The Silver Spring dental office of Dr. Alan Dechter and Dr. Matthew Moy offers dental services to all families. Get the convenience of comprehensive dental care for children and adults under one roof. Family dentistry in our Silver Spring, MD office lets your family visit one location, usually on the same day, for preventive care appointments.
We can work with you to coordinate appointment times in succession so that everyone can visit on the same day! Our family dental office also has evening and Saturday dental appointments to accommodate busy work-week schedules. Your time and convenience is important to us.
Contact our friendly staff to set up dentist appointments that work for your busy schedule. We strive to provide quality dental services in a timely manner so that you can get back to your life.
Benefits of Early Dental Visits
Visit our family dentistry to enjoy all the benefits that our practice has to offer. Parents and caregivers bring children in for their first dental appointment soon after the primary teeth erupt. Early visits with our family dentist serve several vital purposes for the long-term oral health of your child. You can look forward to the following benefits:
- Reduces anxiety at the dentist: Starting dental care as a young child minimizes anxious feelings and helps foster a healthy doctor-patient relationship along the way. This helps curb and avoid developing dental anxiety and fear of the dentist in young patients.
- Monitoring oral development: Early visits provide us the opportunity to monitor your child’s oral development. We will alert you to any concerns that could impact their speech, health, and appearance of their teeth.
- Teaching good oral habits: We offer age-appropriate oral hygiene tips and demonstrate proper teeth brushing techniques. We want our pediatric patients to learn how to maintain their teeth and mouth at home. Additionally, we want them to learn about the benefits of good oral health so that they have a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Age-Specific Dental Care
The goal of our preventive dental care is to help maintain your oral health using personalized care. Our goal is to provide each patient with the services they need to address their concerns and risk factors. Dr. Dechter and Dr. Moy believe in the value of relationship dentistry.
Dental Care in your Early Years
We spend time with each of our younger patients to get to know them and understand their oral health. However, children aren’t the only ones that have specialized oral health needs. Certain ages are more likely to experience certain oral health problems.
In the late teens and early twenties, wisdom teeth begin to erupt. Many of our mouths don’t have space for these to come in, so we seek wisdom teeth removal. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and shift your teeth, causing crowding. To learn more about our wisdom teeth removal services, visit Tooth extraction.
At this age, many people want to focus on getting straighter teeth as well. Clear aligners are the choice for many in this age group. Many people aren’t able to tell that you are currently straightening your teeth using aligners. To learn about our ClearCorrect® aligner services, visit Clear aligners.
Dental Care in your Later Years
As we age, our lifestyle habits and extra years begin to take their toll. Our tooth enamel thins, showing more of the yellow dentin inside. If you’re a regular smoker or coffee drinker, years of bad habits are going to permanently stain your teeth as well.
Fortunately, our dentists can provide professional teeth whitening to take years of stains off your teeth. Our professional teeth whitening services can brighten your teeth by many shades in a single treatment. To learn about getting teeth whitening treatments at our dental office, visit Teeth whitening.
If you have more severely stained teeth that do not respond to teeth whitening, you may have another dental issue. Sometimes certain medications or a genetic issue can cause teeth to stain. Our dentist can not whiten deep and dark stains that are past the surface level of you teeth using whitening treatments.
If the deep stain is not causing dental health issues, we can hide it using a cosmetic treatment like porcelain veneers. Our porcelain veneers can cover imperfections. To learn more about these veneers, visit Porcelain veneers.
Are you experiencing tooth loss? Seniors are more likely than other age groups to suffer from tooth loss. However, everyone’s situation is different and tooth loss can occur in any age group. Fortunately, we offer a variety of tooth replacement options.
We will work with you to develop a dental plan that replaces your missing and lost teeth. Common treatments we use to replace missing and lost teeth include the following:
Children’s Dental Services in Silver Spring
We offer complete dental care for the needs of a growing smile in a friendly environment. Our dental services for children will help your child maintain a healthy smile. In addition, we will address any problems or diseases along the way.
- Dental exams and cleanings: We look for the early signs of tooth cavities using a visual exam and a handheld scanner. We can detect the smallest changes in tissues and tooth structure to quickly address issues before they become larger ones.
- Dental sealants: Sealants can prevent cavities that are common in teeth with many cusps that can easily trap food particles. Our dentist places sealants on the permanent molars after dental cleanings.
- Fluoride treatment: Like sealants, we recommend fluoride treatments after cleanings to prevent cavities. However, a fluoride varnish can cover every tooth to strengthen the outer tooth enamel.
- Sports mouthguards: We offer custom sports mouthguards for athletic and active patients of all ages. These mouthguards offer superior comfort and protection for teeth and gums.
- Invisible aligners: Clear aligners can straighten teeth for teens and adults without the hassles of metal braces. They offer a less noticeable treatment. We recommend using clear aligners to correct mild to moderate orthodontic issues.
We also offer cosmetic dentistry procedures and restorative dental treatments near you for all ages. Maintaining the health of your smile is our first priority. These services are a part of family dentistry services in our Silver Spring, MD dental office.
Family Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about family dentistry in Silver Spring, MD, with answers to these common patient questions:
How do I choose a family dentist?
Choosing a family dentist can be a huge decision. To make it easier, look for the following things. First, make sure that the dentist is qualified to treat children and adults. Some dentists claim to be able to work with children but don’t have the experience.
Next, search for online reviews and see what their past and current patients say about them. Reviews that are not on their website hold more merit because they cannot manipulate them. Lastly, schedule an initial visit to their office to see if you and your family will feel comfortable there. A great first impression can go a long way.
When should my child first visit the dentist?
The ADA recommends that you schedule your child’s first dental visit before their first birthday or once their first tooth begins to erupt. Take your child to the dentist once their teeth start coming in to ensure proper development.
Their first impression should be a positive and friendly one. Bring along some of their favorite toys to keep them happy and alleviate anxiety. Just remember, the dentist is here to help patients not scare them away.
Can family dentists do fillings?
Family dentists do fill cavities. They typically specialize in working with general dentistry procedures such as fillings, cleanings, and removing plaque and tooth decay. If you need dental work done that your family dentist does not work with, they will typically recommend you to a specialist.
What is the best age to get clear aligners?
There is no single “best age” to get clear aligners. They can be effective for patients across a wide age range. Many adults choose aligners for their discreet appearance. Teens can also benefit from this treatment. We typically recommend waiting until all permanent teeth have come in. This usually happens by the early teens.
How long do porcelain veneers take to put on?
Porcelain veneers usually require two appointments. The first visit involves preparing your teeth and taking impressions. This takes 1-2 hours. We’ll place temporary veneers while the lab crafts your custom set. About two weeks later, you’ll return for the final fitting. This second appointment usually lasts about an hour. The process, from consultation to final placement, generally takes 2-4 weeks.
Does teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
Teeth whitening can cause temporary sensitivity. Many patients experience some discomfort during or after treatment. It happens because whitening opens tiny pores in your enamel, exposing nerve endings. However, this sensitivity usually fades within a few days. We offer desensitizing treatments and recommend special toothpaste to manage any discomfort.
Contact Our Office
Do you need to make a dental visit for you and your child? Get family dentistry services in Silver Spring, MD, for children, teens, and adults. Call Dechter and Moy Dentistry at (301) 508-9755 or schedule an appointment online.