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General & Family Dentistry

Excellent General & Family Dentistry in Carlsbad

Family dentistry at La Costa Dental Excellence protects the oral health of those living near Carlsbad, Encinitas, and San Marcos, CA. Carlsbad dentists Dr. Stephen Dankworth, Dr. Kimberly Corrigan-Dankworth, and Dr. Piper Dankworth understand the importance of dental health and have encouraged it within their own families.

You can trust them to align with you regarding your family’s dental needs. We offer a variety of services for your dental health including cleanings, fillings, wisdom teeth extraction, and emergency dental care. Our goal is to help you create excellent dental health habits and to provide you with lifelong oral health care.

Dental Health Directly Impacts Your Overall Health

Many scientists believe that serious health conditions are tied directly to oral health—especially that gum disease (which 80% of Americans have) is linked with over 40 systemic diseases.

Visiting our Carlsbad dental office regularly can potentially help you to avoid these serious health issues. And with our family dentistry services, we can help you and your family achieve and maintain optimal dental health no matter what stage of life each family member is in. We pride ourselves on building long-lasting relationships with our patients. We make our recommendations with both your oral health and your overall health in mind.

Why Choose La Costa Dental Excellence in Carlsbad?

La Costa Dental Excellence offers comprehensive dentistry options for family members of all ages. Dr. Stephen Dankworth, Dr. Kimberly Corrigan-Dankworth, and Dr. Piper Dankworth have years of experience in making sure that patients have a comfortable experience at their office, and are understanding of younger patients’ needs. We can be your one-stop shop for family dentistry in the Encinitas and San Marcos, CA, area.

By providing a wide range of services in a comfortable and professional space, we can help each member of your family get the care they need. Our fantastic dentists will keep your whole family smiling.

Find Advanced, Comfortable, and Prompt Treatment | Schedule Today!

Contact our office today and schedule a consultation! When your family has a dental need, we are here to help! Our team offers orthodontic solutions for both teens and adults, as well as general dentistry for the whole family.

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Dental Issues Resolved by La Costa Dental Excellence

Dental Issues Resolved by La Costa Dental Excellence

Cavities and Fillings

One of the most prevalent dental issues are cavities—the active breakdown of your teeth. Tooth enamel will not repair itself, which is why it is so important to treat cavities with fillings early. Early treatment allows us to preserve more natural tooth structure and can prevent further complications.

When the hard exterior of our teeth is compromised, it puts the soft interior chamber of the tooth at risk of infection. If you wait to get treatment, you may need a crown to restore your tooth instead.

Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease

Without proper dental care, you can get an infection of the gums, roots of the teeth, and bone. Gum disease causes permanent loss of the mouth's foundation (bone and gum support). Those with gum disease may experience:

  • Receding gum lines.
  • Weakened your teeth.
  • Tooth loss.
  • Systemic disease.

Gum disease is linked with 57 systemic diseases. Gum disease treatment can prevent additional oral health complications that can arise from these infections. To avoid the painful complications that come with gum disease, visit La Costa Dental Excellence on a regular basis. Our general dentistry treatments can prevent gum disease from happening.

Toothaches

Are you experiencing constant tooth pain or extreme tooth sensitivity? There are a lot of causes of toothaches:

  • Dental trauma.
  • Cracked or broken teeth.
  • Infection or abscess.

General dentistry has methods to address toothaches no matter the cause. You can get protective dental crowns, root canal therapy, or other treatments based on the cause of the toothache. There’s no need to live with tooth pain!

Tooth pain can be a symptom of serious dental issues. Don’t wait to receive treatment or the problem could get worse!

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

No one can anticipate a sudden injury or painful emergency dental situation. That’s why we’re here to accommodate and treat you with speed and precision.

Cracked or broken teeth can be scary and painful. Broken teeth need to be fixed immediately to prevent infection. Depending on the severity of the damage, this is done with different treatments:

  • Veneers: Best for small chips and cracks on the front of the tooth.
  • Bonding: Used for minor chips and holes.
  • Crowns: Cover and protect the entire tooth.

There are even options for replacing missing teeth.

Tooth Appearance

We all want a smile that’s a little straighter, a little whiter, and a little more aligned. Concerns with how your teeth look can be addressed by general and cosmetic services such as:

  • Tooth-colored fillings.
  • Teeth whitening.
  • Invisalign® clear braces.
  • Laser dentistry.
  • Prepless and porcelain veneers.
  • Same-day porcelain crowns.
  • Dental implants.
  • Dental bonding.

You can combine these services however you need to get the smile you want. Many of these services also have health benefits. If you want a better-looking smile, our team is here for you.

Mouth Sores

When we think of dental health, the first mental images we get are of teeth. But proper oral health goes beyond our teeth. The soft tissues of your mouth, including the gums, tongue, cheeks, and soft palette, all need attention too.

Sometimes sores can appear in our mouths due to factors like stress or a reaction to a new food. It is common for these kinds of sores to resolve themselves. Sores that last more than two weeks need the attention of a dentist. They can be a symptom of underlying issues that could be painful and dangerous.

Impacted Teeth

Hidden wisdom teeth cause unforeseen complications, including pain, infection, and the shifting of your smile. We offer the latest techniques to remove the underlying tooth, making wisdom teeth removal fast and easy. While wisdom tooth extraction is typically associated with teenagers, it is also available for adults who start having trouble with their wisdom teeth.

Here are some signs you may want to consult a dentist about impacted teeth:

  • Pain around an area where a tooth should come in.
  • Swelling or abscesses.
  • Loose permanent teeth around the area.
  • Infection of the gums.
  • Bad breath.

Tooth Erosion

After years of chewing and speaking, your teeth can slowly wear down. This is called tooth erosion or tooth wear and it is a natural process that occurs as we age. Unfortunately, you still need your teeth, so you can’t let them wear all the way down!

Dental bonding, dental fillings, and dental crowns help keep your teeth as strong and sharp as they need to be to help you eat. These services are all tooth-colored so your teeth will look natural with the added material to build them up and provide extra support.

Oral Cancer Screening

We include oral cancer screenings in all our exams. We don’t want you to suffer or need to undergo serious cancer treatments, so we’ll check for early symptoms such as:

  • Canker sores that last more than two weeks.
  • Unusual red or white spots.
  • Swellings or abscesses.
  • Painful areas in the cheeks, tongue, or gums.

Catching cancer early can improve your chances of successful treatment. These cancer screenings can limit pain, expenses, and time spent at a clinic if you do end up needing treatment.

What Is the Dental Exam Process?

1
Imaging

The exam process begins by addressing any concerns or interests you might have, including any changes in your dental health. We’ll take x-rays and digital images. These will help us detect active disease and oral cancer. We’ll keep these images in our records so we can observe how your mouth changes over time.

This process is crucial for young patients with developing mouths. X-rays will let us see where teeth are coming in, whether there’s enough room for them, and whether they have impacted teeth.

Imaging is one of our greatest tools in dentistry.

2
Dental Cleaning

Next, we will get your teeth extra clean. A hygienist will carefully remove built-up plaque and biofilm from your teeth and then floss them thoroughly. This protects your teeth and gums from infection and disease.

Our hygienists use the Cavitron and Airflow to remove the biofilm and plaque, leaving your mouth feeling clean and sparkly. We use the latest hygiene technology to make sure your mouth is as healthy as possible.

3
Examination

A careful inspection of both the hard tissue and soft tissue of your mouth will catch or prevent problems. That’s why it’s necessary to come to the dentist.

We look for signs of inflammation, tooth decay, or unusually colored tissue. Once we’re finished with the examination, we will offer a diagnosis. You might not have any issues to diagnose, but if you do need further treatment, we will discuss that with you in the final step of the process.

4
Recommendations

We will work with you to create a personalized plan to restore your health.

Our team will suggest new habits to improve your oral health.

The dentist may recommend treatments for:

  • Early gingivitis.
  • Cavities.
  • Areas that are liable to infection.
  • Impacted teeth.

You can set an appointment for your next visit on your way out the door. No need to remember to call back later.

4 Steps to Great Oral Health

While healthy bacteria in your mouth breaks down your food, other bacteria can damage your teeth and gums. These bacteria form biofilm, plaque, and tartar and can cause all sorts of problems:

  • Tooth decay.
  • Gum disease.
  • Abscesses.
  • Tooth loss.
  • Discolored teeth.
  • Toothaches.

Keeping your teeth clean can prevent these issues. Below are steps you can take to keep your teeth extra clean and problem-free.

Brush Your Teeth

Your teeth need brushing twice a day. Cleaning off bacteria and food residue protects your teeth from cavities and infection. The cleaner your teeth are, the more time and money you’ll save on treatments later—and the less discomfort you’ll have too!

Floss Daily

Brushing isn’t enough! You need to floss your teeth every day to keep the tight spaces between your teeth healthy. Flossing also protects your gums. It clears away dangerous biofilm that can cause gum disease and keeps your gums pink and healthy.

Use Mouthwash

The antiseptic and cleansing nature of mouthwash cannot be understated. After you brush and floss, there is still bacteria and debris floating around your mouth. A proper mouthwash does not have alcohol in it and helps bring your mouth back to its healthy neutral state.

Attend Regular Dental Checkups

One vital step to good oral health is keeping up with regular dental appointments. You need to visit the dentist every 3–6 months for a cleaning and exam. This will keep your teeth extra clean and will make you aware of any upcoming issues.

Have More Dental Questions?

As a parent, sometimes issues pop up with your children’s health that you don’t know how to fix. While you should visit the dentist for serious concerns, below are some explanations that may help.

You may have gum disease if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms. Gum disease treatment can prevent additional oral health complications that can arise from these infections.

If you ever experience long-term tooth pain so intense that it disrupts day-to-day activities, it is a dental emergency. Your toothache could mean a tooth infection or an impacted tooth.

The only time teeth should come loose is when a baby tooth is being replaced by an adult tooth. If permanent teeth come loose, this is a problem. Seek dental treatment immediately.

Do hot and cold foods irritate your teeth? They’re probably trying to warn you of a cavity or cracked tooth. These issues can be solved with dental fillings, veneers, and in some cases, crowns.

A sore jaw, headaches, earaches, or other facial pain could be a sign of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This means your jaw joint is stressed or injured somehow and needs treatment.

Got a sore or a spot that just won’t go away? It could be a sign of infection, allergy, or oral cancer. Regardless, it’s something that should be seen by a dental professional as soon as possible.

Sleeping with your mouth open can make your mouth dry. Make sure your nasal cavity is clear or seek snoring treatment if needed. Dry mouth can also occur because of issues with the salivary glands.

Bad breath is caused by the bacteria in your mouth. Sometimes brushing your teeth isn’t enough to get rid of bad breath if there are places bacteria are hiding. Bad breath is a symptom of unhealthy bacterial overgrowth.

Among the changes your body goes through during pregnancy, your risk of dental issues, such as gingivitis, increases. During this time, it’s especially important to take care of your oral health.

Improve Your Dental Health by Contacting Our Office Today

Our Carlsbad dentists encourage dental health within their own families as well as their patients. You can trust them to know your family’s dentistry needs. Our goal is to help you create excellent dental health habits and provide you with lifelong oral health care.

Book Online

Contact Us

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Academy of Osseointegration ADA California Implant Institute Crown Council California Dental Association DOCS Education Kois Center Wellness Dentistry Network