known as the periodontium – form the foundation for one’s teeth. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth.

Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that have pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in.

The procedure usually involves a deep cleaning or root planning done under a local anesthetic. If the gum disease gets too severe, surgery or extraction may need to be used to treat this. Early detection is key to successful treatment.

Bonding

Bonding involves adhering a tooth-colored composite resin material to the remaining tooth structure and can be used to repair the damage done to the tooth by decay, to alter the tooth’s alignment, close gaps between the teeth, or for cosmetic purposes.

First, we roughen the surface of the tooth to enhance bonding. We apply a gel to micro-etch the tooth surface, followed by a primer/bonding agent to ensure the material adheres effectively. Next, we place the material on the tooth and harden it with intense light. Finally, we shape and polish the composite resin to achieve a lustrous finish.

Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

At Des Moines River Dental Care, no patient is too young or too old to be seen. We welcome children from the time that their first baby teeth come in, most commonly around their first birthday. Educating caregivers is the most significant role that we play in a young child’s dental care. Early positive decisions made on behalf of a child can lead to a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Developing trust with children in the dental chair is another key to future successful treatment. If the first interaction with a dentist is when a child has a severe toothache, the chances of that child continuing to have a fear of dentists are much higher.

Dr. Villiard is proud to provide most pediatric dental treatment at the Carlisle clinic.

For more on our approach to your child’s dental care, visit our Pediatric Dentistry page:

Oral Surgery

Oral surgery in dentistry refers to a specialized branch of dental care that involves surgical procedures performed on the mouth, teeth, jaws, and surrounding facial structures. Maxillofacial and oral surgeons typically carry out these procedures, who have extensive training beyond general dentistry, often including medical degrees and hospital-based surgical residencies.

Common oral surgery procedures include tooth extractions (particularly impacted wisdom teeth), dental implant placement, bone grafting, corrective jaw surgery for overbites or underbites, treatment of facial injuries and fractures, removal of oral lesions or tumors, and reconstructive surgery for cleft lips and palates.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting in dentistry is a surgical procedure that involves adding bone or bone-like materials to the jaw to increase its volume and density. This technique is commonly used to address bone loss resulting from periodontal disease, tooth extraction, or trauma, and to prepare the jaw for dental implants.

The process stimulates the growth of new bone, providing a stable foundation for dental restorations and improving overall oral health.

Suturing

Suturing in dentistry is a critical skill that plays a vital role in wound closure and promoting optimal healing after various oral surgical procedures. It involves using specialized needles and thread-like materials to approximate tissue edges, control bleeding, and facilitate primary intention healing.

Geriatric Dentistry

Geriatric dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry focusing on providing oral health care to older adults. It involves the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases.

As the global population ages, geriatric dentistry has become increasingly important in addressing the unique oral health needs of elderly patients.

Geriatric dental care requires a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, as older adults often present with complex medical histories, multiple medications, and age-related physiological changes that can impact oral health.

Comprehensive General Dentistry

Comprehensive General Dentistry is a holistic approach to oral health care that focuses on the overall well-being of patients, considering not just their teeth but also their gums, jaw, facial muscles, and the connection between oral health and general health.

This approach goes beyond treating isolated dental issues and instead aims to provide complete, long-term oral care.