General Dentistry
General and family dentistry is a term that is applied to several dental treatments that are designed to help patients achieve and establish sound oral health. Our friendly dentist, Dr. Thomas M. Kiefer, is devoted to helping you have healthy teeth for a lifetime. Regardless of whether you need to schedule a dental appointment for your child, need a routine teeth cleaning, or are in need of a more complex restorative procedure, we invite you to contact us today to see if one of the services we provide is right for you. Some of the general and family dental services we offer include:
Cleanings And Exams
Our friendly dentist, Dr. Thomas M. Kiefer, is committed to helping you have a beautiful, healthy smile. To help us accomplish this goal, our team recommends that you visit our office at least once every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. During the exam, we will inspect your mouth for signs of potential dental problems. One of the major reasons for the dental cleaning is to prevent and fight against the damaging effects of gum—or periodontal—disease. We recommend these frequent visits because the bacteria that cause gum disease will constantly return and cannot always be removed by simply brushing and flossing. We also recommend that you visit our practice if you experience any discomfort, pain, or a dental emergency.
What will happen during teeth cleanings?
During your dental cleaning, our friendly team will remove the plaque and tartar that contain bacteria, and then polish your teeth to give you the cleanest, brightest smile possible. After your teeth are clean, we will inspect your mouth for signs of complications. If you are interested in scheduling your next teeth cleaning in Marathon, Florida, or in any of the other services we offer, please feel free to contact us today. We are eager to care for your smile!
Fillings
If your tooth has developed one or more cavities or is decayed, we may recommend a dental filling to restore your smile. We can also recommend a dental filling to correct damage that may have been caused by teeth grinding or nail-biting. If Dr. Thomas M. Kiefer recommends a dental filling, our caring team will:
- Administer the proper anesthetic
- Carefully remove any damaged or decayed area
- Gently clean and sanitize the infect area
- Fill the tooth one layer at a time, allowing each layer adequate time to dry
- Shape, smooth, and polish the filling to match your smile
What will my tooth be filled with?
Our team is proud to offer composite fillings to give you the most pleasing aesthetic appearance possible. Composite fillings – which are also known as white or tooth-colored fillings – can be used to match the color, shade, and tone of your smile. We may also recommend a white filling because of its durability and resistance to chewing. Our team is happy to offer you the most comfortable dental experience possible, regardless of how we can help your smile. If you have any questions about the benefits of a dental filling in Marathon, Florida, we invite you to contact us today. We are excited to care for your smile!
Root Canals
If you are suffering from a severe toothache, a discolored or darkened tooth, extreme sensitivity to cold or hot, swollen or tender gums, or a painful pimple on a gum, you may need root canal therapy. A root canal becomes a necessity after the dental pulp becomes infected. The dental pulp is the center of a tooth, and it contains a tooth’s blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. If a tooth’s dental pulp is infected or damaged and the pulp is left untreated, the tooth may die. If a tooth does die, a tooth extraction—or the removal of the tooth—becomes a necessity.
- Sedate the target area
- Carefully remove the infected pulp
- Fill the tooth with medication
- Seal the tooth
- Protect the tooth by adding a crown
If root canal therapy is necessary, our team will work carefully to provide you with the most comfortable dental experience possible. If you have any questions about getting a root canal in Marathon, Florida, please feel free to contact us today. We are excited to hear from you!
Extractions
Our friendly dentist, Dr. Thomas M. Kiefer, strives to preserve the health and comfort of your smile. Unfortunately, at times the most effective way to restore your smile to its optimal health is a tooth extraction. While we strive to keep your natural teeth healthy and strong, dental extraction—or the removal of a tooth—can become a necessity when:
- A tooth becomes impacted, or stuck in the jawbone
- A tooth is overly crowded
- A tooth has been seriously damaged, infected, or injured
- A tooth has died
After a tooth extraction, our team will gladly offer you a dental restoration to complete your smile. Depending on your needs, our dentist may recommend a dental bridge, implant, or dentures.
Tooth extraction is also commonly used to remove wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are usually removed to prevent crowding, or if the teeth have become impacted in the jaw, regardless of whether the teeth have partially erupted or not erupted at all. Unlike many extractions, a restoration will not be necessary after a wisdom tooth is removed.
If a tooth extraction becomes necessary, our dentist will work carefully and gently to ensure that your experience is as pleasant as possible. At our office, we use the Ögram System for tooth extraction, which you can learn more about by visiting their website. If you are interested in tooth extraction or in removing your wisdom teeth in Marathon, Florida, please feel free to call and schedule a consultation with us today.