GENERAL DENTISTRY

Preventive dental care is the foundation of good oral health throughout your life.

O’Fallon Dental Works offers comprehensive general dentistry services for our patients, including:

Cleanings
Checkups
Digital X-Rays

Periodontal Checks
Oral Cancer Screening
Dental Fillings

Extractions
Root Canals
Dental Sealants

Taking care of your overall health begins with taking care of your oral health. Our expert dental team is here to help you and your family establish dental routines and habits that help you maintain the highest oral health. We offer a variety of general and preventive care services.

Preventative Dental Care

Preventative dental care is all about identifying dental problems early before they become more serious dental health issues. Preventative dentistry also ensures an opportunity to educate patients on proper brushing and flossing techniques to maintain good oral health between checkups. Through preventative care, dentists are able to catch problems early, such as cavities, gingivitis, enamel loss and periodontitis and offer treatments that are less invasive and less painful.

At home, you may notice your gums bleeding when you brush or floss. A common finding at your 6 month check-up is inflamed or swollen gums, also known as gingivitis. Did you know that gingivitis is reversible? Find out how to reverse gingivitis at your 6 month check-up with O’Fallon Dental Works.

The Benefits of Preventative Dental Care

Everyone benefits from preventative care especially children and teenagers. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments help prevent decay in growing children. As an adult, preventative dental care helps you keep your natural teeth, avoid extractions and more invasive procedures. Other benefits of preventative care dentistry include:

Regular communication with your dentist about any problems, such as tooth sensitivity, that you are experiencing
Lowers your risk of developing cavities and gum disease
Identify dental problems early to minimize treatment
Obtain referrals to other dental specialists, if needed

Preteens and teens can be referred to orthodontists at the right time
Utilizing preventative measures, such as dental sealants, to help children avoid cavities
Preserve your teeth for a lifetime

Oral Hygiene and Teeth Cleaning

Great dental health starts with excellent preventative care. For optimal dental health, it is important to maintain a twice daily oral hygiene routine performed at home. Regular brushing and flossing will help make your annual visits a breeze. Home oral hygiene care directly contributes to your overall oral health and preventative care can decrease the need for more invasive and extensive dental procedures in the future.

YOUR 6 MONTH CHECK-UP

Your 6 month dental check-ups are a vital part of preventative dentistry. Oftentimes, we can catch problems early before they become bigger problems. At these appointments, we will:

Get an updated health history to include any new medications or medication changes that have been made by your regular doctor
Take digital x-rays as needed
Perform a thorough cleaning
Apply fluoride treatment, if needed
Check teeth for decay or demineralization
Review proper oral hygiene skills for brushing and flossing
Educate children and parents on the importance of good oral health
Apply dental sealants, if needed

During your cleaning, our dental hygienist will remove (soft) plaque and (hard) tartar deposits from your teeth which can cause decay. Your teeth will then be polished and flossed and the dentist will come in to examine your mouth. At O’Fallon Dental Works, we want to take this opportunity to address any questions or concerns you may have and discuss any treatment options that you may need.

ORAL CARE RECOMMENDATIONS

Oral Care Recommendations

In accordance with the American Dental Association, O’Fallon Dental Works offers the following general recommendations to reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease:

Brush teeth two times a day with fluoride toothpaste
Clean between teeth every day with floss or an interdental cleaning tool
Change toothbrush every 3 months
Choose healthy foods while limiting sugary drinks and snacks
See a dentist regularly for routine cleaning, x-rays and examinations to identify and treat any oral health problems early

At O’Fallon Dental Works, we treat our patients like family. We listen to our patient’s concerns and work together to help you achieve your best oral health.

At O’Fallon Dental Works, we treat our patients like family. We listen to our patients’ concerns and work together to help you achieve your best oral health. Below you’ll find more information on other common preventative care procedures we offer:

DENTAL SEALANTS

Dental Sealants

O’Fallon Dental Works is pleased to offer our young patients dental sealants to help fight tooth decay. A dental sealant is a thin, protective, clear coating that is painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars) to protect them from decay. Sealants are extremely helpful in preventing cavities in children and teenagers for up to 2 – 4 years.

How Do Sealants Work?

Dental sealants are painted onto the chewing surface of the teeth and quickly bond into the deep grooves on the surface acting as a protective shield over the enamel of each sealed tooth. The sealant provides a barrier for the teeth from acids caused by plaque and food.

Am I a Candidate for Sealants?

Children and teenagers are ideal candidates for sealants. As children grow, they slowly develop the dexterity required to thoroughly clean the back teeth. Dental sealants are an ideal preventive treatment option to protect the most vulnerable areas in the mouth from decay.

Benefits of Dental Sealants

There are many benefits of this preventive treatment measure including:

Easy to apply in one appointment
Lasts several years before reapplication is needed
Helps prevent tooth decay especially in the deep grooves on the surface of teeth
More affordable and less invasive to prevent cavities than to treat irreversible tooth decay
Offers children an added layer of protection giving them time to develop the home care skills to thoroughly clean teeth

How are Sealants Applied?

At O’Fallon Dental Works, we like to offer dental sealants after a routine cleaning and checkup, when teeth have been thoroughly cleaned of all plaque. The process is quick and painless. The application process is as follows:

Teeth are thoroughly cleaned
Teeth to be sealed are dried
Acid solution is put on chewing surfaces to slightly roughen the surface, which helps the sealant adhere to the teeth
Teeth are rinsed and dried
Sealant is painted onto the tooth enamel and a special light is used to help cure the sealant

If you are interested in learning more about dental sealants and how they can benefit your child or teenager, contact O’Fallon Dental Works today at (636) 272-5015.

COMPOSITE FILLINGS

Composite Fillings

O’Fallon Dental Works is pleased to offer high-quality, durable composite fillings for a highly functional and more natural appearance.

Tooth decay is a common dental problem affecting millions of Americans annually. The treatment for tooth decay is a filling. There are several options for filling material, but the most common choice is composite fillings.

Composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings, are a popular choice for patients wanting to maintain a natural look. The composite material is matched to the natural color of your teeth, making composite fillings virtually undetectable. Composite material is durable and long-lasting. Composite fillings may also be used for chipped or broken teeth and filling gaps between teeth.

Composite fillings are bonded to the tooth on a microscopic level. At O’Fallon Dental Works, we can help you determine if a composite filling is the right treatment option for you. We consider the following factors when deciding which type of filling is the best option:

Medical history
Location of the cavity
Esthetic needs
Biting force
Durability
Cost
Number of visits necessary
Your personal preference

Benefits of Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are strong and made of high-quality material, which is able to withstand the repeated stress of chewing. Tooth-colored fillings offer a cosmetic upgrade while maintaining the strength and integrity of your tooth. The tooth-colored filling is applied in layers allowing the dentist to preserve more of your natural, healthy tooth. Additional benefits include:

Does not require as much drilling (usually)
Composite resin fillings may decrease tooth sensitivity
Mercury-free
Bonds directly to your tooth

Durability of Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are highly durable and long-lasting. They are made of a resin material that is strong and functional. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure while helping to prevent breakage.

At O’Fallon Dental Works, we always take into account what our patients want. We offer dental treatments that are conservative and functional without making you sacrifice the beauty of your smile. If you want to learn more about mercury-free, tooth-colored fillings, call O’Fallon Dental Works today at (636) 272-5015.

EXTRACTIONS

Extractions

O’Fallon Dental Works is dedicated to our patient’s optimal oral health. We emphasize preventive dentistry as the gold standard for good oral health. Occasionally, and even with excellent preventive care, patients may require a tooth extraction.

An extraction is a dental procedure performed to remove a tooth from your mouth. Although extractions are rarely preferred, they are sometimes necessary under certain conditions. Extractions are usually required for the following reasons:

Irreparable decay. When a tooth becomes too decayed to repair, an extraction is usually necessary. This is often the case if there is not enough tooth material to support a restorative procedure, such as a crown. Infection can spread into the surrounding bone of the tooth and
Dental infections. A tooth can become infected or abscessed. An infected tooth that is too extensively damaged for restoration must be removed. Infection can spread into the surrounding bone of the tooth making the extraction a more complex case.
Trauma. A tooth can become extremely damaged by trauma from an accident or a blow to the mouth. If a resulting dental crack extends through the roots of a tooth, the tooth may need to be removed.
Crowding. Usually identified in orthodontic patients, the mouth can be too small to accommodate the larger permanent teeth Occasionally, one of your teeth may need to be extracted—especially if braces are needed.

What can you expect during an extraction?

There are two types of dental extractions: simple and surgical. Here is what you can expect from each.

Simple Extraction. If the entire crown of your tooth is intact and fully exposed, your dentist will likely prescribe a simple extraction. During a simple extraction, your mouth is numbed and the tooth is loosened then pulled from your mouth using forceps.
Surgical Extraction. During a surgical extraction, a small incision is made in the gums to remove the tooth. This may be performed when a tooth is impacted or has a significantly damaged crown.

Most extractions are straightforward and only take a few minutes. At O’Fallon Dental Works, your comfort is very important to us. We will ensure that you are comfortable and relaxed for all of your dental procedures and we will provide you with the appropriate home care instructions following your procedure.

Care After Tooth Extractions

After you have a tooth extracted, it is important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Immediately after the extraction of a tooth, you will be asked to bite firmly on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes. You may have to repeat this if the area is still bleeding. After a blood clot forms, it is important to protect the clot for about 24 hours. O’Fallon Dental Works suggests the following ways to protect the blood clot:

Take it easy after an extraction, no sports or high energy activities
Do not drink through a straw
Do not rinse your mouth out vigorously
Do not clean teeth next to extraction area
Use ice on the outside of your face to help reduce pain and swelling

The day following the extraction (after 24 hours) you may begin to gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day. Gently rinsing your mouth will keep the extraction site clear of food debris. After 24 hours you may begin to resume your normal oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing.

If you have any questions or concerns about tooth extraction or after a tooth extraction, please don’t hesitate to call us at (636) 272-5015. Your comfort and healing are very important to us.

ROOT CANALS

Root Canal

A root canal is a treatment offered to patients who have a tooth that is infected, badly decayed or has been damaged by trauma and has died. The root canal is a procedure that aims to save the natural tooth by removing the nerve and pulp inside the tooth and sealing the tooth so that it can remain in place and function as normal. A root canal procedure usually requires more than one visit to complete. While many people can keep their natural tooth after a root canal, it is possible that you may need a restoration, such as a crown, to finish off the procedure.

Am I a Candidate for Root Canal Therapy?

If you have a tooth that is discolored from an injury or severe pain in a tooth, chances are you may need a root canal. A root canal aims to salvage your natural tooth, by clearing away the infection and thus reducing your pain. It is important to see your dentist as soon as possible if you have:

Moderate to severe tooth or jaw pain
Swelling around a tooth
Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold
Visible tooth injury
Swelling of any kind in the face, gums or mouth

An infected tooth needs to be treated right away to keep the infection from spreading to other parts of the mouth such as the bone. Clearing the infection with root canal therapy will ease the pain and help save your natural tooth. If your tooth is cracked or severely chipped, you may need a crown restoration to complete the root canal treatment.

What to Expect During Root Canal Therapy

Historically, root canal treatment has been touted as a painful or scary dental procedure. However, performing a root canal on a tooth that has died due to injury is not painful as the nerve is no longer functioning. An infected tooth is painful and the infection may spread to other parts of your mouth. In this case, a root canal will relieve the pain of the infection and prevent it from damaging the surrounding healthy teeth and bone. O’Fallon Dental Works lists the steps involved in performing a root canal so that you can know what to expect during treatment.

Numb the tooth so that there is no pain during the procedure
Dental shield is placed to isolate the tooth keeping it dry and clean
Opening is made in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp which contains the nerves and blood vessels
Fluid, or sometimes medication is used to kill bacteria and wash out any infection or debris inside the tooth
Using small instruments, the pulp is removed and the canals are shaped and cleaned
The canals are then filled with a rubber like substance that prevents bacteria or fluid from entering the tooth through the roots
A temporary filling is placed to leave access for the tooth to drain any remaining infection
A permanent filling is placed in the crown of the tooth to seal it

Root canal treatment is a highly successful and long lasting procedure that allows patients to save their natural teeth. If you have questions about root canal therapy, call O’Fallon Dental Works today at (636) 272-5015.