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General Dentistry

Experience the benefits of healthy teeth.

If you want to experience your best smile at every age, general dentistry is the place to begin. With a passion for providing a comfortable and positive general dentistry experience, Dr. Brad is committed to helping you and your family prevent and treat common oral health issues and experience the benefits a strong, healthy smile brings.

General Dentistry Services at Williams Dental & Orthodontics

Through regular cleanings and evaluations, we will monitor the health of your teeth and oral tissues and offer personalized guidance on the general dentistry treatments you need for a strong, bright, and healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

  • Root Canal Treatment
  • Periodontal Therapy
  • Wisdom Teeth Removal
  • Tooth Extractions
  • Tooth-Colored Fillings
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Night Guards
  • Mouth Guards
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Our family has used Williams Dental for 16 years. They are compassionate and caring, always putting our comfort as a top priority. My kids have no hesitations or anxieties when visiting Dr. Williams' office. We love our dental hygienist! She is amazing and thorough!

OLIVIA G.

Root Canal

SAVE YOUR NATURAL TEETH.

A root canal is a common dental treatment that removes the soft tissue of a tooth that’s become infected or inflamed. Along with preventing tooth loss, a root canal helps alleviate uncomfortable tooth pain or sensitivity and makes your smile strong and healthy again. Dr. Brad uses modern dental technology and techniques to create the most positive root canal treatment experience from start to finish.

As a toothache can be caused by a variety of factors, the best way to know if you need a root canal is to schedule an appointment with us. Some warning signs include:

  • Severe tooth pain, especially when chewing or biting
  • Sensitivity or pain to heat or cold
  • Tooth darkening
  • Gum tenderness
  • A “pimple” on the gums near the affected tooth

During a root canal, your dentist will first make you comfortable with a local anesthetic before creating a small opening in the crown of your tooth. Your dentist will then gently file the infected tissue out of the root canals of the tooth, clean and disinfect the root chamber, and fill and seal the void with a special paste.

A root canal treatment is often completed during a second visit with the placement of a crown or filling. You’ll be fitted with a temporary crown or filling if more than one visit is recommended to obtain the best outcomes for your treatment.

If you don’t want to undergo a root canal procedure, tooth extraction is an alternate treatment for alleviating the symptoms and risks of diseased tooth pulp. To maintain your smile’s function, beauty, and integrity, Dr. Brad may recommend a dental bridge or implant.

Periodontal Therapy

GET YOUR SMILE BACK WITH PERIODONTAL THERAPY.

Healthy gums securely hold your teeth in place and are the foundation of a healthy smile at every age. If you know you have periodontal disease or are concerned by gum tissue that’s become red, tender, or swollen, Dr. Brad can help you relieve painful symptoms, prevent tooth loss, and reclaim your smile with periodontal therapy.

Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a degenerative bacterial infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth, which include the gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar (jaw) bone.

Periodontal disease is most often caused when bacterial plaque builds up along the gumline and hardens into tartar (also known as dental calculus). Unless removed by your dental hygienist, the bacteria in tartar will continually irritate, inflame, and infect the gum tissues and gradually attack the tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place.

As you may not have symptoms in the earliest phase of periodontal disease, the best way to maintain and protect your oral health is to schedule a visit with Dr. Brad. Some symptoms to look out for include:

  • Gums that easily bleed when you brush, floss, or eat
  • Plaque or tartar buildup
  • Gums that are red, tender, or swollen
  • Gum recession that causes teeth to appear longer than normal
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • Painful chewing

Once diagnosed, effective treatment of periodontal disease starts with a professional cleaning by your dental hygienist, who will remove plaque buildup and tartar from your teeth. If any periodontal pockets have formed, you may need a method of deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing.

During scaling and root planing, your hygienist will gently remove plaque and tartar that have built up on your teeth and roots all the way down to the bottom of each pocket. Your hygienist will also smooth the surface of affected tooth roots to prevent bacterial growth and help your gums heal and reattach to your teeth.

For your most comfortable experience, scaling and root planing is performed under a local anesthetic and may be completed in more than one visit.

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Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are some of your most unique teeth. While all of your other adult teeth have come in by age 12, your wisdom teeth make their appearance between 17 and 25 years of age.

If your wisdom teeth are causing or are likely to cause you dental or orthodontic problems, Dr. Brad will recommend you remove them. Some reasons you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed include:

  • Crowding: If you don’t have enough space in your mouth to accommodate your wisdom teeth, they can push against your second molars as they come in. Overcrowded wisdom teeth can misalign your teeth and bite, taking away from your smile’s comfort, function, and appearance.
  • Impaction: If they’re improperly aligned or you don’t have enough room in your mouth, your wisdom teeth can become fully or partially impacted (stuck) in your jaws. Along with causing pain and swelling, impacted wisdom teeth increase your risk for tooth damage, cavities, jaw issues, and gum disease.
  • Sinus problems: As the roots of your upper teeth are near your sinuses, your upper wisdom teeth can become a source of referred sinus pain or magnify the feeling of uncomfortable pressure that often accompanies a sinus infection.

Tooth Extraction

Helping you keep your natural teeth throughout your entire lifetime is a primary goal of general and restorative dentistry, though there are instances when tooth extraction is the best option for your smile’s health and longevity.

If your oral and overall health would benefit from tooth extraction, we are here to answer your questions, discuss replacement options, and provide you with a comfortable and positive treatment experience.

Tooth Extraction Procedures

Depending on your needs, Dr. Brad will recommend a simple extraction or a surgical extraction. Before both procedures, the Williams Dental & Orthodontics team will provide you with detailed instructions to help you prepare for a tooth extraction procedure and practice post-operative self-care for optimal healing.

Simple Extraction
A simple tooth extraction is used to remove a tooth that’s intact, visible, and easily accessible.

At the start of your procedure, your dental team will first make you comfortable with a local anesthetic and anti-anxiety medication as required. Dr. Brad will then carefully loosen and remove the targeted tooth, place dissolvable stitches if needed, and gently pack the area with gauze. Most patients feel recovered from a simple extraction within a few days.

Surgical (Complex) Extraction
A surgical extraction is used to remove a tooth that’s fully or partially stuck (impacted) beneath the gums, difficult to access, or broken.

During a surgical extraction, you’ll receive a local anesthetic and anti-anxiety medication as required. Once you’re relaxed and comfortable, Dr. Brad will make a small incision into your gums above the tooth that’s being extracted and, if needed, remove a small amount of bone tissue and divide the tooth into smaller pieces. Once the tooth has been extracted and the tissues have been cleaned, your dental team will close the incision with dissolvable stitches, pack the area with gauze, and keep you comfortable while you wake up. Most patients are able to resume normal daily activities after a few days of rest and intentional self-care.

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I had a wonderful experience at Williams Dental! They made me feel like family and I will definitely be going back!

CASSANDRA R.

Tooth-colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are a durable and aesthetically pleasing cavity repair treatment option that has grown in popularity over amalgam fillings.

Dental amalgam is a silver-colored mixture of metals that’s been used in cavity treatment for years. Though effective at treating cavities, amalgam fillings don’t blend or bond with your teeth and require more of your healthy tooth structure to be removed to make room for a filling.

A tooth-colored filling is a composite resin made from durable plastic resin and microscopic ceramic and glass particles. The composite material comes in a variety of tooth-colored shades and can be precisely sculpted to blend with your natural teeth. The bond between composite resin and your tooth structure creates a seal that reduces your risk of cavity failure and further tooth decay and damage.

After they’ve removed areas of tooth decay, Dr. Brad will precisely match the composite resin to your natural teeth, leaving you with a long-lasting cavity treatment that delivers both function and beauty.

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Oral Cancer Screening

Cancers of the mouth (oral cancer) and throat (pharyngeal cancer) impact thousands of Americans, with an estimated 50,000 new cases emerging every year. Though it can be fatal, oral cancers often present mild symptoms, if any. Without a noticeable or bothersome symptom to raise a red flag, people may have oral cancer without even realizing it.

Like all forms of cancer, early detection of oral cancer through routine screenings dramatically increases treatment success and survival rates. As the doctors who specialize in the health of your oral cavity, we are dedicated to providing this potentially lifesaving screening as a regular part of your routine dental visits.

Oral cancer can develop on any soft tissue within the oral cavity, including:

  • Gums
  • Tongue
  • Lips
  • Inner cheeks
  • Hard or soft palate
  • Floor of the mouth (underneath your tongue)

The cause of oral cancer isn’t always known, though certain factors can increase your risk. These include:

  • Smoking
  • Tobacco use
  • HPV (human papillomavirus) infection
  • Suppressed immune function
  • Excessive sun exposure
  • Poor nutrition
  • Heavy drinking (two or more drinks a day for men, and one or more drinks a day for women)
  • The risk for oral cancers is higher for those who both smoke and drink.

Night Guard

Good oral health and quality sleep are essential for the health of your mind and body. Grinding or clenching your teeth at night (known as sleep bruxism) can damage your teeth and deprive you of the rest you need to feel your best physically and mentally. The longer bruxism is left untreated, the more likely it is to cause oral and overall health issues that could have otherwise been avoided.

You may be experiencing one or more of the following signs if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep:

  • Sleep disruption (for you or your partner)
  • Damaged dental restorations
  • Broken, cracked, chipped, or flattened teeth
  • Eroded tooth enamel
  • Tooth pain or sensitivity
  • Sore or tired muscles in the jaw, neck, or face
  • Clicking or popping in the jaw joint
  • Pain when yawning or chewing
  • Dull headaches, which may be worse in the morning

Night Guards for Sleep Bruxism Relief

Also known as a dental guard or bite splint, a night guard is a custom-made oral appliance that fits comfortably inside your mouth while you sleep. Night guards create a cushion between your upper and lower arches of teeth to reduce muscular tension in your jaws and absorb the force that’s created when you clench or grind your teeth. Along with preventing damage to your teeth and dental restorations, the regular use of a night guard can help you sleep better, reduce stress, and promote a greater sense of health and well-being.

Mouth Guard

Like great oral health, sports and recreational activities can benefit your teenager’s physical, mental, and social well-being; however, many sports and activities carry the risk of injury, including injuries to the mouth and teeth, and require the right equipment to keep your teen healthy and safe.

Considering that athletes who don’t wear a mouth guard are up to 60 times more likely to damage their teeth, your teen should wear a mouth guard anytime they participate in a contact sport or activity.

When determining whether or not your teen needs a mouth guard, consider that a “contact sport” is any activity that may cause your teen’s face to make contact with another player, a ball, a stick, or the ground. Examples of contact sports include:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Football
  • Lacrosse
  • Martial Arts
  • Mountain Biking
  • Rugby
  • Skateboarding
  • Skiing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Snowboarding
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

Mouth Guards in Skiatook, OK

A well-fitted mouth guard helps prevent jaw fractures, cuts on the inside of the mouth, tooth damage, and tooth loss by cushioning the jaw and teeth and stopping the upper and lower teeth from being knocked together during contact sports or activities. When regularly worn during contact sports, a custom mouth guard will dramatically lower your teen’s risk of dental injury, so they (and you!) can keep up with the activities they love without worry.

A custom mouth guard from Williams Dental & Orthodontics is specially designed to fit your teen’s mouth for the most comfortable and effective wearing experience. Made of durable, odorless, and tasteless plastic, a mouth guard is easy to clean and allows your teen to speak and breathe easily. A custom mouth guard can even be molded around braces, so your teen can continue to safely participate in the sports and activities they love during their orthodontic treatment.

Afford Your Care

Everyone should have access to the best dental care.

To help you get the dental care you want and need, Williams Dental & Orthodontics happily accepts multiple forms of payment. We thank you for understanding that payment is due in full at the time of any treatment.