General Dentist Serving Greenville, Five Forks, Simpsonville, Taylors, Greer, Mauldin & Nearby Areas Of  South Carolina

Here at Flatrock Family Dentistry, we believe that oral health is directly connected with your overall health. This whole health approach to dentistry is something we emphasize to provide our patients and their families with the best care possible.

General DentistryWe have been serving the Greenville, Five Forks, and Greer communities for over 30 years, and we strive to build lasting relationships with our patients. We’ve watched patients grow from children to adults, and we take care to keep up with the latest advances in dentistry so that we grow with our patients.

If you are in need of a general dentist for the whole family, call Flatrock Family Dentistry today at (864) 756-5576 to schedule your appointment today.

General Dentistry Services

General dentistry focuses on preventing, identifying, and treating common dental issues. When choosing your general dentist, it’s important to find a highly-trained professional who doesn’t simply address your oral health issues as they arise, but also provides guidance on how to prevent problems from getting worse, or even happening in the first place.

At Flatrock Family Dentistry, we take pride in the health and wellbeing of our patients and their smiles. If we discover a damaged tooth, cavity, or other problem, we will explain you condition and discuss all of your treatment options. We proudly offer a full range of  general dentistry services, including:

  • Gum disease treatment: Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is a progressive infection of the gums. When identified early, gum disease can be treated with a diligent oral hygiene routine and regular cleanings at our office. In its later stages, however, the condition may require specialized treatment.
  • Dental fillings: Our tooth-colored fillings are made from durable composite resin. This material is not only highly-effective at repairing chips, cracks, cavities, and other damage, it provides a beautiful, natural-looking restoration.
  • Root canal treatment: When a tooth becomes infected, root canal treatment may be performed to help heal and protect the tooth. With today’s technology, root canals are not all that different than having a deep filling, resulting in little to no pain.
  • Dental crowns and bridges: If you have a badly damaged or missing tooth, dental crowns and bridges can restore your smile’s beauty and functionality, protect your existing teeth, and prevent future problems caused by missing teeth.
  • Dental implants: The gold standard of tooth-replacement options, dental implants replace both the missing tooth and the tooth root. This provides unmatched stability and functionality, allowing you to chew, bite, and smile naturally and confidently.
  • TMJ treatment: Connecting the lower jaw to the skull, the temporomandibular joint is among the most complex joints in your body. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD) is a condition that occurs when this joint falls out of alignment.
  • Sleep apnea treatment: Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that occurs when breathing is blocked during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and more.
  • Sedation dentistry: Every year, thousands of patients avoid the crucial dental care they need because of a fear of the dentist. With sedation dentistry, we can help ease your anxiety so you can get the important treatments you need.
  • Emergency dentistry: If you suffer from an unexpected dental emergency, we offer same-day appointments to ensure you get the immediate attention you need and deserve.
  • Family dentistry: It’s very important to start good dental hygiene habits young. As soon as your child gets their first tooth, you should pay your family dentist a visit. We can help prepare you to take care of your child’s teeth and oral health, and also keep an eye out for early signs of tooth decay.

Dental Exams and Cleanings

General DentistWe know that many people are nervous about going to the dentist. This is why we strive to create a welcoming atmosphere for each new patient, and we take the time to discuss your dental history and any specific concerns you may have.

During your initial dental exam, Dr. Rouse or Dr. Khan will ask about your short and long term dental goals in order to better put together a comprehensive and effective treatment plan. You can also expect:

  • X-rays
  • CT scan
  • Head and neck muscle check
  • Joint check
  • Oral cancer check

Your dentist will also analyze the condition of your teeth and your gum health, and will check for signs of teeth grinding. Many men and women grind their teeth at night without realizing it, which can lead to cracks, chips, and wearing down of your tooth enamel over time. Teeth grinding can also cause headaches and play a part in the development of TMJ.

We pride ourselves on being very thorough in our initial dental exams. Your health is important to us, and we want to be sure that we catch any problems before they have the chance to develop into something worse.

Regular dental exams and professional deep cleanings are key to healthy, strong teeth and gums. Most patients will benefit from dental cleanings every 6 months. If you are showing early signs of gum disease or another dental concern, we may recommend coming in every 4 months.

Fluoride Treatment

We provide fluoride treatments for both children and adults. Fluoride treatments are important as a regular treatment for children, but it can also help to strengthen adult teeth that are at risk of developing cavities.

Fluoride provides many benefits, including:

  • Strengthening tooth enamel
  • Inhibiting oral bacteria growth
  • Helping prevent cavities
  • Helping to repair tooth damage at microscopic levels

Children and adolescents who have regular fluoride treatments are up to 40% less likely to develop cavities. We perform a strong, professional grade fluoride treatment at the office, and we can also recommend a fluoride toothpaste for use at home.

Fluoride treatments are not just for children. Fluoride can help to strengthen tooth enamel in adults as well, and help to prevent tooth decay. Many adults are at a high risk for cavities, and fluoride can help lessen that risk. We will give you a prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste to take home as well, included with your treatment.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer treatment success rates are higher the earlier you catch it. Left alone, oral cancer may spread to other areas of the body and become much more difficult to treat. This is why regular oral cancer screenings are important.

Here at Flatrock Family Dentistry, we perform oral cancer screenings during your regular dental exams. An oral cancer screening consists of:

  • Visual examination of the mouth and lips to look for sores, suspicious spots, or discolorations
  • Feeling the tissues in your mouth to check for lumps or painful areas

We also use the VELscope™ oral cancer screening device in order to be as thorough as possible. The VELscope device is an advanced, sophisticated method of screening for cancer through fluorescence visualization. Using this device, we can detect tissue abnormalities before they are visible to the naked eye.

If we do find anything suspicious during your oral cancer screening, we will recommend either a biopsy or a wait-and-see approach. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure whether an abnormality is benign or cancerous.

Oral cancer risk factors include:

  • Tobacco use
  • Excessive alcohol use
  • Excessive sun exposure without sunscreen or other protection
  • A previous history of oral cancer

If you smoke or chew tobacco, your risk of oral cancer is much higher than non-users of tobacco. If possible, we highly recommend trying to quit.

Oral Hygiene Tips

Oral health is intrinsically tied to overall health, and we aim to help all of our patients understand how to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Regular visits to Flatrock Family Dentistry are an important part of keeping your mouth healthy, but there are things you can do at home to ensure your dental visits are nothing more serious than cleanings.

Some important oral hygiene tips include:

  • Brush at least twice a day, and floss at least once
  • Drink water after eating or drinking anything other than water
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet and avoid eating too many sweets or processed foods
  • Avoid eating a lot of hard or sticky foods, such as hard candy, toffee, or caramel
  • Avoid chewing on ice or using your teeth as tools
  • Visit Flatrock Family Dentistry every 6 months for a cleaning and exam

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria, and bacteria love sugar. Eating a healthy and balanced diet is key to healthy, strong teeth and gums. We’re not saying to cut out sweets or snacks entirely – just eat them in moderation, and be sure to either brush your teeth or rinse with water afterwards.

Sugary drinks such as soda and juice also play a larger role than people think in tooth decay. It’s easy to forget that drinks can cause just as much damage as foods. We recommend limiting the amount of sugary drinks you have, and increasing the amount of water you drink.

Schedule Your Dental Visit Today

If you’re in need of a caring, compassionate, experienced general dentist, you’ve come to the right spot. Schedule your dental visit with Dr. Rouse or Dr. Khan today by calling Flatrock Family Dentistry at (864) 756-5576.