Routine Dental Procedures in Minneapolis & Minnetonka, MN

At Holger Dental Group, we perform various routine dental procedures to help your teeth and gums remain healthy for a lifetime. We prefer to see patients twice a year for a routine teeth cleaning and dental exam because this is the best way to prevent cavities and gum disease. If you have not been to the dentist in a while and are concerned that going may be uncomfortable, do not be. We are a gentle dentistry office and can help to keep you comfortable during your appointment.

Here are some of the routine dental procedures that we perform regularly:

1. Teeth Cleanings. If you want to prevent cavities, you need to keep your teeth clean. Daily brushing and flossing are important parts of keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to reach all of the areas in your mouth by yourself. This is why you need to visit the dentist for professional teeth cleaning twice a year. We can remove the plaque formed on and in between your teeth and at your gum line. This is important for preventing cavities, but it also prevents gum disease. Gum disease is typically a result of plaque becoming trapped under your gums. Our staff is gentle, and we are confident that you will have a pleasant experience.
2. Deep Cleanings. Gum disease creates the need for deep cleaning. We will remove the plaque and tartar that have built up underneath the gums during this procedure. Once done, your gums will begin to feel better.
3. Fluoride Treatments. In addition to keeping your teeth clean, we can also strengthen them. When you eat and brush your teeth, you could be gently stripping away your enamel. Foods that are acidic and drinks like soda have a low pH level and can dissolve your dentin. Cola products, for example, have a pH level closer to battery acid than they do to water. This means that your teeth can gradually become weaker and more susceptible to decay and even damage. To combat this, you need to strengthen them. A fluoride treatment is one way to do so. We can apply fluoride to teeth in a matter of minutes. There is no irritation, and this mineral will strengthen teeth enough to reduce the risk of cavities by 30 percent. If you live in Minnetonka or Minneapolis, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a fluoride treatment today.
4. Dental Sealant. One of our routine dental procedures is applying dental sealant. This is a clear, plastic-like material gently brushed onto the teeth. At Holger Dental Group, we recommend sealant for people with deep ridges on their teeth’ chewing surfaces. Some people are born with teeth like this, while others develop deeper ridges over time. The challenge is that deep ridges are prone to having food trapped in them, and they are difficult to clean. As a result, plaque can form, and the acid it secretes can cause decay. The best way to combat this is to seal the ridges so that nothing can become trapped there. We can do so in only a couple of minutes per tooth. This makes the procedure quick, easy, affordable, and an excellent way to reduce the risk of developing cavities.
5. Teeth Whitening. This is an incredibly popular dental procedure for our patients because it provides a fast and affordable way to improve the appearance of teeth. It is perfectly natural for teeth to become dull, yellow, or stained with age. If you smoke, drink a lot of red wine, coffee or tea, your teeth can become yellow much faster. As a result, we regularly whiten teeth for people in their early twenties on up. The procedure works because the whitening solution is placed on the teeth, and when it is, it penetrates the enamel and starts the oxidization process. This is where the molecules inside the teeth change to reflect less light, appear colorless and give your teeth a bright white appearance. If you have an important event coming up, call us to schedule an appointment with us and discuss this procedure in further detail.
6. Dental Bonding. When it comes to routine dental procedures, dental bonding is one of the most widely used solutions for improving the appearance of teeth and restoring damaged ones. At Holger Dental Group, we can use bonding material to restore a tooth that has been cracked or chipped in an accident. We can also use it to close gaps in between teeth, change the shape of teeth, cover dark stains, and make them appear better in general. We can complete the bonding procedure in one visit to our dental office as an added benefit. After selecting the right shade, we prepare the tooth by roughening it slightly and then placing the bonding material on it. We then shape it into place and harden it. When you are ready to leave, you will have a fully restored and naturally beautiful tooth.
7. Dental Crowns. If you have suffered extensive damage to one of your teeth or are missing a large amount of enamel due to decay or an infection, you may need dental crowns. This is a more extensive dental restoration because a crown is a cap that surrounds your tooth. It can be made of a tooth-colored resin or porcelain to appear perfectly natural. This makes it possible to use crowns on either a front tooth or a back molar. Out of all of our routine dental procedures, this one is typically used to restore a tooth that has been cracked or chipped and cannot be restored with a veneer or bonding due to the tooth’s location or severity of the damage.

Definition of Dental Terminology

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums, and bite.

Dental Caries

Dental caries results from a lack of proper oral hygiene, leaving plaque that forms tiny holes in the teeth.

Dental Filling

A dental filling involves restoring the tooth’s structure by using metal, alloy, porcelain, or plastic to fill the tooth.

Dental Sealants

Dental sealants contain a resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth, and poor oral hygiene.

Tartar

Tartar forms when plaque builds upon the surface of the teeth and calcifies into a hard surface that is much more difficult to remove and will require professional treatment.

Decay

Tooth decay is when the tooth’s enamel begins to decay and causes erosion from plaque and tartar on the teeth.

Dental Checkup

A dental checkup is an appointment that involves cleaning the teeth, identifying any signs of infection, and removing said signs of infection at least once every six months in the office.

Dental Prophylaxis

A dental prophylaxis is a professional and detailed cleaning that involves the removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.

Dentist

A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry focuses on maintaining oral health to prevent the spread of plaque, the formation of tartar, and infections in the mouth.

Tooth Enamel

Tooth enamel is the protective visible outer surface of a tooth that contains the dentin and dental pulp.