General Dentistry in Alexandria, MN
Helping our patients maintain a healthy mouth and smile is the main goal of general dentistry. At Alexandria Dental Clinic we focus on preventive care and catching and repairing problems when they are small rather than waiting and seeing patients suffer with more intensive problems that were not managed in time. We want to ensure that your oral health is in its optimal state and positively contributing to the health of your entire body. We are here to brighten your smile and pave the way for a brighter life.
Dental Exam
The dental exam at Alexandria Dental Clinic includes a head and neck cancer screening, a tooth by tooth evaluation for decay, cracks, wear, erosion and alignment, a gum tissue and bone health check, digital x-rays, laser decay and crack screening, evaluation of your jaw joint (TMJ), cosmetic evaluation, and general health and dental history. With this information in hand, we discuss with you what improvements or repairs you would like to make and give you advice on keeping your teeth working and beautiful for a lifetime.
Dental cleanings by our expert hygienists are one of the best and nicest things we do for you. Removing stain and hard deposits (tarter, calculus) keep your gums healthy and your teeth beautiful. At Alexandria Dental Clinic we evaluate your mouth conditions and recommend 3 month, 4 month, 6 month, 9 month, or 12 month cleaning frequency depending on your specific needs.
At Alexandria Dental Clinic Dr. Dean Anderson uses the Solea Laser to do 90% of fillings without a drill or needle or numbness or pain. Composite fillings fix tooth decay (cavities) and can be used to improve the color and shape of teeth. A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture that is bonded to the tooth for strength and durability. This procedure can also be utilized for cosmetic improvements of your smile.
Root canals stop dental pain without pulling a tooth. They are needed when decay and bacteria spread for too long without treatment. At a certain point, this decay makes it to the pulp inside the tooth. This pulp includes nerves, therefore infection generally causes a lot of pain. Since this is happening on the inside of the tooth, you won’t necessarily see the damage. Instead, you could feel it through pain and notice other signs that include bleeding, swelling and bad breath
Extractions
An extraction is performed to remove a tooth, whether because of disease, crowding, or damage. When extractions are required, the area around the tooth will be gently numbed and Dr Anderson will remove the tooth. A small amount of bleeding is normal, as your mouth will replace the removed tooth root by forming a blood clot in the area
If you are facing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact us immediately at (320) 762-2122!
Sealants are one of the best things we do for prevention of decay for kids when teeth are newly erupted in the mouth. The tops of teeth grow with deep grooves which are very susceptible to decay.
At Alexandria Dental Clinic we use the Solea laser to clean out the deep grooves, kill all the bacteria, and give the sealant an exceptional bond to the tooth. The sealant fills the grooves and keeps any future bacteria and sugar out.
At Alexandria Dental Clinic, we are proud to offer temporomandibular joint dysfunction, otherwise known as TMJ, treatments to provide relief for our patients. TMJ is caused by an inflammation in the temporomandibular joint, which acts as a sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull.
What are the symptoms of TMJ? TMJ causes pain and discomfort along the jawbone and can make it painful to even move your jaw. While jaw pain and discomfort don’t always equate to TMJ, if you are also experiencing headaches, trouble chewing, or pain in the face, jaw, and ear, you’re more than likely experiencing TMJ.