General & Preventative Dental Services/Oral Health Care

We primarily offer 2 types of exams. Comprehensive exams involve the entire mouth including, but not limited to teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue, and palate. They are usually done during regular cleaning appointments. Problem focused exams involve addressing specific needs such as an abscess or other infection, broken tooth, jaw pain, etc. These exams are done as needed by each patient by appointment.

Our office typically takes 3 types of digital x-rays, depending on the needs of each individual patient.

1. Bitewing X-Rays- These are what a lot of patients think of as “check-up x-rays.” They are usually taken about once a year and are used to view areas that are hard to see with just a visual exam. The bitewings allow us to see areas such as in between teeth, under crowns, and around fillings, where cavities tend to occur.
2. Periapical X-Ray- These images are taken to view specific areas. They allow the doctor to address problematic issues like broken teeth or fillings, abscesses, or areas of pain and/or sensitivity.
3. Panoramic X-Ray- This x-ray is most commonly used to view wisdom teeth (also known as 3rd molars). It can also be used to view the jaws and maxillary sinuses.

Dental cleanings are available to both adults and children in our office. We are proud to offer cleaning appointments in a relaxed private atmosphere. Detailed cleaning appointments involve removing plaque and tartar and polishing the tooth surfaces. Exams are typically done at cleaning appointments to check for any cavities, other problems you may not see or feel, or for any gum issues you may have.

Custom-fit mouth guards and bite guards are available form our office. These removable appliances help to protect your teeth. Mouth guards, mainly used for sports, help protect your teeth from trauma. Bite guards protect your teeth from the clenching and grinding forces that often happen while you sleep. Our office also offers TMJ splints. These are worn to help TMJ issues including pain and soreness in the jaw area.

These screenings usually happen during exams by Dr. Newberry and our dental hygienists. They help to identify changes in tissues of your lips, cheeks, throat, gums, and tongue. These changes or abnormalities could develop into oral cancer, so early detection is essential.

Typically done by one of our hygienists and/or Dr. Newberry, patient eduction is a very important part of an appointment. It is never too early to start, so we provide education to patients of all ages. During this part of an appointment, we discuss proper brushing and flossing techniques, information about gum disease and cavities, and other important topics related to your dental health.

Periodontal disease is a serious type of gum disease that damages the soft tissues around your teeth. If it is left untreated it can destroy the bone that supports teeth, causing tooth loss. We offer non-surgical treatment and maintenance appointments to serve our patients with periodontal disease. Scaling and Root Planing (also known as SRP) is a process that removes tarter and bacteria from beneath your gums to help promote the healing of the soft tissues around the teeth. After the initial scaling and root planing appointments, patients are advised to return for maintenance check-ups and cleanings every 3-4 months.

At Newberry Family Dental, we have 2 great diagnostic imagining tools to aid us in our exams. The first is the intra-oral camera. It allows us to view your teeth in great detail and can help expose cracked fillings, hidden tarter deposits, changes in tissues, and other issues. With the camera, we, along with our patients, are able to get a more complete view of the mouth.

The second tool is the Dexis CariVu. It is a portable detection device that works with our computers. It captures both live video and pictures and uses near-infared light to aid in the discovery of cavities and fractures. The CariVu makes cavities and fractures show up as dark areas against the illuminated tooth structure. We use the images we capture to aid in early diagnosing of problems. The earlier you can catch a problem, the easier it tends to be to fix.

Our office offers a silver diamine fluoride solution. This substance is painted on areas of decay. It helps to delay the growth and spread of cavities in children and compromised patients. Silver diamine fluoride can also be used to help areas of tooth sensitivity.