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Dental Services

Whether your dental needs include a complete exam and cleaning, a full-mouth restoration, or anything in between, our staff at Modern Family Dentistry promises to provide exceptional care to enhance the natural beauty of your smile. Your oral health is our first priority, and we'll be sure to provide stunning results that will give you something to smile about.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the services that we offer, don't hesitate to contact our Hanahan office or North Charleston office. We look forward to providing you with the personalized dental care that you deserve.

Preventative Care

Our main focus is to educate patients and provide them with the tools necessary for maintaining optimal oral hygiene. We recommend regular dental visits involving periodic teeth cleanings, exams, x-rays and fluoride treatment to make sure you stay up to date with your oral health.

Periodic Teeth Cleanings

For your periodic teeth cleanings, you will see a dental hygienist. Your dental hygienist will first examine your teeth and gums for any signs of inflammation or sensitivity. If they suspect you have periodontal disease, they may refer you to a local periodontist. The two main instruments a hygienist will use to clean a patient’s teeth are a mouth mirror and a scaler. The mouth mirror is used to help your hygienist see all the plaque and tartar build-up and the scaler is used to efficiently remove the build-up. If there is quite a bit of calculus, your dental hygienist will use an ultrasonic scaler to get it off. An ultrasonic scaler vibrates so it helps more easily penetrate the calculus. Once all the plaque is removed, your hygienist will polish your teeth to remove any stains and biofilm.

It is important to keep up with your regular cleanings and check-ups so that your doctor can identify any potential restorative or disease-related treatment early on. This will help prevent the need for more serious restorations.

Fluoride

It is highly recommended to get a fluoride treatment after your hygienist finishes in order to keep your teeth strong and keep bacteria at bay. Fluoride combines with calcium and phosphate to create fluorapatite – a strong compound that helps fight decay better than the three elements do on their own.

Sealants

Sealants are made of a liquid resin that binds to the crevices of your teeth and creates a barrier between the tooth and particles that could potentially cause tooth decay. When a patient has deep grooves in their teeth, it makes it easier for food particles to get stuck and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Sealants are used as a preventative measure, especially on children’s teeth, to stop infection from penetrating the teeth.

Periodontal Care

Periodontal disease develops when a patient does not floss or brush frequently. It is caused by a buildup of plaque consisting of a film of bacteria and its acidic byproducts. When there is too much plaque on a patient's teeth, their gums become irritated, red and sensitive. In efforts to avoid contact with the plaque, the gums begin to recede and separate from the tooth they surround. Teeth begin to loosen as a result. The accumulation of plaque can also begin to penetrate the teeth and cause bone loss. 

Our hygienists and doctors are able to identify, diagnose and help control periodontal disease. They are proficient at performing cleanings specifically tailored to the needs of periodontal patients. For more advanced stages of periodontal disease, our office works with periodontists trusted by us and the community to give our patients the best care possible. 

Composite Fillings

Resin Composite fillings are composed of a plastic and ceramic compound. They are necessary when teeth develop decay and penetrate the tooth. Composite fillings are a better alternative to Amalgam (mixed metal) for various reasons. First, they are tooth-colored so they are not noticeable to the naked eye. Second, they bind to the surface of the tooth easily compared to amalgam fillings. This means that more of the natural tooth is preserved with composite fillings, maintaining a stronger foundation for the filling to attach to. Lastly, composite fillings are safer for more of the population than amalgam fillings are. Amalgam fillings contain mercury; although this poses no risks to the general population, some patients have shown to be allergic or sensitive to it. At our practice, we use resin composite fillings in order to give our patients strong, functional teeth and a beautiful smile.

DIAGNOdent

This is a piece of laser equipment that is able to detect decay within the tooth. The laser is shined onto the surface of the tooth and light is reflected back to the machine and measures how much decay is present. Healthy teeth do not reflect light back so the more light that is reflected, the more decay there is. This is a great tool for early decay detection and determining decay location and range within the tooth.

Root Canals

A root canal is a procedure involving the complete removal of infection inside of a tooth root. Sometimes, infection from the root canal can spread past the base of the root into the gum and cause an abscess. The doctor must drill a hole at the top of the tooth in order to access the canal and drain all of the infection out. Once the canal is drained and irrigated, it is filled with gutta percha. Gutta percha is a naturally occurring form of latex found in certain trees. It is strongly advised for patients to get a crown after a root canal. Following root canal treatment, the tooth is very fragile, sensitive, and prone to re-infection. A crown will provide a shield of protection and will preserve your natural tooth for years to come.

Bridges

Dental bridges are a more affordable alternative to implants. They are suggested when a patient has one or two missing teeth in between two of their natural teeth. Bridges are made up of two kinds of prosthetic teeth; pontics and abutments. A pontic, also referred to as a "floating tooth", is a false tooth that fills the place of a missing tooth. An abutment is the part of the bridge that attaches to the pontic and holds it in place. This tooth is usually a crown that is cemented onto the patient's natural tooth. All of our bridges are made of porcelain/ceramic and made to match your natural teeth. 

Crowns

When the structure of a tooth can no longer be preserved by a filling as a result of too much decay, crowns are the next restorative measure. The infection is first removed completely and a large filling, referred to as a core build up, is inserted to serve as the crown's foundation.  A mold of the build-up is taken so that the crown can be created to fit perfectly in place. Another type of crown we are able to place is an implant crown. An implant crown is placed on top of an implant, which is essentially a screw that is anchored into the patient's jaw and holds the implant crown in place. We do not place implants at our office, but we do refer our patients to reliable oral surgeons to place implants before we deliver their implant crowns. 

Extractions

An extraction is the process of pulling a tooth due to various reasons. Usually, if a tooth has too much decay for it to be saved, the doctor will decide an extraction is the best route. If a patient’s wisdom teeth are causing them pain, wisdom teeth extractions are done as well. If a patient has crowded teeth and is about to get braces, some of these teeth may be extracted to create room for the rest to shift around in. If a patient decides they want a full denture, any remaining teeth must be extracted to make room for the prosthetic to be placed. Sometimes, extractions may be too complicated, in which case the general dentist will refer patients to an oral surgeon since they specialize in oral surgery. We refer patients to reliable oral surgeons in our area so they can be rest assured, they are in good hands.

ZOOM Whitening Treatment

This is an in-office teeth whitening treatment that gives patients a brilliant, white smile in only one session! Patients must first complete any necessary restorations before proceeding with whitening treatment. This treatment involves the application of a whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide, followed by exposure to UV blue light in four 15-minute intervals. The hydrogen peroxide whitening agent breaks down a thin salivary layer above the enamel called the pellicle. The pellicle provides protection from acidic decomposition so removing it allows the whitening agent to penetrate the enamel and whiten it as much as possible without causing damage. This is only a temporary removal; the pellicle forms again several hours later. Heat emitted by the UV light helps expedite the whitening process, giving patients fast whitening results in a matter of minutes. This treatment can make patients’ teeth up to 8 shades whiter! It is important to continue whitening at home in order to maintain the level of brightness and whiteness achieved after ZOOM. As part of your ZOOM treatment, patients get whitening trays to take home with them and they can purchase the home whitening gel in our office whenever they’d like. Call our Hanahan office or North Charleston office for more information about our in-office ZOOM Whitening treatment.

Whitening For Life

This is an at home whitening treatment for patients who want to maintain, or gradually increase the whiteness of their teeth. We suggest Whitening for Life to patients who have had the ZOOM Whitening Treatment done and want to maintain that brilliant white smile. It is also recommended for patients who would like to achieve a whiter smile but do not mind achieving it at a more gradual pace. Keep in mind that before beginning any whitening treatment, patients must first complete any necessary restorations.

For this treatment, impressions of the patient’s teeth are taken first. These impressions will act as the mold for the patient’s whitening trays. The trays should fit the patient’s teeth comfortably. There are 2 different whitening gel strengths: 16% and 22%. The 16% whitening gel is recommended for patients with more sensitive gums. Frequency of application varies depending on the patient. Teeth/gum sensitivity and desired level of whitening can affect application frequency.

As long as patients come in every 6 months for their routine cleaning and exam, they will receive a FREE tube of whitening gel at each routine appointment FOR LIFE. Call our Hanahan office or North Charleston office for more information about our Whitening for Life treatment.

Partials & Dentures

A partial denture and a denture are a singular prosthetic piece that replaces multiple to all of a patient’s teeth. This treatment is a more affordable alternative to getting dental implants. They are removable pieces that allow a patient to eat and speak with more ease. They also restore a patient’s smile, which can be a very powerful tool capable of bringing joy and confidence to a patient. A partial denture replaces some teeth while a complete denture replaces all teeth. Teeth that are still healthy or restorable will act as a foundation for partial dentures to attach to. Both prosthetics require the extraction of decayed teeth to make room for their placement. After extraction sites have healed, the doctor will take impressions of the patient’s gums that will act as the mold for the partial denture or denture. The impressions are then sent off to a lab where the personalized prosthetic piece is made and safely mailed back to the patient’s dental office. You can be assured you’ll have a beautiful, ever-lasting smile if you decide to get dentures at our dental office!

SureSmile®

SureSmile aligners, also referred to as “invisible braces” or “clear braces”. Are a more practical, affordable and discreet alternative to regular braces. They work to gradually shift and ultimately straighten your teeth. Straight teeth are beneficial for several reasons:

  • They reduce risk of tooth decay
  • They prevent development of gum disease
  • They reduce wearing of teeth
  • They increase confidence

You may be a great candidate for SureSmile aligners if you have a cross bite, a deep bite, spaced out teeth, crowding, anterior open bite, or an edge-to-edge bite. All of these structural conditions may be diagnosed by your dentist. If you believe you have any of these conditions, Call our Hanahan office or North Charleston office today and schedule a consultation to see if SureSmile is the right choice for you!

Diagnostic X-rays

Diagnostic x-rays, or radiographs, such as bitewings x-rays, panoramic x-rays, periapical x-rays, and intraoral complete x-rays are all important in identifying problems not visible to the naked eye. Sometimes, infection and decay are not able to be diagnosed by simply looking at tooth surfaces. Diagnostic x-rays can help the doctor see areas between and within the teeth and gums that have begun to deteriorate as a result of bacterial infection.

Radiographs work by flashing a limited amount of radiation to the area being examined, resulting in a radiographic image of the inside of the teeth and gums. Radiation exposure may sound intimidating, but the levels of exposure are extremely low and are considered safe for adults and children alike. Our office takes x-rays at least once a year and more than once a year if the doctor is keeping an eye on something. We do this to ensure we are able to spot dental infection and guide our patients to prevent it from spreading as early as we can.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is used as a calming agent for dental procedures. It is especially recommended for young children and patients with dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide is a conscious sedation method that, when administered in a controlled environment such as a dentist’s office, does not drastically impair a patient’s ability to respond rationally to questions and directions. This is not a necessary agent for dental procedures but do not hesitate to ask your dental provider about it if you are interested in adding it to your treatment plan.

Nightguards/Mouthguards

Occlusal Guards, also known as mouthguards or nightguards, are made of a rubber-like polymer that takes most of the impact your teeth would normally get from bruxism. Bruxism is a medical condition in which a patient grinds their teeth so frequently that they develop dental complications. These complications include wearing down teeth enamel, chipped teeth, loose teeth, headaches when you wake, and jaw pain or inflammation (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). Occlusal guards help mitigate and prevent these complications in the future. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms as a result of teeth grinding, Call our Hanahan office or North Charleston office to schedule an appointment and discuss the possibility of getting a nightguard.

Dentist Reviews on Google

Happy Smiles

The best dentists and staff in Berkeley County. Twice I had to request an emergency visit and they accommodated me the same day. All procedures were without pain. This is a 5-star practice.

Dentist Reviews on Google

Happy Smiles

I am extremely satisfied with Modern Family Dentistry and excited to build a long-lasting relationship with them over the years to come!

Dentist Reviews on Google

Happy Smiles

I cannot even explain how relieved I am to have found Modern Family Dentistry and how comfortable I am to go back for future dental work.

Dentist Reviews on Google

Happy Smiles

I've never been a huge fan of the dentist, but they've made my entire opinion change! They are helpful, sweet and caring! The service is out of this world! I'd recommend them to everyone! Thanks for taking care of me & helping overcome my fear of dentist.

Dentist Reviews on Google

Happy Smiles

Excellent care, very friendly staff & great with kids!