Dentist Oxford PA

Dr. Stefan Speck and his team provide general dentistry solutions to patients in Oxford, PA, and the surrounding areas. General dental care offers preventative treatment to patients to address current dental issues while preventing future oral health problems. For example, removing severely infected teeth prevents the spread of decay and further loss of adjacent natural teeth.

Wearing a custom-made sports mouthguard during contact sports protects teeth and prevents patients from needing cosmetic or restorative dental care.

General Dentistry in Oxford, Pennsylvania

General Dentistry in Oxford, PA

There are a variety of unique dental treatments that can reinforce good oral hygiene habits and stop developing oral health issues:

Custom Sports Mouthguards

Patients who play contact sports need custom sports mouthguards to protect their teeth from injury or loss. Dr. Speck can provide sports mouthguards that are made to fit your smile. Mouthguards are important because they prevent dental injuries, including tooth chips, cracks, and fractures. Patients with braces can also protect their oral appliances by wearing a sports mouthguard.

Emergency Dentistry

In the event of a dental emergency, call Oxford Family Dentistry. Dr. Speck and his dental team can provide immediate treatment for various emergencies. Common dental emergencies include knocked-out permanent teeth, broken dental restorations, and severe tooth pain. Contact our dental office, and we can help address your emergency immediately.

Family Dentistry

As a family dentist, Dr. Speck offers treatment for patients of all ages. He works with families to ensure everyone receives dental care under one roof. Dr. Speck also provides age-specific treatments, such as sealants for younger patients and restorative or cosmetic care for adults.

Tooth Extraction

Dental extractions are needed to address infected, impacted, or overcrowded teeth. Removing a problematic tooth or teeth can improve the health of the smile. Dr. Speck also provides dental implants and implant-secured restorations for patients who need to replace an extracted tooth. Dental implants look like natural teeth and provide strength and stability.

The Importance of Preventative Care

Preventative care provides the basis for your oral health. It’s also at the core of our dental practice. Patients have to practice preventative care both at home and in regular visits to the dentist office.

When you’re at home, brushing and flossing regularly are essential. While you get dental cleanings at your office appointments, brushing at home prevents debris and bacteria from building up. When they do, they form a sticky plaque coating your teeth. The stickiness attracts more debris, eventually hardening into tartar when it isn’t properly cleaned. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease, among other dental problems.

However, brushing and flossing at home isn’t enough. There are areas of your mouth you can’t properly clean with a normal toothbrush at home. We have specialized dental tools to reach into these nooks and crannies, clearing away any buildup. You can be brushing and flossing diligently at home but be at increased risk of oral health problems because plaque and tartar are still building up in those hard-to-reach areas.

We don’t just clean your teeth when you visit the office. Our team has training in identifying dental problems in the earliest stages. Issues like gum disease and oral cancer have early warning signs that can be hard to detect on your own. Many adults in the USA have gum disease but don’t realize it because the signs aren’t painful. Not only do we have specialized training, but we have modern diagnostic technology to detect things as soon as possible. This makes treatment more affordable and less invasive.

Diet and Oral Health

Your diet plays a big part in your oral health. Certain nutrients are necessary for oral health, while certain foods should be avoided if you want your smile in peak condition.

Needed Nutrients

Calcium and Vitamin D are the most important things for healthy teeth. Calcium builds tooth enamel and ensures your teeth stay strong against tooth decay. It replenishes minerals that can be destroyed by acid. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium better. Dairy is one of the best sources of calcium, and fortified dairy products often contain Vitamin D, too, to ensure the best absorption rates.

Phosphorus and Vitamin C are important for your gums. They’re both beneficial for keeping the gum tissue and structures that connect teeth to bone healthy. Vitamin C plays a big part in collagen production, which helps tissue integrity. Antioxidants reduce inflammation, which is one of the main components of gum disease. Vitamin C fights infection and makes you less likely to develop infections and other conditions.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables act like natural toothbrushes when you’re eating them. They can get down in between teeth, disrupting food debris stuck there. They require a lot of chewing to break down, increasing saliva production. Saliva is extremely important for your oral health. It neutralizes acids and washes away food particles. Dry mouth increases the chances of oral health problems.

Things to Avoid

Sugar is one of the worst things for your oral health. Sugars and food particles attract harmful bacteria in the mouth so that they can feed off of it. When they feed, they release an acidic byproduct that attacks the tooth enamel, leading to cavities. The more sugar you eat, the more byproduct is released. It’s worse when you continue eating it throughout the day, as your teeth are then constantly exposed to acid attacks.

Acid is another thing to avoid. It increases the rate at which the enamel wears away. Though brushing is normally recommended after eating harmful foods, you shouldn’t brush for 30 minutes after eating something acidic. It increases the rate at which your enamel wears away.

General Dental FAQs

Read answers to common questions that many patients ask about general dental treatments here:

Do tooth extractions hurt?

Before tooth extraction treatment, Dr. Speck uses a local anesthetic to numb the treated area. Anesthetics help provide pain-free dental care so patients feel relaxed and comfortable during tooth extraction.

What do I do if I have dental anxiety?

Please let our office know if you or a loved one have a fear of the dentist or dental anxiety. We want our patients to feel relaxed and comfortable in our office. Call our dental office before your appointment, and our team will accommodate your needs.

How do store-bought mouthguards compare to custom mouthguards?

Over-the-counter sports mouthguards are often bulky and can fall out during a game. This is because they are not customized to your unique smile. Sports mouthguards are meant to have a comfortable, precise fit. Custom, professionally-made sports mouthguards are fabricated from dental impressions. Store-bought mouthguards are not as effective as custom sports mouthguards.

How often should I get a dental X-ray?

The frequency of dental X-rays depends on your oral health status. Some patients may need X-rays as often as every six months. On the other hand, patients with no recent dental or gum disease may only need X-rays every 12 to 24 months. Children or adults at higher risk for cavities may need X-rays more frequently. Your dentist will consider your circumstances and recommend an appropriate X-ray schedule.

Who needs dental sealants?

Dentists usually recommend dental sealants for children and teenagers when their permanent molars and premolars come in. However, adults without fillings or tooth decay can also benefit from sealants. It’s a preventative measure to protect against tooth decay.

How long can you delay wisdom tooth extraction?

Most dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth when they emerge in your late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth can cause tooth impaction, infection, and crowding of other teeth. Delaying this procedure could lead to more complex and painful problems down the road. These problems include infections, cysts, or damage to neighboring teeth.

Schedule a Dental Appointment

Are you looking for a new dentist in the West Grove or Oxford, PA area? Call Oxford Family Dentistry today at 610.753.4506 or request a dental consultation with Dr. Speck online. Let Dr. Speck or a member of his dental team know if you have any remaining questions. We look forward to meeting you on your next visit to our office.