Award Winning General Dentistry in Leesburg, VA

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Choose Us For Your General Dentistry Needs

It’s no secret the patients across the nation tend to be a little bit intimidated by going to the dental office. Visiting the dentist isn’t necessarily at the top of anyone’s to-do list. In fact, there are many patients who avoid visiting the dentist because they’re nervous or stressed about what the dentist may find. However, healthcare organizations and dentists alike recommend all patients visit their dentist every six months.

A dental professional is slightly different than a standard healthcare provider. You tend to visit the healthcare provider when you are already sick and in need of treatment, whereas you visit the dentist in order to prevent diseases or the spread of bacteria. It is estimated that nearly 65% of nearly all dental procedures are done to prevent larger issues from arising.

If you visit the dentist twice a year, you are less likely to contract any bacterial infections or disease as opposed to someone who doesn’t visit the dentist as often. Many patients believe they are brushing and flossing their teeth to a high standard, and so they do not visit the dentist as often as they should. However, many patients do not know that the health of your teeth and gums can actually be genetic. In many cases, unfortunately, patients can still get cavities or gum disease no matter how hard they try to clean, simply because of their genetic makeup. If you are someone who has cavities more often than not, you may be part of the group of patients who needs to visit the dentist often, no matter how much you brush!

Make Your Trips To The Dentist More Frequent For Better Results

A good rule of thumb that has developed over the years among dentists and health organizations alike is to visit the dentist every six months for preventative care. In between the six months, if you notice or have any concerns about your oral health involving your teeth and gums or jaw, you should then visit your dentist between this time. If you’re wondering what exactly constitutes as being a dental concern, a good tip to follow is if you have a toothache that lasts a few days you should visit the dentist. If you have gums that continue to bleed from more than a few hours, or if you feel any sort of soreness or pain in your jawbone then these may be concerns that should be checked out by a dental professional.

If you’re looking to get any sort of dental cosmetic procedure, this is separate from an oral health appointment as this is only geared towards aesthetic issues. A cosmetic procedure can be anywhere from one appointment or many appointments that may be scattered throughout a few months; your dental professional will recommend your next appointment between the scheduled appointments in order to ensure the progression of your cosmetic procedure.

There are many different branches of dentistry, some that may constitute as general dentists, cosmetic dentists or oral surgeons. All of these types of dentists have gotten an education in general dentistry first; then from there, some may have continued to get an education in either cosmetic dentistry or gone to additional years of school for oral surgeon practices. When the dentist says you should visit their dental office every six months, this typically means visit a general dentist. Unless you are in need of cosmetic procedures or a drastic surgery treatment, you will not need to visit anything other than the general dentist.

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3 Expectations at Your Trip To Your General Dentist

Dentists that specialize in cosmetics or surgery spend their days much different than those of general dentists. However, general dentists provide their patients with a variety of services that are 100% focused on bettering your oral health. The list below will give you an idea of what exactly a general dentist does and how they spend their days.

Oral Health Prevention Services:

As mentioned above, General dentists focus on preventative services. Your dental professional will always ensure and assist in maintaining good oral health in your mouth. By visiting the dentist every six months, a regular exam and a standard cleaning can help prevent any gum disease or bacterial infections in the mouth. In addition to these treatments, dentists also use x-rays as a form of diagnostic way to catch any issues that may be missed with the naked eye. In addition to a deep clean, x-rays, and a thorough examination your dentist will also educate you and the help you to improve your oral hygiene by providing tips for at-home preventative treatments.

Post Treatments:

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to prevent an oral issue, I cavity may just persist. When an issue is found your dentist will do his or her best to ensure, every patient gets a timely treatment. Some of the restorative services that a general dentist provides is a root canal procedure. A root canal procedure is done by removing tooth decay, repairing a broken or chipped tooth, an extraction, and much more. If you have a dental issue that requires a more complicated treatment, your dentist will recommend you to a specialist that can better assist in your treatment. Dental implants and orthodontics, for example, are typically done by specialists and the dental field.

Cosmetic Dentistry:

A general dentist typically only deals with the health of your teeth and gums. A cosmetic dentist, however, their specialty is based off of the aesthetics and functionality of your teeth. If you’re looking to get a cosmetic dental procedure, your general dentist will likely recommend you to a specialist who has more experience in that specific cosmetic procedure. However, some general dentists do have experience in standard cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, and sometimes even porcelain veneers. If your unaware if your general dentist performs the specific cosmetic procedure you are wanting, be sure to ask the dental office if that procedure can be done in that office. If not, it will be beneficial to find a dentist who is a bit more cosmetic based to take care of the cosmetic treatment you want.

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Meet Dr. Tracey Nguyen

Dr. Tracey Nguyen received her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Magna cum laude, at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Nguyen is trained in all phases of implant dentistry, and has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry. She is also a manuscript/review editor for the Academy of General Dentistry.

We are located in Leesburg, VA but proudly serve Lansdowne, Reston, Broadlands, Ashburn, Sterling, and all neighboring communities.