General Dentistry

General Dentistry

In addition to providing periodontal treatment, our practice offers general and restorative dentistry services.

Dr. Bezik and our in-house general dentist strive to deliver comprehensive oral healthcare from one convenient location.

Receiving regular checkups and cleanings along with preventive services and routine restorations is essential to preserving the health of teeth and gums for a lifetime. From gentle cleanings to custom restorations like crowns and bridges, our team has your entire oral health covered.

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Checkups and Cleanings

Checkups and cleanings are necessary for preventing oral disease and increasing the likelihood of early detection for conditions such as dental caries, gum disease, and oral cancer. Patients should visit our practice twice a year for cleanings and checkups.

A dental checkup is more thorough than some might think. In addition to looking for signs of gum disease or tooth decay, our dentist will use the latest technology to evaluate the health of tooth structure below the gums and even the jawbone. Not only do we look for common problems like tooth wear or inflamed gums, we screen for oral cancer – which can be fatal if not caught and treated early on.

Dental cleanings are another important component of enjoying vibrant oral health. A cleaning is the only way to remove tartar. This substance is the calcified form of plaque and when it collects along the gums, it can contribute to periodontal disease and ultimately expose the roots of teeth to oral bacteria and debris from food. Brushing and flossing alone is not enough to remove tartar. It must be scraped away with clinical instruments. During cleanings, our hygienists will screen for signs of gum disease by measuring the size and depth of periodontal pockets.

Preventive Treatments

Beyond routine cleanings and checkups, there are preventive services a person can receive to strengthen teeth and protect against tooth decay. We offer two popular preventive services, fluoride treatments and dental sealants.

Fluoride treatments are administered to strengthen tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is composed of strong minerals like calcium. When teeth are exposed to unnecessary force and pressure or acid, tooth enamel can become weak and worn down. Fluoride is a mineral found in many foods. When applied to the teeth in gel or varnish form, it can strengthen tooth enamel by replenishing its mineral content. Fluoride treatments are affordable and non-invasive.

Dental sealants are another method for protecting teeth from decay and damage. A sealant is a clear coating that is applied over the biting surface of teeth and hardened with a curing light. Dental sealants are typically placed over the molars because these teeth often have deep grooves and pits where bacteria and plaque tend to collect. Since molars are more likely to develop decay than other teeth, dental sealants offer extra protection from cavity-causing bacteria.

Dental Restorations

Even if a person practices good oral hygiene and receives regular dental care, teeth can still become damaged. When a tooth is diseased or damaged, a restoration is necessary because teeth cannot heal on their own. Our practice offers various types of restorations that address issues such as small cavities to chipped or broken teeth. Bridges are also available as a restoration for those who have lost teeth.

Fillings are used to restore a tooth affected by minimal tooth decay. When cavities are detected early on, a filling is most commonly used to protect the tooth’s structure and prevent decay from deepening. Placing fillings is minimally invasive and requires very little tooth preparation.

Dental crowns are larger restorations that fit over an entire tooth above the gums. Custom made, these types of restorations are ideal for repairing teeth extensively damaged by decay or a dental injury. Crowns can be constructed from a number of materials including metals and ceramic.

Bridges are a series of crowns that anchor to biological teeth to fill in the gaps of a smile affected by the loss of one or two teeth. Like a single crown, a bridge is custom made to the unique needs of a patient.

most popular questions

Common Questions

Your questions about general dentistry answered.

Your teeth should be cleaned twice a year, every six months. Some patients with periodontal disease may require more frequent cleanings.

Fillings are minimally invasive restorations. The overwhelming majority of our patients do not feel any discomfort during the placement of fillings. This is because very little tooth reduction is needed to place a filling. As a precaution, local anesthetic is used to minimize the possibility of discomfort. The main sensation a patient will feel during a filling is mild pressure.

A crown is essentially a cap that fits over a badly damaged or diseased tooth. Crowns are shaped like a tooth, and are made to very precise specifications so that they fit between existing teeth and restore a patient’s bite. Those receiving crowns can choose the materials used for their restoration. Popular options include porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, and metal alloys.

A dental sealant can prevent the development of tooth decay on the biting surface of a tooth. If you have molars with deep fissures or have difficulty keeping your molars clean and free of plaque, a dental sealant might be an effective way to protect your teeth against decay. Cavity-causing bacteria cannot penetrate the structure of sealant.

Crown aesthetics have to do with the look of your smile after a restorative procedure has been implemented. This is an important part of the planning stage, when deciding how to fix a person’s smile. There are many different types of crowns and procedures that will give off a different look, which could overall change the look of the smile. Many dentists agree that ceramic or porcelain crown usually give off the best aesthetic.

Cosmetic dentists are usually the ones who discuss and study crown aesthetics. These dentists are used to help a patient plan the perfect smile, and will help take them through the different steps to get them there. There are many options and cosmetic dentists are specialists and extremely knowledgeable of their craft. They make beautiful smiles for a living, so crown aesthetics are an important part of their repertoire. If a patient is wondering what options they have to fix a missing tooth or teeth, a cosmetic dentist is the best place to go to take care of all of their aesthetic crown needs.

There are many different types of material used for dental fillings. These included but are not limited to gold, porcelain, silver amalgam, resin, glass ionomer, and sometimes tooth colored plastic. Most patients get either gold, silver amalgam or tooth colored fillings. The pros and cons are as follows:

Gold fillings do not corrode and can last over 10 years. Many patients agree that gold fillings have a better aesthetic quality than silver amalgam, but gold fillings are more costly. Usually the procedure requires two different visits.

Silver amalgam fillings are made up of a mixture containing mercury, silver, tin, zinc and copper. They can also last over 10 years. They are less expensive than the tooth colored fillings, but do not match the color of a patient’s teeth and therefore have a lesser aesthetic quality. More of the tooth must be removed to make space for these types of fillings. They can also cause more severe fractures of the teeth.

Tooth colored fillings have the best aesthetic quality because they look similar to a patient’s actual teeth. They are usually used for front teeth. They also bond to the tooth itself, creating better support than other types of fillings. They have multiple uses including repairing broken, chipped or fractured teeth.

There are many factors that go into the decision of what types of filling to use. These include, but are not limited to, the amount of damage or decay, patient homecare and habits and the advice of a patient’s dentist.

As discussed above there are many different types of crowns made up of different types of materials. Some of the options are stainless steel, metal crowns, porcelain-fused metal, resin, ceramic, porcelain, and milled crowns, among others.

Stainless steel crowns are usually used for temporary purposes, while the actual crown is being created in the lab. These crowns protect the tooth from worsening damage and decay. They are usually used for children, because these types of crowns usually require a single visit, while other types of crowns can take multiple visits.

Metal crowns include gold and other alloys. With these types of crowns less of the tooth need to be removed. Resin crowns are cheaper than other types of crowns but they are not as sturdy as others. Ceramic and porcelain crowns provide the color that is most similar to actual teeth. They are usually used for front teeth, and for people with metal allergies. Milled crowns require no impressions and are digitally created in offices that have the technology to produce them.

Meet The Doctor

Dr. Bezik

Dr. Bezik is committed to providing advanced, state-of-the-art periodontal and implant related treatments in a relaxing environment to improve the general and dental health of our patients.

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Dr. Bezik

DDS, MDS

We Strive To Make Your Dental Visits A Pleasure!

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Call the DC Office:

(202)-363-5720

Call the Fairfax, VA Office:

(703)-934-4474

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