Superior General Dentistry Services
At Maniscalco Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we believe that healthy smiles are always the most beautiful. Through the wide range of general and preventive dentistry services we offer, we’ll help you prevent serious dental problems by providing reliable diagnoses in the early stages and remedying oral health issues before they can progress. By visiting our Birmingham dental practice every 6 months, you’ll help ensure your mouth stays healthy and beautiful!
Dental Exams in Birmingham
Whether you’re a new or returning patient, we want to see you every 6 months for a dental exam and a thorough cleaning. If you encounter pain or problems in between these visits, we recommend making an appointment to see us as soon as possible.
During your bi-yearly exams, we’ll begin by taking X-rays of your teeth. Your X-rays allow us to see what’s going on inside your teeth and facial structure, revealing indicators that may not be detectable to the naked eye. Following your X-rays, Dr. Maniscalco will complete a visual examination of your teeth. He will check your gums, teeth, cheeks, and all areas of your mouth for signs of trouble.
The visual exam, in combination with X-rays, will help Dr. Maniscalco diagnose any problems in your mouth. This can include detecting cavities, decay, gum disease or periodontal disease, signs of bruxism, cracks or chips in your teeth, or even oral cancer. He’ll also inspect any restorations you’ve received to see if they need replacing. Over time, fillings, crowns, bridges, and even dentures need replacing.
After your exam, Dr. Maniscalco will either give you a clean bill of health or recommend any necessary treatments. In addition, he’ll provide insight into how you can adjust your personal routines to improve your dental health.
Dental X-Rays in Birmingham
Dental X-rays are a normal part of any dental visit at our Birmingham dentist office. Although they’re not everyone’s favorite part of a dental exam, they’re necessary to ensure your mouth is healthy. Dental X-rays today are fast, easy, and informative! Since all the X-rays we take are completely digital, you won’t need to wait for film to develop. This not only saves you from a long procedure, it also helps your exam go by quicker.
Our digital X-rays capture images that can be magnified up to 25x. This allows us to diagnose dental issues faster and more precisely. The X-rays show us what’s going on throughout your mouth so that we can provide you with the most effective treatment. No problems will go unnoticed! Digital X-rays are more environmentally friendly since there’s no film to be developed. In addition, they expose you to less radiation than what was previously considered the norm. Dental X-rays are a key component to effective preventive and general dentistry because they allow us to detect underlying problems that may not be identified visually.
Dental Cleanings in Birmingham
Dental cleanings used to be the most dreaded procedure by patients because they were a long and uncomfortable treatment. Today, dental cleanings are fast and comfortably performed by your expert dental hygienist.
Our hygienist will polish away plaque and tartar on your teeth that cannot be removed by brushing alone. They’ll also floss your teeth and apply fluoride upon your request. The purpose of a dental cleaning is to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, preventing the development of decay and cavities. It can even remove surface stains!
Your hygienist will remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth for perfect results. After your dental cleaning, you’ll leave our office with a smile that looks and feels spotless! Make sure to maintain these results with regular brushing and flossing at home. Return to our dentist office in 6 months to keep your teeth clean and cavity-free.
Dental Hygiene in Birmingham
Dental hygiene is one of the most important components of preventive and general dentistry. Dental hygiene involves taking care of your teeth with regular flossing and brushing. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many patients neglect these easy tasks. It’s important to not only be consistent with your brushing and flossing but to be doing it correctly.
During your visit with our hygienist, we’ll show you how to properly brush and floss. In addition, we can give you tips for choosing the right toothbrush, whether manual or electric, and provide tips for flossing. If you have any restorations, we’ll also go over proper care to keep them and your dental health in great shape!
Following a good dental hygiene routine can help prevent cavities, decay, periodontal disease, and other severe dental problems. Dental problems can actually increase your risk of heart disease and can lead to serious problems like poor circulation and increased risk of stroke. Make sure you’re using a recommended toothpaste to ensure for a healthy mouth! You can also include a mouthwash in your routine for a fresh and clean smile.
Composite Tooth Colored Fillings in Birmingham
You might have seen them in your own smile or those of others, but we do not use amalgam or metal fillings at our Birmingham dental office. Instead, we only use composite or tooth-colored fillings. Not only are tooth-colored fillings more attractive, they are stronger and protect your teeth more effectively than metal fillings.
Metal fillings may contain mercury, which can be potentially dangerous. For this reason, we recommend that patients with metal fillings have them replaced with safe composite alternatives. These will never present any risk to your health and, since they are tooth-colored, are totally unnoticeable.
If you’re interested in exchanging your metal tooth fillings for composite fillings, Dr. Maniscalco is happy to complete the procedure for you. He’ll simply remove the old fillings, prepare the cavity, and install the new composite filling in its place. This is a completely pain-free procedure that will leave you with a stronger, healthier, and more beautiful smile!
Root Canals Endodontist in Birmingham
Root canals may have a bad reputation for being painful, but this is not true for modern procedures. Before your root canal, you may be in pain from your infection. However, root canal therapy will help effectively resolve this pain. A root canal can ease the pain of your infected tooth and prevent you from needing an extraction. Although we do not complete root canals in-house, we can refer you to a nearby specialist who does.
Periodontist in Birmingham
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the health of your gums. Unhealthy gums can lead to periodontal disease and result in loose teeth that could eventually fall out. Gum disease is quite common and tends to affect people before they’ve even turned 45 years old. Gum disease is very preventable with proper dental hygiene habits and regular visits to your dentist for cleanings and exams. When we notice that your gum health is declining, we can provide a deep cleaning to prevent gingivitis from forming.
With modern dental technology, treatment for periodontal disease doesn’t have to be painful. We use lasers for treatment which lead to shorter healing times and less pain. When we notice bacteria forming on your gums, the laser can be used to dive deep into the gum tissue and remove harmful bacteria. These deep cleanings are known as a scaling and root planing. This isn’t always needed if the patient maintains proper hygiene habits and visits us regularly.