Blog - General Dentistry

Cavities are perhaps one of the most common oral health conditions people face. However, they are preventable and treatable. One of our goals as dental professionals is to ensure your smile stays healthy and problem-free, which includes helping you prevent cavities—both at home and at the dental office. 

What Are Cavities? 

A cavity, also known as tooth decay or dental caries, is ...

When you have a medical problem, the first place you turn is to your primary care doctor. If you develop a cavity or other dental condition, you call your general dentist. 

Your general dentist in Fairfax is like the quarterback of your oral health care team. They oversee and coordinate your dental care and provide the essential services needed for excellent ...

General dentistry has a broad scope. Not only does it restore you to better oral health, but it also helps prevent further damage to your teeth and gums. In some cases, it even protects your whole-body wellness.

Your dentist in Fairfax, VA offers both preventive and general dentistry.

What Is Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry is your first defense because it lowers your risks ...

It may seem that only children get dental cavities, but tooth decay impacts people of all ages. Fortunately, dental cavities can be caught early if you follow specific guidelines put forward by the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA has found that twice-yearly dental exams and teeth cleanings lower your risks for oral health conditions like cavities and gum disease. ...

General dentistry in Fairfax restores your oral health when a dental issue arises. This can mean anything from providing a dental filling to fix a tooth cavity to treating a root infection through root canal therapy. It may also include periodontal treatment if you're diagnosed with gum disease.

Your dentist in Fairfax follows guidelines put forward by the American Dental Association. ...

Having a broken tooth is a cause for concern in many ways! First, depending on the severity of the fracture, your tooth may become sensitive or begin causing you discomfort. Next, depending on the location of the tooth in your mouth, it may affect the appearance of your smile.

Whether your tooth is chipped or broken, it is crucial to seek ...

Your dentist and hygienist recommend dental exams and cleanings at least twice a year. The purpose of these visits is to monitor your oral health and look for signs of problems like cavities and gum disease.

Your dentist in Fairfax, VA learns a lot during these appointments—but what about you? Are you getting the most out of your time with ...

If you’re a millennial searching for jobs, you face a lot of competition. To be successful, it’s essential that you present your best appearance during interviews and while on the job. Since your smile is one of the first things others notice, you want to be sure it’s making you feel confident and not dragging you down.

Confidence and Smiles

Unfortunately, many ...

Everyone has a different approach to their oral hygiene, but generally speaking, the biggest problem is that most of us don’t do it often enough; in a 2013 survey, the American Dental Association found that only about 57 percent of women brush, and the number drops to 50 percent for men.

Given these statistics, it may come as a shock to ...

Is it time for you to buy a new toothbrush? The bristles on the one you’re using now aren’t totally flattened out yet, and you’ve kept it clean by storing it upright with your family’s brushes on the bathroom counter. You’re all good, right?

There are many things wrong with this picture, but millions of people care for their toothbrush in exactly ...

Millions of people around the world suffer from dental anxiety. It’s the butterflies you feel in your stomach at the thought of scheduling an appointment and your desire to be anyplace else once you’re in the dental chair.

Some people are so riddled with anxiety that their condition is considered dental phobia. This kind of intense anxiety can be so uncomfortable that ...

As difficult as this may be to believe, not everyone enjoys going to the dentist. Crazy, right?

But this common phobia causes many people to skip appointments which results in dental problems like tooth decay going untreated.

Of course, the result of untreated dental problems is typically more dental problems which can result in additional time in your dentist’s chair. A good ...

There’s no magic to a healthy smile, but you do need to be committed to doing whatever you can to support your oral health including brushing, flossing. But you can’t do it alone, and that’s where your dental team comes in because they provide preventive treatments that support your at-home efforts.

Part of good oral health is educating yourself ...

It has become clear in the last few years that poor oral health doesn’t just affect your mouth; study after study points to a connection between chronic gum infections and other conditions of the body.

Gum Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

For instance, scientists have long suspected that there’s a connection between gum disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). But researchers from ...

How savvy do you think you are about your oral health? Anything you do to support a healthy smile - whether it’s thorough brushings or routine visits to the dentist – is beneficial. But if you are going to put effort into maintaining good oral health, you may as well be sure you are getting the most out of it!

In ...

A recent survey asked 1,000 adults over the age of 18 which health practitioner they don’t see often enough and dentists topped the list. Nearly 41% of those surveyed chose their dentist, 13% more than the next specialist – dermatologist.

Participants were also asked to rank their own oral health. Not surprisingly, those who graded their health as an “A” ...

People now are living longer than ever, which of course is great news. But time and wear take its toll on your teeth, so it is normal to experience increased dental problems as you get older. In fact, the American College of Prosthodontists estimates that as many as 23 million geriatric patients are missing all their teeth, and 12 million ...

You know that consuming a lot of sugar is bad for your teeth, but it’s not the sugar itself that causes cavities. It’s the series of events that occur after you eat. If you want your family to enjoy optimal oral health, it’s a good idea to have some understanding of the process that takes place in your mouth when ...

Most sports have protective gear available. Protective pads and helmets, for example, are common.

But one area that is often overlooked is the mouth. Many sports participants are not wearing a sports guard, and they are putting their teeth at risk.

Mouth injuries—and teeth damage—are quite common during sports. Dr. Cerina Fairfax recommends that her patients in Fairfax, VA, wear a custom ...

Bad breath. Halitosis.

Whatever you call it, it’s unpleasant.

It can be temporary if you’ve had food or beverages that cause it (onions, garlic, coffee, and alcohol, for example). Smoking can also cause bad breath.

If you have bad breath that persists, however, it is not only unpleasant. It could be a sign that there is an underlying problem.

The obvious issue is poor ...

You take good care of your oral hygiene on a daily basis with regular brushing and flossing. You follow the recommended two visits to your dentist each year for examinations and cleanings. But are you getting the most out of your dental appointment?

Let’s take a look at the following tips to make sure you are taking full advantage of your ...

Going to the dentist can sometimes feel like an inconvenience, especially when it takes time out of your busy day. You may wonder if it's truly necessary to go to these appointments twice per year. Is it really that important? The answer is yes! It's extremely important, and here's why: oral health has been liked with your overall health and ...

When considering your oral health routine, you may have wondered about the benefits of a good mouthwash. If you have checked the oral care aisle at your local department or drug store, you have probably seen that you have many choices when it comes to choosing a mouthwash. There are mouthwashes available that offer anti-cavity benefits and others ...