General Dentistry

If you’re looking for a dental office you can count on, bring your family to Beacon Dental in Winterville, NC! At our office, we provide general dentistry services with care tailored to fit your needs. While treating your smile, we will also make every effort to educate you about your oral health; knowledge is power, and health-conscious patients can make better decisions about their oral health. 

Our goal is to make you and your family members feel confident and happy with their smiles. You will be treated by professional and dedicated members of our team who are devoted to keeping you healthy and your smile beautiful through general dentistry. Call today to schedule your visit!

Cleanings & Exams

We recommend that you and your family visit us for a cleaning and exam at least every six months. By doing so, you are able to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria on the surface of your teeth from causing gum disease and tooth decay. 

While maintaining great oral health at home helps to prevent these issues from occurring, tartar may thrive in areas unreachable by your toothbrush. This hardened substance must be removed by our team members with special tools.

After cleaning your teeth, we will perform a careful examination; if we notice anything unusual during the exam, we are able to recommend treatment before the problem worsens. This helps to prevent the need for more invasive treatment methods or the progression of oral health conditions.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer screenings are conducted during your routine cleaning and exam. During this time, our dental professionals will closely examine your entire oral structure by the use of a digital x-ray. We will also perform a thorough observation of your tissues on the lips and face, as well as an inspection for abnormalities in the mouth and throat. 

Please tell us if you have noticed any of the following while at home:

• Persistent red or white mouth sores
• Lumps in the mouth or neck
• Unusual nodules or masses in the neck or throat

Crowns

Dental crowns are prosthetic appliances used to restore the appearance and functionality of a badly damaged or decayed tooth. Crowns make it possible for our team to save these natural teeth and protect them from future damage. Using our CEREC system, you can have a crown designed and created to precisely fit you within one office visit! 

Bridges

A dental bridge is a fixed appliance used to span a gap of one or more missing teeth. The bridge is made from multiple dental crowns which have been fused together. The application process is as follows:

• Neighboring teeth on either side of the gap must be prepared by having their size reduced. This allows the appliance to blend seamlessly and fit over the natural teeth.
• The appliance will be placed over the prepared teeth and cemented into place, effectively filling the gap and restoring the patient’s smile.

Dentures

Dentures are another restorative option for replacing missing teeth. The appliance is removable and is secured by either suction or dental-safe adhesive. This allows you to smile confidently and enjoy eating most foods again.

• Full dentures span a complete arch of missing teeth. If there are any remaining teeth on the arch requiring removal, we will extract those teeth and either fit your dentures immediately or wait a few months for healing. 
• Partial dentures are used to replace one or more missing teeth. These types of appliances are typically clipped into place by adhering to your natural teeth.

Bonding

If your tooth has been chipped or damaged, bonding is a great way to restore its appearance as well as its function. The bonding material is made from composite resin, a tooth-colored material that is durable enough to withstand normal wear and tear. 

For chipped teeth that are caused by teeth grinding, it might be necessary to use an oral appliance to protect the bonding material from damage as well.

Mouthguards (for Bruxism & TMJ)

Mouthguards are oral appliances capable of treating and preventing the damage caused by teeth grinding and TMD. TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) is a condition that often occurs in conjunction with teeth grinding. 

TMD is an inflammatory condition that affects the joint (TMJ, the temporomandibular joint) connecting your jawbone to your skull. This can cause opening and closing your mouth to cause a popping sound, over time becoming more painful or challenging.

Our oral appliance may be worn while you are sleeping to prevent the connection between the upper and lower jaw arch. This relieves tension on your jaw joints and prevents your teeth from grinding against one another and causing damage.