Dr. Derek Conover is one of Philadelphia’s top dentists for cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry. He provides patients with the highest level of care and comfort. Opus Dental Esthetics houses the latest technology and techniques in modern dentistry. As a top local dentist in Philadelphia, PA, Dr. Conover wants to help you reach your oral health goals.
Our dental care team offers general dental services to help you reach optimal oral health. Dr. Conover aims to help you maintain your teeth and gums. We will tailor all preventive services to your unique dental care needs and smile goals.
A healthy, lifelong smile results from a good and thorough oral health care routine. Even if you maintain a good daily oral hygiene routine at home, you should visit the dentist. We recommend that you visit our Philadelphia dentist’s office at least every six months.
General Dentistry in Philadelphia, PA
Many patients come to our dental office because of Dr. Conover’s cosmetic and restorative dentistry expertise. However, most choose to stay with us because we offer complete oral health services. We want to deliver healthy and beautiful smiles to every patient.
Our preventive dental hygiene program includes professional teeth cleanings and oral health check-ups. For optimal oral health, we suggest you visit our office at least twice a year. However, we will base the number of times you schedule a dentist appointment on your dental needs.
We work with you to ensure your long-term dental health and well-being. Good dental health is vital because it can impact your overall health. In addition to general dental care, we offer complete cosmetic and restorative dental treatments that include dental implants, teeth whitening, and porcelain veneers.
What to Expect at a Routine Dental Check-up
We recommend that you visit our office every six months. We’ll recommend more frequent visits if you have reoccurring gum or tooth problems. Your regular dental visit may include:
Exam
Our hygienists will first look at your teeth and gums with a dental mirror to see if you show signs of gum disease. They will look for gum recession, bleeding gums, and red gum tissue. They will also use a probe to measure gum pockets, which often indicate problems like gum disease.
Cleaning
After we examine your mouth, we will clean your teeth and gums. To start the cleaning, our dental hygienist uses a special tool called a scaler to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. When it hardens, it becomes tartar. You can’t remove it with a toothbrush, so we use special tools to gently scrape it away from your teeth and along the gumline.
Then, our hygienist polishes your teeth. The hygienist uses a soft rubber cup and a special polishing paste to smooth the surface of your teeth. This removes surface stains and helps prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth as easily.
Finally, the hygienist flosses between your teeth. This step reaches areas that you might miss when you brush.
Fluoride and Sealants
We often suggest fluoride treatments after this cleaning to prevent cavities. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel, or outer layer, of the tooth. This general dentistry treatment in our Philadelphia, PA office helps children and teens who consume a lot of sugar and may not care for their teeth well yet.
Sealants are a protective treatment we use to help keep teeth healthy. They are thin, plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, which are the larger teeth at the back of the mouth. These teeth have deep grooves and pits that can trap food and bacteria, making them more prone to cavities. Sealants act as a shield to cover these areas and prevent decay.
Fillings and Root Canals
If you have a cavity, we can offer fillings. Dental fillings are routine dental procedures we provide people with cavities. A tooth cavity is a hole in the tooth enamel. If you develop tooth decay, harmful bacteria can break down your teeth to create cavities.
In many cases, we provide fillings after we remove the tooth’s decayed portion. But we will suggest root canal therapy if the infection reaches the nerves within your tooth.
Complete Dentistry in Center City, Philadelphia
Since 1984, our private practice has been devoted to comprehensive reconstructive, implant, and cosmetic dentistry in Center City, Philadelphia. Our team offers excellent personalized patient service. Our team promises to deliver high-quality dental care with state-of-the-art technology.
We were one of the first dental practices in the Philadelphia region to place and implement:
- Bonded porcelain restorations
- Networked digital radiography
- Cosmetic imaging
- Laser whitening procedures
- Digital scanning for porcelain restorations
Comfortable Injections
Our dental care team uses a painless injection technique to help you feel comfortable. We apply a topical numbing gel to the tissue with a swab. The gel will numb the spot where the doctor will give you one of the most gentle shots.
We don’t start any treatment until you’re comfortable. If you still feel uncomfortable, we will give you more anesthesia. Dentistry today can be truly painless.
Not Your Average Dentist Office
Not many people would say they look forward to dental visits. But when you visit Dr. Conover, a local dentist in Philadelphia, you’ll have an enjoyable and relaxing visit. Dr. Conover offers first-class amenities in his dental office that include:
- Gentle soft-touch methods
- In-chair entertainment system
- Personal headphones and music
- Warm blankets
- Complimentary refreshments
- Chilled eye compress
- Neck and knee cushions
- Hot face towels
General Dentistry FAQs
We welcome you to learn more about routine care and our general dentistry services in Philadelphia, PA, with answers to these questions:
How do I avoid future tooth cavities?
First, cut back on foods and drinks high in sugar and other starches. The harmful bacteria that create cavities feed on sugars and starches left in the mouth.
Also brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Floss before you brush to remove food debris from between teeth. We recommend that you use a soft-bristled brush. Hard toothbrush bristles can wear your teeth down and can increase tooth sensitivity.
Remember to visit us at least every six months for an exam and a cleaning. Tooth decay often takes about six months to form. Regular visits help us treat areas at risk before a cavity forms. We can remove harmful bacteria and protect your teeth when we thoroughly clean your mouth.
Will a filling be enough to repair decay?
In most cases, yes. After we remove decay from the tooth, we use a dental filling to fill that portion and prevent reinfection.
But if your teeth are too damaged we can place inlays, onlays, or a dental crown. We also recommend these options if you have tooth damage and a cavity.
Why do I need general dental care if I brush and floss every day?
Routine dental care is essential because it helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Our team will examine all aspects of your smile, from teeth to gums to jaw joints. We also look for early signs of other health issues like oral cancer.
Our hygienists can also reach and clean areas that you may not be able to reach yourself. Even though toothbrushes are vital, their reach within your mouth is limited. Gum disease is one of the most common dental problems that affects people of all ages. But you can prevent gum disease with routine dental care.
Contact Our Office
Do you need to make your next dental visit? Call Dr. Conover, your local dentist in Philadelphia, PA, at (215) 395-6076. You may also schedule an appointment online.
If you have questions about general dentistry in our Philadelphia, PA office, let us know at your next visit. We’re here to help.