A Smile for Every Generation
Vienna, Virginia is home to many excellent family dental services. From routine checkups and cleanings to advanced treatments like cosmetic dentistry, we have a wide variety of services to meet the needs of your entire family. Dr. Matthew Gerald is a family dentist in Vienna, VA. He helps patients of all ages get the oral health care that they need.
Along with our dental care team, Dr. Gerald creates a warm and friendly dental office environment for both young children and adults. Whether you need preventative care or specialized treatment for a particular condition, our dental professionals will be there for you every step of the way. Open communication with his patients allows Dr. Gerald to better understand your specific needs and exceed your expectations.
As a general dental service, family dentistry utilizes routine care to help prevent dental problems down the road. For example, our dentist can identify early signs of tooth decay and provide timely treatment to prevent further damage. Younger patients who routinely visit the dentist have a sound base for a future of healthy smiles. Visiting the dentist for checkups and maintaining oral hygiene at home will build healthy habits in your child for years to come.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Taking your child to the dentist for the first time can be a daunting experience. But it doesn’t have to be! With the right preparation and knowledge, you can make sure that your child’s first dental visit is a positive one.
At your child’s first dental visit, we will assess their oral health and provide advice on how to keep their teeth healthy. Our dentist will also check for any signs of decay or other problems needing treatment. We may also discuss proper brushing and flossing techniques with you and your child, as well as answer any questions that you have about oral hygiene.
We provide a wide range of dental care services for our young patients, such as:
- Dental cleaning
- Preventative exam
- X-rays
- Dental sealants
- Fluoride treatment
Dr. Gerald advises bringing your child in for their first dental visit as soon as their teeth start growing. Regular pediatric visits allow our team to screen for any new oral health changes. We can also help parents learn how to reinforce good dental habits in their children. Our friendly dental team wants younger patients to be familiar with visiting the dentist so they can easily maintain their mouth.
Preventing Childhood Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a common problem among children, and it can have serious consequences down the road. Fortunately, there are steps that parents and caregivers can take to help prevent childhood tooth decay. Regular visits to the dentist are essential for maintaining good oral health in children.
During regular dental visits to our dental practice, we will discuss the best diet, eating habits, oral hygiene practices, and other preventive measures that can help reduce the risk of tooth decay in children. Cavities and tooth decay are chronic childhood dental problems. To combat decay, we recommend that parents clean their child’s gums even before their first teeth appear.
Gently wiping off food particles from the gums using a wet cloth prevents bacteria buildup. Harmful bacteria buildup on the teeth and gums will lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
We may apply topical fluoride treatments and varnishes at routine visits. Fluoride slows decay down and strengthens the tooth enamel. Patients that are five or older can get dental sealants. Your dentist bonds sealants to teeth to “seal” out decay. This is a non-invasive and quick treatment that protects the teeth from cavities.
Age-Specific Dental Care
As a family dentist, our office treats patients of all ages. It’s important for us to know the most common problems of each age group so that we can recognize and treat them properly. The prominent problems for toddlers usually aren’t the same as those most common for adults. As mentioned above, tooth decay is most common in young children. They have diets higher in sugar and aren’t able to brush and floss as well as adults.
In teenagers and young adults, wisdom teeth start to come into play. Usually, our mouths don’t have enough room for this extra set of molars. If they erupt, they put pressure on your other teeth, making them cramped and jumbled. But wisdom teeth can also be impacted, or trapped underneath the surface. Impacted teeth cause pain, swelling, and an increased likelihood of you developing infections and other oral health problems.
As we age, our teeth take on the passing years, just like the rest of our bodies. Seniors are most likely to experience tooth loss with age. We offer many different options to replace missing teeth. We’ll do a consultation with a full oral exam to determine which is the best choice for you. Whenever possible, we recommend dental implants. They’re the gold standard of tooth replacement and the only one that replaces the tooth root in addition to the crown.
Dental Care for Adults
Missing, damaged, and stained teeth can become problems as we age. Some of the cosmetic and restorative treatments that we offer include dental implants, dental veneers, dental bonding, and teeth whitening.
- Dental implants are dental prosthetics that replace missing and lost teeth at the root.
- Porcelain veneers are shells of porcelain ceramic that cover the front and sides of teeth. They can hide flaws very well.
- Tooth bonding is a more economical alternative to veneers. The bonding process uses biocompatible materials that the dentist sculpts onto the enamel.
- Teeth whitening can brighten the tooth enamel by multiple shades for a healthier and more youthful look.
Family Dentistry FAQs
Do I really need to visit the dentist every six months?
Yes. Preventative care and oral health are things that need to take place both at home and in our office. Brushing and flossing at home is essential, and you may think that’s enough to take care of your teeth. But there are areas of your mouth that only specialized dental tools can get to so that they’re cleaned properly. Without dental visits, plaque and tartar build up there, putting you at risk for tooth decay and gum disease, even with regular brushing and flossing.
Can dental problems be hereditary?
Yes, certain dental problems can be hereditary. You’re more prone to develop gum disease or have a misaligned bite if it’s something that runs in your family. Oral cancer is another thing that can be impacted by genetics.
What are the differences between a family dentist, general dentist, and pediatric dentist?
We have a family dentist office. This means that we treat patients of all ages, including children. A general dentist treats most patients but doesn’t deal with children at all. They’re only for adults and older patients. A pediatric dentist focuses especially on children, and may not treat adult patients.
Do I need to worry about my child’s baby teeth if they’re temporary?
Yes, primary teeth still play an important role in the mouth. They’re the placeholders for the permanent teeth to come in. If they’re lost too soon or damaged, it compromises how the permanent teeth come in. They’re more likely to come in crooked or result in other complications for your child’s oral health.
Schedule a Dental Appointment Today
Do you need a new Vienna family dentist? Call Dr. Gerald at (703) 721-4796. You may also request a dental appointment with Dr. Gerald and his team on our website. We serve patients from Fairfax, Oakton, Falls Church, and Northern Virginia. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions about our family dental services. We will be happy to help.