Award Winning General Dentistry in Leesburg, VA

We Change Lives By Creating Beautiful Smiles

Choose Us For Your General Dentistry Needs

Many patients feel intimidated when they think about visiting the dentist. As this is the case, it goes lower and lower on their to-do list. While it’s okay to feel a little nervous about visiting the dentist, it’s important to keep in mind that skipping a trip to the dentist can lead to major oral health issues. Our team is sensitive to the needs of our patients and focuses on providing comfort. We will ensure you get the care you need every six months during your checkups and cleanings.

A dental professional is slightly different than a standard healthcare provider. You tend to visit the healthcare provider when you are already sick and in need of treatment, whereas you visit the dentist in order to prevent diseases or the spread of bacteria. It is estimated that nearly 65% of nearly all dental procedures are done to prevent larger issues from arising.

If you visit the dentist twice a year, you are less likely to contract any bacterial infections or disease as opposed to someone who doesn’t visit the dentist as often. Many patients believe they are brushing and flossing their teeth to a high standard, and so they do not visit the dentist as often as they should. However, many patients do not know that the health of their teeth and gums can actually be genetic. In many cases, unfortunately, patients can still get cavities or gum disease no matter how hard they try to clean, simply because of their genetic makeup. If you are someone who has cavities more often than not, you may be part of the group of patients who need to visit the dentist often, no matter how much you brush!

Make Your Trips To The Dentist More Frequent For Better Results

A good rule of thumb that has developed over the years among dentists and health organizations alike is to visit the dentist every six months for preventative care. In between the six months, if you notice or have any concerns about your oral health involving your teeth, gums or jaw, you should then visit your dentist. If you’re wondering what exactly constitutes a dental concern, a good tip to follow is that if you have a toothache that lasts a few days, you should visit the dentist. If you have gums that continue to bleed for more than a few hours, or if you feel any sort of soreness or pain in your jawbone, then these may be concerns that should be checked out by a dental professional.

If you’re looking to get any sort of dental cosmetic procedure, this is separate from an oral health appointment, as this is only geared towards aesthetic issues. A cosmetic procedure can be anywhere from one appointment to many appointments that may be scattered throughout a few months; your dental professional will recommend your next appointment between the scheduled appointments in order to ensure the progression of your cosmetic procedure.

There are many different branches of dentistry, some that may be categorized as general dentists, cosmetic dentists or oral surgeons. All of these types of dentists have gotten an education in general dentistry first; then, from there, some may have continued to get an education in either cosmetic dentistry or gone to additional years of school for oral surgery practices. When the dentist says you should visit their dental office every six months, this typically means visit a general dentist. Unless you are in need of cosmetic procedures or a drastic surgical treatment, you will not need to visit anything other than the general dentist.

Call Our Office Today At (703) 723-7810

3 Expectations at Your Trip To Your General Dentist

Dentists who specialize in cosmetics or surgery spend their days much different than those of general dentists. However, general dentists provide their patients with a variety of services that are 100% focused on bettering their oral health. The list below will give you an idea of what exactly a general dentist does and how they spend their days.

Oral Health Prevention Services:

As mentioned above, General dentists focus on preventative services. Your dental professional will always ensure and assist in maintaining good oral health in your mouth. By visiting the dentist every six months, a regular exam and a standard cleaning can help prevent any gum disease or bacterial infections in the mouth. In addition to these treatments, dentists also use X-rays as a form of diagnostic tool to catch any issues that may be missed with the naked eye. In addition to a deep clean, x-rays, and a thorough examination, your dentist will also educate you and help you to improve your oral hygiene by providing tips for at-home preventative treatments.

Post Treatments:

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to prevent an oral issue, a cavity may just persist. When an issue is found, your dentist will do his or her best to ensure every patient gets timely treatment. One of the restorative services that a general dentist provides is a root canal procedure. A root canal procedure is done by removing tooth decay, repairing a broken or chipped tooth, an extraction, and much more. If you have a dental issue that requires a more complicated treatment, your dentist will recommend you to a specialist who can better assist in your treatment. Dental implants and orthodontics, for example, are typically done by specialists in the dental field.

Cosmetic Dentistry:

A general dentist typically only deals with the health of your teeth and gums. A cosmetic dentist, however, their specialty is based on the aesthetics and functionality of your teeth. If you’re looking to get a cosmetic dental procedure, your general dentist will likely recommend you to a specialist who has more experience in that specific cosmetic procedure. However, some general dentists do have experience in standard cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening, dental bonding, and sometimes even porcelain veneers. If your unaware if your general dentist performs the specific cosmetic procedure you want, be sure to ask the dental office if that procedure can be done in that office. If not, it will be beneficial to find a dentist who is a bit more cosmetic-based to take care of the cosmetic treatment you want.

head shot 1

Meet Dr. Tracey Nguyen

Dr. Tracey Nguyen received her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Magna cum laude, at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Nguyen is trained in all phases of implant dentistry, and has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry. She is also a manuscript/review editor for the Academy of General Dentistry.

More About Dr. Nguyen

We are located in Leesburg, VA but proudly serve Lansdowne, Reston, Broadlands, Ashburn, Sterling, and all neighboring communities.