Lake Norman Dental · Lake Norman and Huntersville's Favorite Dentist · 704-948-1300
General Dentistry
Preventive care is a HUGE part of keeping your teeth bright and healthy. It's much easier and cheaper to prevent a problem from happening in the first place than to fix it in the office after the fact.
Regular cleanings, exams, x-rays, and screenings will keep you smiling bright for years to come!
Dental Cleanings & Exams
Dental cleanings and exams are two of the most basic yet important preventive treatments we provide at our office.
Each time you visit our dental practice for a checkup, we will provide a professional teeth cleaning and dental exam to help your smile stay healthy. During your cleaning and exam, our dental team will:
- Clean your teeth by removing any plaque or tartar (also called dental calculus), which can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Floss and polish your teeth for a healthy, bright smile
- Examine your smile for signs of any damaging dental conditions or diseases
We may utilize dental X-rays to further evaluate your smile and make certain that you receive the dental care you need. Regular dental cleanings and exams are essential in maintaining good oral health, preventing cavities and gum disease, and making sure that any damaging conditions are treated as early as possible.
We recommend that you visit us every six months for a routine dental cleaning and exam. We may suggest more frequent visits if needed, and we also encourage you to contact us if you suffer from a dental emergency, pain or injury. To schedule your next appointment, we invite you to contact us today. We look forward to caring for your smile!
Dental Sealants
As a small part of preventive dental care, dental sealants help seal off the surfaces of the teeth to prevent decay, promoting a strong, healthy smile.
Dr. JC Duncan, and our team offer dental sealants in Huntersville, North Carolina, as a normal treatment option for children and adults.
A sealant is a preventive dental treatment that our dentist may recommend to protect patients’ teeth from decay. A dental sealant is made of a clear or tooth-colored resin material, which is painted onto the chewing surface of teeth. By blocking out the bacteria and food debris that lead to tooth decay, the sealant prevents decay and cavities. The dental sealant forms a smooth coating over the natural pits and grooves of the tooth surface, which also makes it easier to effectively clean teeth with normal brushing.
Dental sealants are most often recommended for children. They are frequently recommended for the permanent molars as soon as they come in, usually between the ages of 6 and 12 years. We may also recommend dental sealants for adult patients whose teeth are prone to decay or have not been restored or suffered from decay in the past. We can apply dental sealants in just one short, comfortable visit to our practice.
Sealants can be a powerful tool in preventing decay and keeping your smile healthy. To learn more about dental sealants and how our team can keep your smile in good health, we welcome you to call or visit our office today.
Emergency Dental Care
We understand that sometimes, things just happen. We offer emergency dental care for patients who find themselves suffering from toothaches, broken or knocked-out teeth, or lost dental fillings or crowns.
A dental emergency is a situation that requires prompt attention from a dental professional. At our office, we understand that you cannot always plan when you will need our care. If you experience a dental emergency, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. Our team will schedule you to meet with our dentist as soon as we are able so you can receive the care you need. We are happy to care for several types of dental emergencies, including:
- Severe, lasting toothaches or other types of tooth pain
- A lost dental restoration, such as a lost filling or crown
- Damage to the soft tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, cheeks, lips and gums
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- A chipped or broken tooth
- A partially or fully knocked-out tooth
If you suffer from one of these conditions or another type of dental emergency, please contact our office. Our team will also be able to provide you with instructions on how to take care of your smile until you are able to come to our office to meet with us. If you have experienced trauma to the head or neck, we recommend that you visit the emergency room or your general physician before coming to us, even if your smile is also damaged. To learn more about dental emergency care, we invite you to call or visit us today.
Gum Disease Treatments
To ensure the health of your gums or to treat gums that are swollen, red or tender, our dentist, Dr. JC Duncan, and our team recommend gum disease treatment. This treatment will help restore the comfort and functionality of your mouth, giving you something to smile about.
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a degenerative condition primarily caused by bacteria found in plaque. The bacteria inflame and infect the gum tissues, and when left untreated, the gums can eventually begin to pull away from the teeth. Untreated periodontal disease can result in bone loss, tooth loss and gum tissue recession.
If your gums are swollen, red or tender, or if your gums bleed easily, you may have periodontal disease. Other common symptoms of gum disease include loose teeth, painful chewing, persistent bad breath and receding gums that make your teeth appear longer than normal. Following an exam at our office, our dentist and team will be able to determine whether you suffer from periodontal disease.
The treatment for gum disease is based upon your specific needs. Depending on the severity of the condition, our dentist may recommend additional professional dental cleanings, improved at-home oral hygiene, antibiotic treatment, scaling and root planing (deep cleanings), or gum surgery. We strive to help you restore your oral health and halt the progress of the disease. For more information on periodontal treatment, we welcome you to call or visit our office soon. We look forward to caring for your smile!
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, throat (pharynx), sinuses, and hard and soft palate. While oral cancer can usually be successfully treated when detected early, most cases of oral cancer are not detected until they have progressed into a more serious, advanced stage that is much more difficult to treat. In fact, oral cancer may be life-threatening. At our office, we are dedicated to doing all we can to detect and treat oral cancers and other abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. During your routine dental cleanings and exams at our office, our dentist and team will perform an oral cancer screening to check for the signs of oral cancer.
The following are common symptoms of oral cancer:
- A persistent sore throat or feeling that something is caught at the back of the throat
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- A persistent or lasting sore on the face, neck or mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal within two weeks
- Unexplained loss of feeling, pain or numbness in the face, neck or mouth
- Ear pain
- Lumps, bumps or rough spots on the gums, lips or other parts of the mouth
- Red, white or speckled red-and-white patches in the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, speaking or swallowing
- A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
While our team will perform a screening for oral cancer to check for these and other symptoms, we encourage you to contact us if you notice any of these problems or if you experience any other type of dental pain. We are committed to helping you stay in good health.
TMJ Treatments
Does your mouth click or pop when you chew? Do you experience jaw pain or grinding? You may have temporomandibular disorder, also called TMJ disorder.
The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, or the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. The term “TMJ” is often used to refer to TMJ disorder, also called TMD, which occurs when the jaw joint becomes stressed, injured or misaligned. TMJ disorder may result due to several different factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck or jaw.
You may suffer from TMD if you experience frequent jaw pain or facial pain. TMJ disorders may also cause:
- Grinding, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw when you open and close your mouth
- Inability to open your mouth wide to speak, yawn or chew
- A locked or stuck jaw
- Pain when chewing and biting
- Pain in the neck, shoulders or ears
- Frequent headaches
JC Duncan, DDS can help you determine the cause of your TMJ disorder and recommend the appropriate treatment. Treatment for the TMJ will depend on the cause and severity of your TMJ disorder. TMD treatment may include jaw and facial relaxation exercises, lifestyle changes, restorative dental treatments, a mouth guard or night guard, or jaw surgery.
To learn more about TMJ treatment and schedule your consultation with us, we encourage you to contact us today.
Tooth Extractions
When a mouth is too crowded or a tooth has become infected, it is sometimes necessary to remove the teeth. Dr. Duncan and team care about your dental health and will do all we can to ensure your mouth gets the care it needs.
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth. While we strive to avoid the need to remove a tooth whenever possible, certain conditions may make tooth extraction the most effective option for returning your smile to good health and function. Following the tooth extraction, we are happy to provide you with one of our excellent tooth replacement treatments to restore your smile to optimal health, beauty and function.
Several conditions may necessitate tooth extraction. Among these are:
- Severe infection that has destroyed a significant portion of the tooth and supporting bone structure
- Serious decay that has damaged a tooth beyond repair, making a successful restoration impossible
- Crowding caused by too many teeth to properly fit in the mouth
Our dentist and team use great care and skill when performing a tooth extraction to ensure that your experience is as comfortable and painless as possible. We will also provide you with detailed post-treatment care instructions so that you can properly take care of your smile as it heals. For more information on tooth extraction and to schedule your personalized consultation at our friendly dental office, we invite you to call or visit us today. We are committed to improving your smile!
