At Des Moines River Dental, we offer comprehensive general dentistry services to help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile at every stage of life. Using modern technology and a patient-centered approach, we focus on early detection and education to prevent potential issues and ensure long-term oral health. Whether you’re visiting for a check-up or more involved treatment, our friendly team is committed to making every experience comfortable and stress-free.
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
At your first visit as a new patient, we perform a comprehensive exam—unless you’re coming in for a specific concern, in which case we’ll conduct a “Limited, Problem-Focused Exam.” We always recommend a comprehensive exam to address all potential issues effectively. Treating only one tooth or area can create a domino effect, leading to more serious conditions that a full exam could have prevented.
Emergency Dentistry
We typically take a “Limited, Problem-Focused Exam” approach when you experience pain or encounter an issue that requires attention between your checkups. When in pain, we clearly want to address that concern before anything else. Damage to front teeth can also lead to very critical aesthetic concerns. We address these concerns at a limited exam in order to get that presentable smile back intact as quickly as possible.
Fillings
After removing the decay, we restore the damaged tooth structure with new materials, filling the space left behind—hence the term “filling.” In most cases, we use bonded, tooth-colored composite resin for a natural look and lasting durability. If caught early enough, we can handle cavities quickly and painlessly. If not treated, decay can lead to tooth pain and/or infection, and the tooth would need root canal treatment or extraction.
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.
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 just as a bad foundation would threaten a house’s stability. 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. If you’re having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it immediately. 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. It is essential to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.
Mouth-Guards/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.
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
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’s gentle touch and soft-spoken nature allow him to help children overcome their fear most often. He is proud to be able to complete most of the treatment that children need right here at his clinic.
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.
Sports Mouth Guards
Sports mouth guards are essential protective devices in dentistry designed to reduce the risk of dental and orofacial injuries during athletic activities. These custom-fitted or over-the-counter appliances cover the teeth and gums, providing a cushioning effect that absorbs and disperses the force of impacts to the mouth area. The American Dental Association strongly recommends the use of mouth guards for a wide range of sports, including contact sports like football and hockey, as well as non-contact activities such as gymnastics and skateboarding.