Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates is one of Annapolis’s most experienced dental practices near you. We can provide high-quality dental care for children and adults through continuing education, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly experienced staff. A dedication to excellence in dentistry and quality relationships with our patients enables us to positively contribute to your family’s total health and well-being.
Our dental team is part of the Annapolis community, and we contribute to its quality of life by providing regular general dentistry in Annapolis, MD, and the surrounding areas.
General Dentistry Services
Our general dentistry services preserve and maintain patients’ oral health. Continue reading to learn more about our general dentistry services.
Dental Cleanings
We recommend that patients schedule dental cleanings regularly, about every six months. This ensures the upkeep of your smile. During a dental cleaning, we use specialized tools to deeply clean your teeth and examine your smile to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy. To learn more about dental cleanings in our office, see Dental Cleanings.
Dental Fillings
When patients’ teeth become infected, we recommend dental fillings. Fillings are a relatively easy procedure in which we remove any infection and fill it with a composite resin to replace what was removed. The entire procedure is typically completed within an hour. We recommend patients fill cavities as soon as possible so the infection does not spread. To learn more about the dental fillings process, see Dental Fillings.
Emergency Dentistry
If you have a dental emergency, do not hesitate to contact our office. We have the expertise and tools to help you with any dental emergency you may encounter. From a severe toothache to a knocked-out tooth, we can help to relieve pain and restore your smile. To learn more about our emergency dentistry services and what to do in a dental emergency, see Emergency Dentistry.
Periodontal Therapy
Gum disease is one of the most common dental issues in adults. It is crucial that you seek treatment if you have gum disease before the condition progresses. We offer a variety of options to treat gum disease in our office. To learn more about gum disease treatment in our office, see Periodontal Therapy.
Root Canal
Patients may need a root canal for a variety of reasons. This may include a cracked tooth, severe infection, or an issue with a filling. We use dental sedation to ensure that the procedure is pain-free and easy. To learn more about whether a root canal may benefit your smile, see Root Canal.
Tooth Extraction
We may recommend a tooth extraction if we cannot save your tooth with a root canal or dental filling. We may also extract a tooth if it is impacted or crowded. We also perform wisdom teeth extractions for patients with impacted wisdom teeth. We use dental sedation to ensure patients are comfortable throughout the procedure and that the extraction is as pain-free as possible. To learn more about tooth extractions in our office, see Tooth Extraction.
General Dentistry in Annapolis, MD
Annapolis dentists Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates understand their patients’ busy lives. Our range of dental services can handle any dental health issue for patients of all ages.
Family dentistry means that all family members can be seen in one location. Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates helps patients schedule appointments consecutively when possible to accommodate busy schedules. Family dentistry enables children to see their parents being treated and then sit in the same chair to have their own teeth cleaned.
This can help reduce the fear and anxiety many young patients experience when visiting the dentist, laying a foundation for lifelong healthy habits that include routine dental care.
As family dentists, Drs. Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates offer pediatric services, including preventive care, dental sealants, and fluoride treatments for growing teeth. They also offer custom sports mouthguards to protect teeth during physical play. We will monitor wisdom teeth and recommend treatment when deemed necessary.
Drs. Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates will help your busy family maintain their dental health for a lifetime!
Since 1972, our dental office has been a pillar in the Annapolis medical community. We see children, as well as adults, in our Annapolis dental office. We are one of the largest dental practices in the area, with 13 operatories. This allows us to simultaneously accommodate multiple family members for treatment – making your dental visits quick and convenient.
Despite our size, we are not too big to care about our patients. Developing long-term relationships is one of the most important aspects of our practice – we treat our patients like members of our own family.
We believe the best dentistry is a collaborative process between the dentist and the patient. When you visit our Annapolis dental office, you’ll have one-on-one time with the dentist to discuss your dental concerns and smile goals. The dentist will perform a comprehensive examination to look for underlying problems and take time to explain the various treatment options available to you.
Our new patient dental exam usually involves:
- Professional dental cleaning
- Digital dental x-rays
- Other diagnostic dental imaging as needed
- Screening for gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer
- Examination and charting of existing dental restorations
- Examination of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and fit of the bite (occlusion)
Payment & Dental Insurance Information
There is a strong connection between oral health and overall health. Routine visits to the dentist will help ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy and may help you avoid dental problems in the future. In our Annapolis dental office, we work with most dental insurance providers. Our staff will assist you with any billing and paperwork to make sure you maximize your benefits.
If you need restorative or cosmetic dental treatment, we can discuss various payment arrangements, including financing options through CareCredit.
The Importance of Preventative Care
Preventative care is the foundation of your oral health. It’s essential for maintaining a healthy mouth and smile. Preventative care focuses on helping you avoid dental problems before they occur. It occurs both in our office and when you’re at home. Both parts are essential to keep your mouth healthy.
Plaque and tartar buildup are what cause the majority of dental problems. Plaque is a film of bacteria and food debris that sticks to your teeth. When you continue to avoid brushing your teeth, that film hardens into plaque, trapping the bacteria and debris on your teeth. When it progresses to this stage, it’s much harder to remove. Brushing and flossing your teeth removes bacteria and debris from your teeth daily so that it doesn’t get a chance to build up.
But you still have to visit our office, too. Especially if you have crooked teeth, there are areas of your smile that you can’t reach with your normal toothbrush and dental floss. It requires our specialized dental tools to clean these areas properly. Even if you’re doing everything right, taking care of your mouth at home, you’re still at high risk for tooth decay and gum disease because plaque and tartar are still building in these areas.
We also perform oral exams when you’re in our office. Conditions like oral cancer and gum disease don’t have painful or super noticeable early warning symptoms. You may not notice them on your own. Our staff is trained to recognize these signs, and we also have diagnostic tools to assist us. We aim to catch these problems early so treatment can be minimally invasive and less expensive than when problems have progressed.
The Mouth-Body Connection
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. Keeping your mouth healthy is beneficial to your entire body. Many systemic diseases have their start in the oral cavity. For example, gum disease can be felt in many body areas. That’s why preventing it is so crucial to your health. Gum disease starts as inflammation and bacteria in your mouth. But gum disease causes your gums to bleed, allowing the bacteria and inflammation to travel through the bloodstream to other parts of your body.
There’s a strong correlation between gum disease and cardiovascular problems. Bacteria and inflammation cause damage to tissues when exposed for long periods of time. Patients with gum disease are at higher risk for heart disease and issues with their arteries. Studies have shown that the most prominent bacteria species found in the coronary artery is a prominent one that causes gum disease.
The mouth is the gateway for both the digestive and respiratory systems. There’s a significant relationship between patients with chronic gum disease and patients with decreased breathing and respiratory capabilities. When the tubes in the lungs that carry air are inflamed, they become swollen and restricted, so it’s harder for air to get through. Patients are also at an increased risk for lung cancer if they have gum disease.
General Dentistry FAQs
Do you have further questions about our general dentistry services? Please continue reading to find answers to commonly asked questions in our office.
What is included in general dentistry?
A general dentist performs visual examinations and assessments of the condition of the teeth. They use X-rays of the teeth and gums to diagnose the need for sleep apnea therapy, tooth sealants, and minor dental operations such as cavity fillings, root canals, dental crowns, and cleanings.
Will I need a crown after a root canal?
We may recommend a dental crown if you have a worn or weakened tooth after your root canal treatment. Dental crowns can help if you have a large filling or extensive damage due to tooth decay. A crown fully covers and protects teeth, creates a balanced bite, and can prevent reinfection.
Do I need a root canal or a tooth extraction?
We will recommend removing a tooth if your decay is too extensive and we cannot save your natural tooth. If possible, we will perform a root canal before an extraction. Dental extractions are the final option if you have a decayed tooth that we cannot preserve.
Is a general dentist an orthodontist?
General dentists are highly skilled experts who take care of your oral health and the attractiveness of your smile. Orthodontists are dentists who have completed further training in diagnosing, preventing, and treating misaligned teeth and jaws. They help to align patients’ bites using treatments such as Invisalign, braces, etc.
When will I need gum disease treatment?
As soon as you notice a change in your gums, including bleeding gums or gum pain, please get in touch with us for periodontal treatment. We can provide preventative dental cleanings to remove bacteria from your gums.
What does DDS stand for?
DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. A DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) and a DDS are equivalent degrees. Dentists with a DMD or DDS have completed the same coursework and are equally qualified.
Find a Dentist in Annapolis
Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely & Associates is always welcoming new patients. Whether you need a dental cleaning or a full mouth reconstruction, our dentists can provide the necessary care. If you’re looking for a dentist in the Severna Park, MD area, Call us at (410) 268-5503 or schedule an appointment online.
