General Dentistry

    While not all patients require the services of a specialist, many patients do have conditions that a specialist should treat. In our Palm Desert area practice, general dentistry includes all of the services that most patients expect from a full service dental office, including diagnostic services, x-rays, fillings, crowns, and aesthetic dental procedures. In this practice, having the specialists on-hand for immediate consultation is a tremendous benefit to your general dental care.

    A preventive dental program is vitally important to the preservation of the natural foundation of your teeth and supporting structures by preventing the onset, advancement, and recurrence of dental problems and diseases.

    Preventing dental disease starts with your own efforts at home with good oral hygiene and a nutritious diet. It is maintained in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to improve and restore your overall oral health. Preventative care includes regular dental visits that include general exams, cleanings and x-rays and can even extend to deeper treatments such as sealants and fluoride to help protect your teeth.

    Prevention helps avoid painful and expensive dental problems in the future and is crucial to achieving a healthy, confident and beautiful smile.

Diagnostic Services

    We welcome every new patient to our practice with a Comprehensive Initial Examination. This visit includes the following services:
  • Digital X-rays
  • Photographs of all teeth
  • Charting of periodontal health
  • Occlusal evaluation
  • Review of medications and health history
  • Dental history and chief complaint
  • Study models

Dental X-Rays

    Dental x-rays are fundamental, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide your dentist with beneficial information that is not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to detect hidden dental complications and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without x-rays, hidden problem areas may go undetected and untreated.

Dental x-rays may reveal:

  • Abscesses or cysts
  • Bone loss
  • Decay between the teeth
  • Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line
  • Poor tooth and root positions
  • Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
  • Developmental abnormalities

Fillings

    A filling repairs and restores the surface of the tooth that has been damaged by a cavity, decay, fracture or wear. A filling may also be necessary when a tooth’s surface needs to be evened out to improve your ability to bite or chew.

    Tooth sensitivity is the most common early warning sign of enamel loss due to tooth decay. While there could be a number of reasons for this sensitivity, only your dentist can diagnose its underlying cause. If a damaged tooth surface is not treated early, your discomfort will increase and additional or alternative dental treatments may be necessary.

Crowns

    Teeth are often restored with silver or porcelain fillings, but when a large portion of the tooth must be removed, a dental crown (sometimes called “caps”), may also be needed. Following an extensive dental treatment such as a root canal, extraction, tooth decay or a broken tooth, a dental crown replaces the outermost layer of the tooth, reconstructing the tooth natural shape and size. This covering is permanent bonded over the existing tooth, restoring the appearance and function of the natural tooth.
    Desert Dental Specialty Group is the only dental group in the Palm Desert area that combines specialties of Prosthodontics, Periodontics, and Endodontics with General Dental Care for the entire family. Call and make an appointment today (760) 568-5928