- Dental ExaminationA hygienist will conduct an initial oral exam of your gums and teeth; document any changes in your overall health and medicine use; clean and polish your teeth; talk to you about caring for your teeth and gums; and answer any questions you might have about home care products. Your dentist will also conduct an oral exam of your mouth (for signs of oral cancer or other diseases), gums, and teeth; ask about changes in your overall health or medicine use; review the cleaning done by the hygienist; diagnose any oral health problems; and make treatment recommendations.
- X-rays
- Oral Cancer ScreeningA dental exam is the first line of defense in early detection of oral diseases including oral cancer. An oral cancer screening incorporates systematic visual examination of all the soft tissues of the mouth, including manual extension of the tongue to examine its base, a bimanual palpation of the floor of the mouth, a digital examination of the borders of the tongue, and the lymph nodes surrounding the oral cavity and in the neck.
- Teeth Cleaning
- Fluoride TreatmentIf a patient is at moderate-to-high risk of developing cavities or if they are experiencing sensitivity in their teeth, a professional fluoride treatment can help. The fluoride preparation used in the dental office is a much stronger concentration than is in toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinses that may be available in a store or at a pharmacy. Professional fluoride treatments generally take just a few minutes. The fluoride may be in the form of a solution, gel, foam or varnish. At Davidson Family Dentistry, we usually use a varnish for our adult patient. After the treatment you will be asked to not eat or drink anything hot or hard for the rest of the day. With foam fluoride, you will be asked to not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride and help repair microscopic areas of decay.
- Dental Sealants
- FillingsA filling replaces decay or small fractures and can protect a tooth from further decay. Silver-colored amalgam fillings are a mixture of metals including silver, copper, tin and mercury. They are the most researched dental material and are strong, durable, and less expensive. Composite resins, or tooth-colored fillings, provide good durability and resistance to fractures in small- to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing. They can be used on either front or back teeth. They are a good choice for people who prefer that their fillings look more natural or for people who have concerns with the use of amalgam.
- Resin Composite
- VeneersVeneers refers to tooth-colored cover that is put on a tooth. Porcelain veneers are made by a dental lab working from a model provided by your dentist. These veneers are placed using an irreversible process where a small amount of enamel is taken from the tooth to accommodate the shell. These are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth. Another veneer is made by adding composite material to the existing tooth and a dental lab is not involved. Composite veneers are less expensive and are sometimes referred to as bonding. This type of veneer or build-up works especially well for children and for a tooth that is smaller than normal or which is stained, chipped, pitted or abnormally shaped.
- CrownsA crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance. It can help strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling. Crowns can also be used to attach a bridge, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that is already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. It’s also used to cover a dental implant. If you are missing one or more teeth, you may notice a difference in chewing and speaking.
- BridgesA bridge may help restore your smile and increase the function of your teeth. Sometimes called a fixed partial denture, a bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally “bridges” the gap where one or more teeth used to be. Bridges can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain or a combination of these materials and are attached to surrounding teeth for support. Unlike a removable partial denture, which you can take out and clean, a fixed bridge can only be removed by a dentist.
- Dental Bonding
- Root Canal TreatmentAn abscessed tooth is an infection caused by tooth decay, periodontal disease or a cracked tooth. These problems can let bacteria enter the soft tissue of a tooth and can lead to pulp (nerve) death. When pus builds up at the root tip in the jaw bone, it forms a pus pocket called an abscess. If the abscess is not treated, it can lead to a serious infection in the jaw bone, teeth and surrounding tissues. Symptoms of an abscess include: pain, swelling, redness in the gums, bad taste in the mouth and fever. An abscessed tooth can be treated with various treatments, depending on the severity of the infection including antibiotics, drainage of the infection, cleaning of the space between the tooth and the gums (called scaling and root planing), or root canal treatment.
- Deep Cleaning
- DenturesIf you have lost some or all of your natural teeth, dentures can improve your quality of life by replacing your missing teeth. Dentures can be made to look like your natural teeth. Getting a new complete or partial dentures begins with taking an impression of your mouth and identifying your natural gum and tooth shade. Your dentures are created from your mold and specifications and they are adjusted when you pick them up. Your dentist may recommend adjustments once a year or when necessary to ensure a proper and comfortable fit.
- Dental ImplantsImplant dentistry has been a focus for Dr. Davidson. He has taken a number of continuing education classes as well as the longest continuing education class offered in implant dentistry. He does all stages of implants from single tooth replacement to full mouth restorations with implants.
- Oral SurgeryAfter practicing dentistry in Sioux Falls South Dakota, Dr. Clause made the move to the Des Moines area to join Davidson Family Dentistry. He enjoys all areas of dentistry and has a special interest in endodontics and oral surgery. Dr. Clause is a member of the American Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Association, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
- Tooth Extractions
- Teeth WhiteningEverybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of your smile. Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from daily oral hygiene and regular cleanings at our office, but if you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your whitening options. Many toothpastes advertise whitening. Toothpastes only whiten through the action of mild abrasives and don’t actually “whiten” the teeth. Unlike bleaches, these ADA accepted products do not change the color of teeth because they can only remove stains on the surface. At home bleaching treatments with peroxide-containing whiteners actually bleach the tooth enamel. They typically come in a gel and are placed in a mouth guard. Products such as Crest White Strips are an over the counter product that provides some whitening. For better results, a custom tray can be made and a much stronger whitening agent can be used for superior results.
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- General DentistryDr. Davidson’s memberships include the American Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Association (past president), the Des Moines District Dental Society (past president), and the Academy of Family Dentistry. He serves as a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, the American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.