At Smile Builders, we’ve built our practice around one simple truth: dentistry works best when it’s personal. Dr Preston Cobbins and our team take time to understand your health history, your concerns, and what matters most to you. Some patients want to preserve every natural tooth possible, while others prioritize quick solutions that fit their busy schedules. We adjust our approach to match your priorities.
What to Expect During Your Regular Checkup
Regular checkups form the foundation of good oral health, but they’re about more than just cleaning your teeth. During these visits, we examine your entire mouth for early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and other conditions that develop quietly. Catching problems early means simpler, less expensive treatments that preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
Your typical preventive appointment includes:
- Comprehensive oral examination checking teeth, gums, tongue, and soft tissues for any changes or concerns
- Professional cleaning that removes hardened plaque and tartar your toothbrush can’t reach
- Digital X-rays, when needed to reveal decay, bone loss, and issues developing beneath the surface
- Oral cancer screening to detect suspicious lesions or tissue changes early
- Personalized recommendations for improving your home care routine and addressing specific concerns
Many patients tell us they didn’t realize how much buildup they had until after their first cleaning with us. That gritty, clean feeling afterwards shows just how much bacteria we removed from areas your toothbrush simply can’t reach effectively.
Restorative Treatments We Provide
Sometimes preventive care isn’t enough, and teeth need repair or restoration. We offer comprehensive solutions that restore both function and appearance while keeping you comfortable throughout the process.
Fillings for Cavities
Cavities happen to almost everyone at some point, even people who brush and floss religiously. When decay develops, quick treatment prevents it from spreading deeper into your tooth and requiring more invasive procedures. We use tooth-colored composite fillings that blend seamlessly with your natural enamel while restoring full function to the damaged tooth.
The filling process starts by removing decayed material and preparing the cavity. We then apply the composite resin in layers, hardening each layer with a special light before adding the next. Once we’ve filled the entire cavity, we shape and polish the filling until it feels completely natural when you bite down.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canals have a scary reputation they don’t deserve. Modern techniques and anesthesia make the procedure no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. When infection or damage reaches the inner pulp of your tooth, a root canal removes the damaged tissue, eliminates infection, and preserves the tooth structure so you can keep your natural tooth for years to come.
We explain every step before we begin, and you’ll stay comfortable throughout the procedure. Most patients feel immediate relief once we remove the infected pulp causing their pain. After healing, we typically place a crown over the treated tooth to protect it and restore full function.
Crowns and Bridges
Severely damaged teeth often need more than fillings. Dental crowns cap the entire visible portion of a tooth, protecting what remains while restoring its shape and strength. Bridges replace missing teeth by anchoring to surrounding teeth, preventing the shifting and bone loss that follows tooth loss.
Signs You Need to See a Dentist Soon
Your body usually gives you warnings when something’s wrong with your oral health. Pay attention to these common signals that indicate you need professional care:
- Persistent tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods that doesn’t improve after a few days
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss, especially if accompanied by redness or swelling
- Chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away with regular brushing and mouthwash
- Loose teeth or changes in your bite that make chewing feel different or uncomfortable
- Jaw pain or clicking when you open and close your mouth
- White or red patches inside your mouth that don’t heal within two weeks
Some patients ignore these symptoms, hoping they’ll resolve on their own. Unfortunately, dental problems rarely improve without treatment and typically worsen over time. What starts as a small cavity requiring a simple filling can progress to an infection needing a root canal or extraction if you wait too long.
Emergency Dental Care When You Need It Most
Dental emergencies don’t wait for convenient times. Severe toothaches, knocked-out teeth, broken crowns, and abscesses require prompt attention to relieve pain and prevent complications. We reserve time in our schedule for same-day emergency appointments because we know you can’t function normally when your mouth hurts.
Call us immediately if you experience sudden, severe tooth pain, facial swelling, or dental trauma. We’ll guide you through immediate steps to take at home and get you into our office as quickly as possible. Many dental emergencies become less serious when treated within the first few hours.
Gum Disease Treatment and Prevention
Your gums support everything else in your mouth, yet many people ignore them until problems develop. Gum disease starts as gingivitis, causing red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush. Left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, where bacteria destroy the bone supporting your teeth. Eventually, teeth become loose and may fall out.
We offer deep cleanings called scaling and root planing for patients showing signs of gum disease. This treatment removes bacteria and tartar from below the gum line and smooths root surfaces so gums can reattach properly. Most patients need this procedure divided across multiple visits to ensure thorough cleaning without overwhelming discomfort.
Prevention remains easier than treatment. If we catch gum inflammation early during your regular cleanings, improved home care and more frequent professional cleanings usually reverse the damage before it becomes permanent.
Building Healthy Habits for Life
General dentistry in Byram isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about preventing them. We teach proper brushing and flossing techniques, recommend products that work best for your specific needs, and help you understand how diet and lifestyle choices affect your oral health. Small changes often make dramatic differences in long-term outcomes.
Your smile deserves consistent, quality care from a team that genuinely cares about your well-being. Contact Smile Builders today to schedule your comprehensive exam and discover what personalized general dentistry feels like. We’re here to support your oral health journey every step of the way.