We are always excited to meet new patients! Your first visit begins with a comprehensive oral evaluation. Our team will develop a treatment plan to help you achieve and maintain a healthy smile. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about treatment options during your visit.
When you come in for your initial visit, please be sure to bring your dental insurance card and arrive early to fill out your initial paperwork if you have not already done so. Please bring a list of any medications you are taking. If you need antibiotics prior to dental work, please take them as prescribed. If you are not sure if you need antibiotics, please contact your doctor prior to your visit.
Whether you need a cleaning, a filling, or even a brand-new smile, we are here to help. Great dental care doesn’t just make for a fantastic smile, it also helps promote overall health and wellness. If you have a special occasion coming up or are interested in brightening your smile, ask us about whitening or other cosmetic dental options. We want you to have the confidence to share your smile with the world!
What is the difference between a prosthodontist and a general dentist?
A general dentist and a prosthodontist differ mainly in scope and training. A general dentist is your go-to for broad dental care—think cleanings, fillings, X-rays, and basic maintenance. They handle everyday stuff like cavities, minor gum issues, and sometimes even simple crowns or bridges. They’re like the family doctor of dentistry, covering the essentials for most people.
A prosthodontist, though, is a specialist with extra years of training (usually three more after dental school) focused on restoring and replacing teeth. They deal with complex cases: full-mouth reconstructions, dentures, advanced crowns, bridges, and implants. If you’ve lost teeth, have serious bite problems, or need cosmetic work that’s more art than routine—like veneers or rebuilding after trauma—they’re the expert. They’re less about prevention and more about fixing or replacing what’s damaged or missing.
In short: general dentists maintain and do basic repairs; prosthodontists rebuild and redesign. A general dentist might place a simple crown, but a prosthodontist handles the tricky ones or plans a whole set of new teeth. Which you need depends on whether you’re just keeping things up or facing a bigger restoration job.
Is it better to go to a dental specialist?
Whether it’s “better” to go to a dental specialist depends on what’s going on with your teeth or mouth. A specialist isn’t inherently better than a general dentist—they’re just trained for specific, often trickier, problems. If your needs are straightforward, like a routine cleaning, a cavity filling, or a basic checkup, a general dentist is usually the best choice. They’re equipped for most common issues, and it’s often cheaper and faster since they’re your one-stop shop.
Specialists shine when you’ve got something complex or severe. For instance, if your tooth pain screams “root canal,” an endodontist has the extra skills and tools to handle it better than most general dentists. Same goes for an orthodontist if your teeth need serious straightening, or an oral surgeon if you’re facing a complicated extraction.
Specialists have deeper expertise in their niche—think years of extra training—so for those cases, yeah, they’re often the smarter bet.
That said, there’s no universal “better.” Seeing a specialist when you don’t need one can mean extra costs and time, while sticking with a general dentist for a big problem might lead to subpar results or a referral anyway. Start with a general dentist unless you’re dead sure it’s a specialized issue. They’ll point you the right way if needed.