General and Preventative Dentistry

Fluoride is a mineral that works on a microscopic level to prevent cavities and repair teeth. While it is possible to get the fluoride you need from toothpastes and mouth washes, our dentists offer professional fluoride treatments for adults and children in the form of a varnish that we apply to your teeth using a gel, foam or rinse. The fluoride then strengthens the enamel of your teeth, leaving you with a healthier, brighter smile.

A sealant is placed to prevent tooth decay and other wear at the source. It’s a clear or tooth-colored acrylic coating that our dentists apply right onto the surface of your tooth, sealing the grooves and indents where decay is most likely to originate. While this technique is usually done on permanent molars, primary molars also have grooves deep enough to require sealing in some cases.

Thanks to modern technology, digital X-rays are revolutionizing the way dentists monitor your oral health. Digital x-rays require up to 90% less radiation than conventional ones and can help your dentist identify issues much sooner. This newer system takes pictures of your teeth using an electronic sensor, which instantly transmits the image onto the monitor in the treatment room. While X-rays typically find things like cavities, our dentists also use them to look at roots, the bone surrounding your teeth, and to assess possible gum disease.

No matter the procedure, Winslett & Walls is here to help in a dental emergency. If the problem occurs when the office is closed, our answering service will forward your message to our dentists so you can get the help you need as quickly as possible.

If a tooth has been knocked out or cracked, contact us as soon as possible. In the meantime, try and gently place the tooth back in its socket (without touching the root), hold the tooth between your gums and lip, place it in a glass of milk, or put it in an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit if one is available. If your dental emergency is potentially life-threatening, you should go straight to the emergency room.

A root canal is a small channel inside teeth that send in the nutrients they need to stay healthy and pearly white. If it becomes inflamed, it can get painful, not to mention risk the loss of your infected or damaged tooth altogether. Modern medicine and technology have improved so that root canal therapy can restore the damaged tooth, without causing you undue discomfort or inconvenience.

Periodontal (gum) disease, if left untreated, can cause much more than a misaligned smile or unpleasant breath. In its early stages, gingivitis is caused by excessive toxic bacteria from plaque that builds up on your teeth and begins wearing down your mouth’s soft tissues. Early symptoms include red, swollen or bleeding gums. Early detection is key, but if the disease is allowed to persist, there are some periodontal and restorative procedures you can discuss with one of our dentists. If caught early, we can help you reverse the damage.