General Dentistry Services | Dentist in Urbandale, IA

The Importance of General Dentistry

Have you ever wondered why you’re told to visit your dentist twice a year? The benefits of regular dental check-ups and cleanings go way beyond removing plaque and tartar from your teeth. They can save your teeth from extraction, stop serious dental issues before they start, and can even positively affect your general health.

Here at Hickman Family Dental, our trusted dentists, Drs. Erickson and Krehbiel, provide effective general dentistry services for patients in Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Windsor Heights, and the entire Des Moines area. If you’re due for a dental cleaning and exam, we’d love to meet you.

What Is General Dentistry?

The practice of general dentistry encompasses an array of routine dental services and procedures, all with the common goal of helping preserve your smile and prevent dental health issues.

Routine exams, screenings, dental X-rays, fillings, and other minor procedures are all considered general dentistry. At Hickman Family Dental, our Des Moines dental team always go above and beyond to ensure your oral health is maintained.

General dentistry is the most essential part of dental care. Our Urbandale dentists are dedicated to oral health maintenance and prevention of disease and decay.

Why General Dentistry Matters

The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist twice a year, or every six months. Of course, many patients don’t make dental appointments a priority, especially if they feel anxious about visiting the dentist. However, regular professional cleanings and exams can make a dramatic difference in both your oral health and the appearance of your smile.

There are five major benefits to general dentistry care:

Prevention. During regular appointments, we’ll do our best to help prevent the onset of oral infections, gum disease, cancers, cavities, and other dental complications.

Evaluation. At your routine visits, Drs. Erickson and Krehbiel can evaluate your teeth, gums, and other soft tissues around your mouth, offering tips to help you improve your oral health at home.

Cavity detection. Detecting and treating cavities at their earliest stages can help save your tooth. In some cases, we may even be able to reverse the infection entirely.

Fillings. If we’re unable to reverse the infection, we can provide dental fillings to restore the tooth to its original function.

Better overall health. Poor dental health can lead to other health complications, from cardiovascular disease to stroke. Staying on top of your oral health plays a big role in your overall wellness.

What to Expect at Your Regular Dental Visit

When you visit our Urbandale office for your routine dental exam, we’ll do everything we can to make sure you feel comfortable and relaxed. Part of easing any dental anxiety you may have involves knowing what to expect when you visit.

Dental Cleaning

Cleaning your teeth at home is an essential part of your dental care. But even the best of us have trouble reaching every area of our mouths consistently. The plaque in those hard-to-reach spots can harden and turn into tartar, making it tough to remove without professional tools.

Our dental hygienists will clean your teeth thoroughly during your routine visit. We can easily remove hardened plaque to prevent it from forming into cavities, as well as polish your teeth so they sparkle.

Digital Dental X-Rays

We recommend receiving dental X-rays once a year. While we do perform a visual exam at every visit, there are certain things that only an X-ray will be able to spot. Digital X-rays produce 75 percent less radiation than traditional X-rays. At Hickman Family Dental, we use a state-of-the-art laser cavity detector called a Diagnodent. Not only is it 95 percent accurate in detecting cavities, it’s completely painless.

Dental Examination

As a part of your regular appointment, we’ll carefully examine your teeth and mouth for potential issues. The exam is a vital part of your oral hygiene visit as we can often detect oral health problems or oral cancer before they begin to cause pain or serious damage.

The earlier an issue is detected, the faster we can recommend treatment options if needed. With regular dental exams, ou’ll be able to maintain a more beautiful smile and worry less about potential complications down the road.

Doing Your Part at Home

General dentistry begins at home. Make sure you’re brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing regularly, and doing anything else recommended by our dental team. The more you keep up with your dental health, the easier it will be when you come in for your routine cleanings.

General Dentistry at Hickman Family Dental

If you’re in need of a new dentist in the Urbandale, IA area, the team at Hickman Family Dental would love to meet you. Our dental professionals will go above and beyond to ensure your smile and oral health are in great shape. Call us at (515) 276-4981 or fill out a contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

General dentistry and family dentistry are very similar, and family dentists sometimes practice general dentistry as well. The key difference is that a family dentist specializes in dental procedures for all ages. General dentists might treat children, but they tend to focus on adults and young adults.

Here at Hickman Family Dental, we’re aware that sometimes life circumstances prevent our patients from seeing us every six months. If you’ve missed an appointment or two, simply call our Urbandale office at (515) 276-4981 and we’ll help you get back on track. Please don’t wait until you’re experiencing tooth pain or another issue to see us.

Nearly all dental insurance plans cover two dental visits a year with cleanings and X-Rays. If you need to have a deep cleaning or another dental procedure done, please check with your dental insurance provider before your appointment to find out what portion of the cost will be covered.

General Dentistry in Urbandale, IA