General Dentistry in Gig Harbor, WA | Oceanspray Dental Health

General Dentistry

At Oceanspray Dental Health, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive general dentistry services to the Gig Harbor community and surrounding areas. Our mission is to provide patients of all ages with individualized, compassionate care that addresses their individual oral health needs.

Understanding General Dentistry with Oceanspray Dental Health in Gig Harbor, WA

General dentistry serves as the foundation of oral health care, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of dental conditions. As a trusted Gig Harbor family dentist, we emphasize the importance of regular dental check-ups and preventive measures to maintain optimal oral health.

The Role of a Gig Harbor Family Dentist

A family dentist plays a crucial role in managing the dental health of individuals at every stage of life. From children's first dental visits to the unique needs of seniors, our team is equipped to provide age-appropriate care in Gig Harbor, WA. We understand that each patient has specific concerns and requirements, and we strive to address them with sensitivity and expertise.

Preventive Care in Gig Harbor, WA: The Cornerstone of General Dentistry

Preventive care is central to our approach at Oceanspray Dental Health. Regular dental examinations and cleanings are essential in detecting potential issues before they develop into more serious problems. As a leading Gig Harbor family dentist, we educate our patients on effective oral hygiene practices and the importance of routine visits to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Personalized Treatment Plans
We recognize that no two patients are alike. Our general dentistry services are tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient. Whether addressing a specific dental concern or developing a comprehensive oral health plan, we consider several factors. These factors includes medical history, lifestyle, and personal preferences to ensure the best possible outcomes.
A Comfortable and Caring Environment at Oceanspray Dental Health in Gig Harbor, WA
At Oceanspray Dental Health, patient comfort is a top priority. We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere where patients feel at ease during their visits. Our friendly and professional staff are committed to providing gentle care and addressing any concerns or anxieties patients may have about dental procedures.
Education and Empowerment
We believe that well-informed patients are better equipped to make decisions that benefit their oral health. As a dedicated Gig Harbor family dentist, we take the time to explain treatment options, procedures, and preventive strategies. Our goal is to ensure that patients have a clear understanding of their oral health status and the steps they can take to maintain or improve it.

Community Commitment
Serving the Gig Harbor community is at the heart of what we do. We are proud to be a trusted Gig Harbor family dentist, offering general dentistry services that cater to the diverse needs of our neighbors. Our commitment extends beyond the dental chair, as we actively participate in community events and initiatives aimed at promoting oral health awareness.
Continuous Improvement and Advanced Technology
The field of general dentistry is continually evolving, with advancements in techniques and technology enhancing patient care. At Oceanspray Dental Health, we are committed to staying abreast of these developments. Our team regularly engages in continuing education and incorporates state-of-the-art equipment to provide the highest standard of care to our patients.
Building Long-Term Relationships
We value the trust our patients place in us and strive to build long-term relationships based on mutual respect and open communication. As a Gig Harbor family dentist, we take pride in being a consistent and reliable partner in our patients' oral health journeys, celebrating their successes and supporting them through challenges.

Composite Restorations

Tooth-colored fillings are called composite restorations, and have been used in dentistry for many years. These tooth-colored filings are especially useful when the restoration will be visible when you talk or smile.

Advantages of a composite restoration include a natural finished appearance similar to that of your real teeth and the most conservative restoration in dentistry today. They require only one appointment for completion.

If you have any questions about composite restorations, please feel free to ask us.

Periodontal Therapy

Periodontal disease is an infectious process classified according to how much damage has been done to the structures surrounding the teeth, namely the gums and bone. It is an infection in your mouth! It can happen anytime, around your teeth, affecting some or many of your teeth to varying degrees. There are genetic predisposing factors to periodontal disease, but it is usually related to how well you are able to keep your teeth clean. The better you clean your teeth to remove all the plaque, the less likely you will develop periodontal disease.

By the time you notice that your gums are bleeding, the disease has been present for some time. When the disease has progressed past the bleeding gum stage, you may notice some pain, gum recession, loosening of the teeth, and bad breath. At this point, support for the teeth may be permanently altered and diminished.

Oceanspray Dental Health's office stresses prevention! Don't wait for the warning signs of gum disease to occur before you schedule your dental hygiene appointment. You may require a yearly cleaning and exam by the dental hygienist, or a dental office visit three to four times a year. We will let you know what is appropriate for your individual oral condition.

If you have any questions about periodontal disease, please feel free to ask us.

Preventative Dentistry (Sealants)

Sometimes brushing is not enough. Everyone has hard-to-reach spots in their mouth and brushing doesn't always fully clean those difficult places. When that happens, you are at risk of tooth decay. Decay on premolars and molars usually begin in the grooves and fissures that exist on the biting surfaces of these back teeth.

Dental sealants are clear resin coatings that can be placed on the biting and grinding surfaces of back teeth. When sealing a tooth, the grooves of your teeth are filled and the tooth surface becomes smoother and less likely harbor plaque.

The sealants will stop the customary progress of tooth destruction. With sealants, tooth brushing becomes easier and more effective against tooth decay.

We, at Oceanspray Dental Health's office, are dedicated to the prevention of oral disease. It is clear that if the initial decay is prevented from the beginning, there is a great savings in time, money, discomfort, and tooth structure.

If you have any questions about preventative dentistry, please feel free to ask us.

Porcelain Inlays/Onlays

When a tooth has been moderately to extensively destroyed by decay, previous drilling, or fracture, but there is still sufficient enamel remaining, one innovative way it can be restored is with a porcelain inlay or onlay. An inlay is a restoration in which a portion of the biting surface is replaced with porcelain. An onlay will restore a larger portion of the biting surface of the tooth. These are considered very conservative restorations. The porcelain allows an excellent esthetic result.

Advantages include excellent esthetics, high strength, predicted longevity, and a conservative preparation that is less drilling than for a crown.

For those that want the strongest, longest-lasting conservative restoration that closely matches a tooth, porcelain is possibly the best choice. Once an inlay or onlay is finished, the tooth, if cared for properly, should not have to be restored again for years.

If you have any questions about porcelain inlays and onlays, please feel free to ask us.

Porcelain Crowns

Crowns are used to reconstruct a single tooth broken down by tooth decay, or one that has simply fractured. If the tooth was in good alignment before the crown was prepared, the crown will be in good alignment. If the tooth was misaligned before the crown, sometimes the crown may be made to obtain a more ideal shape and position. It is cleaned and flossed just like a natural tooth.

Our goal at Oceanspray Dental Health's office is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. One of the most esthetic ways to restore teeth today is to use a full cast ceramic or porcelain crown. This type of crown contains no metal, so it approximates the total appearance of an undamaged, natural tooth.

These are beautiful restorations, and they are possibly the most beautiful full coverage restorations available. You can expect them to last for a long time. If you need a full coverage restoration, and aesthetics is of maximum importance to you, porcelain and ceramic crowns should be considered.

If you have any questions about porcelain crowns, please feel free to ask us.

CEREC

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has been revolutionizing industries, including dentistry. With the CEREC system a digital scanner is used to record a 3-D image of your teeth instead of gooey impression materials. We are also able to make the crown in the office, avoiding the need for a temporary crown.

The doctors at Oceanspray Dental Health can now complete beautiful restorations like crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers in-office, in only "ONE" appointment. Benefits for our patients:

- "ONE" visit

- no impressions

- no temporaries

- highly aesthetic

- long lasting

Our Cerec system allows us to replace conventional impression methods with a clean, fast digital scan that is obtained in just a few minutes through a series of photographic images taken in the mouth. Combining this scanned date with our advanced software, we're able to design a custom, permanent restoration. A milling unit then fabricates your restoration design quickly and conveniently, right in our dental office.

Your final result is a natural-looking restoration of superior strength that perfectly matches the surrounding teeth, making your crown, veneer, or filling virtually undetectable. The elimination of impressions, temporaries, and second appointments enhances the entire dental experience for our patients. As an added bonus, many of our patients love watching their new tooth come to life in the milling unit right in front of their eyes!

If you have any questions about Cerec "One Visit" restorations, please feel free to ask us.

Porcelain Veneers

When people speak of "bonding" their teeth to make them look better, they are usually referring to porcelain veneers. Veneers cover only the outside portion of the tooth, the part that shows when you smile or talk. Porcelain veneers are placed in order to correct slight or severe defects in tooth alignment, shape, or color. This is done when there is still enough enamel on the tooth to allow the veneer to be placed. The most common use for porcelain veneers is to improve the cosmetic appearance of the patient.

If you have any questions about porcelain veneers, please feel free to ask us.

Fixed Bridges

Replacing missing front teeth can obviously improve the appearance of your smile. What most people don't think about is what happens when a missing back tooth is not replaced. Replacing a back tooth will help you regain your normal ability to chew food properly. When a tooth is lost, the other teeth surrounding the space tend to move into the empty space. This contributes to an increased opportunity for decay and gum disease to begin, along with bite problems and a potential for other dental problems. Missing teeth should always be replaced - the sooner the better.

Fixed bridges are one of the possibilities that exist for replacement of one or more missing teeth. The advantages include proven reliability and longevity.

Fixes bridges are crowns that are attached together, suspending the crown portion of a false tooth in or over the space left behind by the missing tooth. With a bridge, the false tooth will most often butt up against the soft tissue ridge where the removed tooth was. Sometimes a bridge is used to splint loose teeth together in order to make the teeth more stable. The bridge teeth can be brushed the same as natural teeth, but since they are attached together, must be flossed differently by using a floss threader or other device.

A strict regimen of brushing and flossing will keep the bridge and surrounding teeth clean. This is of critical importance as the bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support. We will show you how to properly clean it. Frequent examinations are one way to protect your investment and to maintain optimal oral health.

If you have any questions about bridges, feel free to ask us.

Dental Implants

Thirty-five years ago, if someone described how teeth could be replaced with implants, it might have been called a miracle. Twenty years ago, the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth might have been called astounding. Today, implant procedures are called routine.

Dental implants are metal anchors, which act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. Small abutments are then attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums. These abutments provide stable anchors for artificial tooth replacement. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, replace several missing teeth, or provide added retention to a removable dental appliance such as a full denture.

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that the replacement tooth appears natural. In addition, implants can help preserve facial bone, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.

If you have any questions about dental implants, feel free to ask us.

Limited Tooth Extractions

You, Dr. Remy Rogers and Dr. Matthew J. Stadler may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are extremely decayed, others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be restored. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or in the preparation of orthodontic treatment.

The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, challenges with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.

To avoid these complications, Dr. Remy Rogers and Dr. Matthew J. Stadler will discuss replacement options of the extracted tooth.

If you have any questions about tooth extractions, please feel free to ask us.

Your Partner in Oral Health in Gig Harbor, WA

Choosing a general dentist is a significant decision that impacts your overall health and well-being. At Oceanspray Dental Health, we are honored to be the Gig Harbor family dentist of choice for many in our community. Our comprehensive general dentistry services are designed to meet the needs of patients at every life stage, ensuring that each individual receives the care and attention they deserve.

We welcome you to discover the impact of personalized, compassionate dental care. Contact Oceanspray Dental Health today to schedule an appointment at (253) 853-3315 and take the first step toward achieving your oral health goals with a trusted Gig Harbor family dentist.