Our general dental services help you maintain your tooth and gum health. Visiting us for routine care helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and tooth infections. We also offer treatments to address common dental health issues. Dr. David Lee is a highly trained general dentist in Chapel Hill, NC. He believes that great dental care starts with prevention, education, and trust.
At Tarheel Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Lee takes a personalized and comprehensive approach to dentistry. He looks at your teeth, gums, bite, and overall oral health to create a treatment plan that fits your needs and goals.
General Dentistry in Chapel Hill, NC
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that everyone visit the dentist twice a year, beginning with the eruption of a baby’s first primary teeth. Routine dental care supports your long-term dental health by providing the opportunity to treat developing dental problems early with conservative options.
Our team takes the time during these visits to get to know you as an individual, understand your concerns, and identify oral health risk factors specific to you and your overall health. We strive to offer dental care that addresses your needs, concerns, and goals and takes into consideration any lifestyle or medically related factors that could impact the health or stability of your smile.
We offer various general dental services to maintain your oral health for a lifetime of smile confidence.
Dental Fillings
Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems people experience. When decay damages a tooth, it creates a small hole called a cavity. Dental fillings can repair these cavities and stop the decay from getting worse.
At our office, we use white, tooth-colored fillings that blend in with your natural smile. These fillings seal the cavity, restore the strength of the tooth, and allow you to bite and chew comfortably again.
Emergency Dentistry
A dental emergency can happen to anyone at any time. If you think you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call our office immediately. Emergencies include severe pain, a cracked tooth, a broken dental restoration, or a knocked-out tooth.
Custom Mouthguards
Custom mouthguards are the ideal tool to protect your teeth when you’re playing contact sports. Our mouthguards conform to your teeth, making them comfortable to wear while you’re in the game. You don’t have the distraction of clenching your teeth to keep the mouthguard in your mouth. We create custom sports mouthguards for kids and adults.
Pediatric Dentistry
Our dentists have specialized training to provide pediatric dentistry. Children need a calm and positive demeanor to connect with a dentist and get assurance.
Some procedures are also harder to perform on smaller teeth. We ensure a positive dental experience for children of all ages. Our office offers sealants, fluoride treatment, and more dental treatments for kids.
Root Canal
When an infection is very deep in your tooth, it impacts the dental pulp in the center. The pulp is made of blood vessels and nerves that feel pain when you get an infection. A root canal removes infected dental pulp from inside the tooth.
Then we clean out the area and replace it with a biocompatible material. While many patients fear a root canal, this treatment can relieve toothaches.
Periodontal Therapy
Gum disease is a common oral health problem that people may not even know they have. As this progresses, it becomes a harmful infection that causes bleeding gums, gum recession, and other serious dental problems. Periodontal therapy is essential to treat the disease before the effects worsen.
Tooth Extractions
Our office believes in conservative dentistry, which means we always try to save your natural teeth whenever possible. The tooth root plays an important role in keeping your jawbone strong, so removing a tooth is never our first choice.
But sometimes an extraction is the healthiest option. We may recommend removing a badly damaged, severely decayed, infected, or overcrowded tooth. Taking out a problem tooth can help protect your surrounding teeth and support your long-term oral health. Dr. Lee also ensures you get comfortable tooth extraction treatment and numbs your mouth before treatment.
The Importance of Preventative Dental Care
Preventative dental care lays the groundwork for a healthy mouth. It requires consistent effort both at home and during regular dental visits.
Brushing and flossing every day is important, but it isn’t enough on its own. Some areas of your mouth are hard to reach with a toothbrush or floss. Without professional cleaning, plaque and tartar can build up in these spots, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. Regular dental visits ensure these hidden areas get the attention they need.
What Happens During a Preventive Visit
A preventive dental visit is more than just a cleaning. Dr. Lee will perform a detailed exam to check for early signs of problems. He’ll look for signs of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer.
Our team will also take dental X-rays to see problems we can’t see with a visual exam. Our professional cleanings also remove leftover food and harmful bacteria that can be hard to reach at home.
Early Detection Leads to Better Outcomes
Finding dental problems early makes treatment simpler, faster, and less costly. Gum disease, cavities, and even oral cancer often start without pain or noticeable symptoms. By catching them early, your dentist can prevent complications, preserve your teeth, and reduce discomfort. The sooner an issue is treated, the better the results.
Preventive Care Protects Your Overall Health
Your oral health affects more than just your smile. Bacteria from your mouth can enter the bloodstream and impact your overall health. Poor dental care has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, and complications during pregnancy. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy helps protect your whole body.
Schedule an Appointment
Keep you and your family in good oral health. Call Tarheel Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for general dentistry services in Chapel Hill, NC, today at (919) 551-8847. You can also schedule an appointment with us online.
