GENERAL DENTISTRY

Combining quality and experience to ensure you keep your smile for life.

WHY GENERAL DENTISTRY?

Image of a family with healthy teeth from receiving Redmond general dentistry

You already know you need to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up, but do you know why? General dentistry is the best way to save your natural smile and prevent bigger (and expensive) problems from happening.

Our general dentist in Redmond, WA uses modern and non-invasive technologies to make your general dentistry experience comfortable for you and your family.

We offer the following general dentistry options at Smile Artistry.

  • Gum Disease Therapy
  • Laser Gum Treatment
  • TMJ / TMD Treatment
  • Mouthguards
  • Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Our focus is to improve your oral and overall well-being. See how we do that with the following services.

Exams | Hygiene
Your dental exams will be far from routine. At Smile Artistry, we use the most advanced digital technology to ensure we perform a thorough and non-invasive comprehensive exam. We use this appointment to make sure your smile is healthy and free from any oral disease. A typical exam may include:

  • A full series of digital x-rays
  • Oral cancer screening
  • A thorough and gentle cleaning of your teeth
  • A one-on-one conversation with your dentist

Every smile is different and we dedicate your appointment times as your opportunity to ask us any questions or concerns you may have. We’re an open book and will do everything possible to ensure your visit isn’t a waste of your time.

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Composite Fillings

Mercury-free, tooth-colored fillings are now the accepted alternative to traditional amalgam silver fillings. Our Redmond dentist will supervise the creation of your fillings to ensure that they perfectly match the color of your existing teeth. No longer do patients have to endure the unsightly look of metal when they smile. As a further benefit, tooth-colored fillings are potentially safer than their traditional counterparts, as many believe that the mercury present in silver fillings may be toxic. Aside from being healthier and more aesthetically pleasing than silver fillings, tooth-colored fillings are also more resistant to breakage.

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Crowns | Bridges

Crowns:

Also called caps, crowns securely cover fractured or broken teeth. They also replace old over-sized fillings. For a permanent restoration that identically matches your teeth, we are now able to combine beauty and strength with the use of space-age materials. Primarily, we use all glass crowns rather than the traditional metal and porcelain crowns. They allow for a more conservative approach with less removal of valuable tooth structure. These crowns are an excellent choice to lend strength, beauty, and longevity to damaged teeth.

Bridges:

Bridges are a fixed or non-removable prosthesis constructed to replace one or more missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the existing space anchor the bridge. We are now able to construct beautiful full porcelain bridges and porcelain over metal bridges to produce beautiful aesthetic results.

Inlays & Onlays
Inlays & onlays are similar to composite fillings, but slightly bigger. They are usually needed when an old filling needs to be replaced. An inlay fits inside the cusp of teeth while an onlay extends over the cusps of the treated tooth.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the premier solution for replacing missing teeth. Besides giving you the confidence to smile again, dental implants will help you:

  • Eat your favorite foods: Missing teeth or unstable dentures make it tough to chew and eat. Dental implants function just like natural teeth, becoming a stabilizing root to help you eat your favorite foods with confidence.
  • Speak with clarity: Slippery and sliding dentures make speech very difficult, causing you to slur or mumble your words. However, dental implants are securely placed within your jawbone, giving you the ability to speak clearly and with confidence.
  • Stop jawbone deterioration: When you’re missing teeth, the jaw doesn’t have the support it needs, so it starts to deteriorate. In turn, this creates a sunken look, making your face appear saggy. Dental implants mimic the tooth root, giving your jawbone the stabilization it needs and stops the deterioration process.

Normally, you would need to see an outside professional to place implants. That’s not the case with Smile Artistry. Our in-house dentist has the education and experience to place and restores dental implants right here in our office. You’ll see the same provider from start to finish, giving more precise and accurate results.

Root Canal

Root canals are the last line of defense to save your natural tooth. If the tooth nerve (also known as the pulp) becomes severely damaged or infected, your Redmond dentist is able to use root canal therapy to save your tooth. This includes:

  • Removing the infected pulp
  • Cleaning and sealing the canal with strong dental materials
  • Placing a restored crown

Root canals have received the stigma of being a painful procedure. We’re here to tell you that’s not the case! In fact, root canals actually relieve pain. Using non-invasive technology, we perform root canal therapy efficiently and comfortably. We’re confident you’ll hardly feel a thing and will ensure you’re comfortable from start to finish.

Tooth Extractions
Extractions are needed when a tooth cannot be saved from a root canal or the smile needs to be prepared for future treatment (orthodontics, dental implants, etc.). At Smile Artistry, your comfort is our utmost priority and we can perform the extraction right in our office instead of sending you to another office. This ensures you see the same face from start to finish.
Gum Disease Therapy
Gum disease is a “silent” disease, which can have harmful effects to your body if not treated properly. Studies have indicated people with gum disease are at greater risk for:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Preterm birth
  • And so much more

We have the skills and technology to remedy a host of oral problems, including those resulting from periodontal (gum) disease. As part of our general dentistry services, gum therapy is crucial to help stop gum disease in its tracks and get your smile on the right path to optimal health.

Laser Gum Treatment
Gone are the days of using scalpels. At Smile Artistry, we use laser technology to gently shape AND prevent gum disease. Lasers are more precise and gentle than conventional instruments, offering greater comfort and reduced recovery time for patients. In addition, lasers can be used to treat cold sores. We can instantly reduce their size and make them less noticeable.
TMJ / TMD Treatment
We are pleased to offer Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD), a highly focused field of dentistry. We are able to provide our patients with the most effective technology for the complete diagnosis and treatment of “bite” dysfunction. NMD evaluates how your muscles, teeth, bite, and joints all work together, in order to achieve an optimal occlusion (“bite”). If the “bite” is off, it can lead to many problems from excessive teeth wear to severe pain, including “TMJ.” Having a correct “bite” is the foundation of oral health care.

It is of key importance to the success of every major dental procedure to have the bite analyzed and corrected. In addition, NMD is often used on intensive cosmetic cases to analyze optimum jaw and bite position. In our opinion, it is crucial that NMD is readily available to any patient that undergoes a smile makeover.

To evaluate the “bite” or see if there is a TMJ problem, our practice uses a device that completely relaxes specific facial muscles. Once the muscles are relaxed, we are able to compare your usual bite with the relaxed jaw position. We can then determine whether your bite should be adjusted.

Symptom Self-Quiz

Below are a few of the more common symptoms that may possibly be associated with your bite. If you suffer from one or more of the following, you may wish to be evaluated to rule in or rule out malocclusion (bad bite) as a cause.

  • Headaches
  • TMJ pain – jaw pain, especially when chewing
  • TMJ noise – clicking noises when eating
  • Jaw is locking (when open or closed)
  • Limited jaw opening
  • Jaw clenching
  • Teeth grinding
  • Facial pain
  • Ear pain
  • Neck, shoulder, or back pain
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Sensitive teeth, unexplained loose, cracked, worn, or chipped teeth
Mouthguards
The Pacific Northwest is an active community filled with sports-loving children. Protect your children’s smiles from freak accidents with Smile Artistry’s customized mouthguards. We’ll craft mouthguards to fit around the contours of the smile, ensuring a snug and secure fit.
Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces
Do you or your partner snore at night? It could be a potential sign of sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening condition blocking oxygen and airflow to your brain. Signs of sleep apnea could include:

  • Snoring
  • Pauses in breathing
  • Restless sleep
  • Fatigue
  • Excessive weight
  • Depression
  • And so much more

The team at Smile Artistry can help you combat sleep apnea. Our sleep apnea mouthpieces are comfortable and can stop snoring, allowing your brain to get the oxygen it needs. Talk to us about our sleep apnea mouthpieces.

HELPING YOU GET THE DENTAL CARE YOU NEED

We’re dedicated to providing a warm and welcoming visit.

We are preferred providers for:

  • Premera
  • WDS Delta
  • Regence
  • Aetna
  • Cigna

‘‘Just had my teeth cleaned and must say it was the best cleaning I have ever had! The hygienist was gentle, yet thorough. The office staff is very pleasant and I always have a great experience.’’

Jennifer C., Actual Smile Artistry Patient

ASK US ABOUT GENERAL DENTISTRY

We’ll do everything possible to make sure you receive quality dental care.

Other dental services:
Serving communities throughout Washington, including:
  • Seattle, WA
  • Redmond, WA
  • Bellevue, WA