General Dentistry in Fredericksburg and Stafford, VA

At Southpoint Quality Dental, we take every measure to ensure that you are treated with the most professional care available in a warm and safe environment. Dr. Swanson and his team offer general dentistry in Fredericksburg and Stafford, VA, providing dental care and support for patients of all ages. Our emphasis is on total preventive care for our patients, which starts with regular hygiene visits, check-ups and continued home oral health routines. For patients who require more specialized care, we offer the highest-quality services for restoring mouths that have been damaged by dental disease, injury and common problems that require cosmetic dentistry. In addition to sedation dentistry, Invisalign, snoring/sleep apnea therapy and TMJ relief, we offer the following general dental treatments.

Our emphasis is on total preventive care for our patients, which starts with regular hygiene visits, check-ups and continued home oral health routines. For patients who require more specialized care, we offer the highest-quality services for restoring mouths that have been damaged by dental disease, injury and common problems that require cosmetic dentistry. In addition to sedation dentistry, Invisalign, snoring/sleep apnea therapy and TMJ relief, we offer the following general dental treatments.

Fillings

The concept of a “filling” is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. We will replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings that contain traces of mercury with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel. Fillings are used to correct the following conditions:

If you currently have silver or mercury fillings and are unsatisfied with their appearance, Southpoint Quality Dental can help. With today’s advancements, you no longer have to suffer the embarrassment of unsightly silver/mercury fillings or metal crown margins of the past. We can eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain materials.

Root Canals

This can usually be completed in 1 appointment, with little or no discomfort during, or after the procedure.

A root canal is a procedure that extracts decayed pulp from the central part of the tooth, reshapes the canal and replaces it with strengthening filler.

A cavity is the result of superficial decay of the enamel of the tooth. Left long enough, this decay can burrow into the deeper reaches of the tooth, causing extensive damage to tooth structure. When the damage goes beyond what can be treated with a filling, dentists can perform a root canal (or endodontics), preserving the tooth and retaining its original integrity; thereby, saving a tooth that in the past would have to have been pulled.

This Procedure Involves:

The Patient Undergoes Anesthesia
A Dental Dam Is Used To Isolate The Tooth
The Tooth Is Opened To Allow For Removal Of Infected Or Dead Dental Pulp
The Tooth Is Comprehensively Cleaned, Including Any Cracks And Canals
With Special Tools, The Doctor Reshapes The Canals
The Tooth Is Filled Again With Cutting Edge Biocompatible Filling Material
A Temporary Covering Is Used To Cover The Access Opening
Patients Must See Their Regular Dentist Quickly For A Permanent Restoration Of The Tooth

Tooth Extractions

General Extractions

An Extraction Is The Complete Removal Of A Tooth. Extractions Are Sometimes Necessary If:

A Primary Tooth Is Preventing The Normal Eruption Of A Permanent Tooth
The Tooth Has Suffered Extensive Tooth Decay Or Trauma That Cannot Be Repaired
The Patient Has Gum Disease
The Tooth Is Impacted (usually The Wisdom Teeth)
There Is No Space For The Tooth, It Must Be Removed For Orthodontic Treatment

Depending on the complexity of the case, an extraction can be performed surgically or non-surgically. Dr. Swanson always uses a mild anesthesia to ensure you or your child is as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, or your third molars, usually appear in the late teens or early twenties. These molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction. When any tooth lacks the space to come through or simply develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise. Primarily, damage to adjacent teeth and crowding occur.

In certain cases, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.
To potentially stave off this result, an extraction of one, several or all of the wisdom teeth may be advised. If that is the case, Southpoint Quality Dental has the equipment and training needed to perform such extractions, with an absolute minimum of discomfort on your part. Please contact our office for more information regarding tooth extractions if you feel you may need one.

Crowns & Bridges

Crowns

A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, and with advanced materials, and techniques in our onsite lab, are more durable and beautiful than ever.

An Extraction Is The Complete Removal Of A Tooth. Extractions Are Sometimes Necessary If:

Numbing The Tooth To Remove The Decay In Or Around It
Re-sculpturing The Tooth To Provide An Ideal Fit For The Crown
Making An Impression Of Your Teeth In Order To Create A Custom-made Crown (usually Takes One To Two Weeks)
Making A Temporary Crown Out Of Acrylic Resin And Fitting It Onto The Tooth During The Interim Period When The Permanent Custom-made Crown Is Being Created
Applying The Permanent Crown (when Received From The Lab) By Removing The Temporary Crown And Fitting The Permanent One Onto The Tooth
After Ensuring That The Crown Has The Proper Look And Fit, The Dentist Cements It Into Place

This process generally consists of a minimum of two visits over a one to two-week period. Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.

Bridges

A Bridge Is A Dental Device That Fills A Space That A Tooth Previously Occupied. A Bridge May Be Necessary To Prevent:

There Are Three Main Types Of Bridges, Namely:

A fixed bridge is the most popular and consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two crowns, which fit over the existing teeth and hold the bridge in place.
The “Maryland” bridge is commonly used to replace missing front teeth and consists of a filler that is attached to metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth. The metal bands consist of a white-colored composite resin that matches existing tooth color.
The cantilever bridge is often used when there are teeth on only one side of the span. A typical three-unit cantilever bridge consists of two crowned teeth positioned next to each other on the same side of the missing tooth space. The filler tooth is then connected to the two crowned teeth, which extend into the missing tooth space or end.

At Southpoint Quality Dental, it is our primary goal to help our patients of all ages achieve and maintain their optimum oral health. If you are a resident of Stafford or Fredericksburg, VA or one of the surrounding areas of Spotsylvania County, Massaponax, Falmouth or Fawn Lake, VA and are interested in the services that we offer, please feel free to contact our office and we will be happy to answer any questions that you might have or schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!