General & Preventive Dentistry
Caring for Individuals & Families in Lexington, SC
At Gildner Family Dentistry, we provide personalized, compassionate dental services to patients in every stage of life. As a family owned dental practice, we are committed to helping our patients feel safe and comfortable in our care. Our practice provides individuals and families in Lexington, SC and surrounding communities with the high-quality general and restorative dental care they deserve.
Our doctor, Dr. Robert Gildner, and our team are dedicated to helping you achieve optimal oral health and empower you to maintain it for life. As our practice continues to grow, we are committed to creating a family-friendly environment and practice which you and your loved ones can trust and count on.
Diagnosis and Cleanings
Maintaining good oral hygiene is not only important for the look of your smile, but also for your overall health. A variety of dental and medical problems can develop from poor oral hygiene habits. This includes gum disease, bone loss, infections, tooth loss, bad breath, heart disease, oral cancer, and more. It is important to practice good at-home oral hygiene habits, as well as attend regular dental checkups and cleanings to prevent these problems.
Good oral health is a sign of good overall health. We’re invested in your overall health and wellbeing. Our team will listen to your questions and concerns. A dentist’s main focus is not solely teeth, but the head and neck as well. Many diseases have signs and symptoms that can manifest in the mouth. During your routine exams, Dr. Gildner will complete a thorough, comprehensive exam of your head and neck, as well as your hard and soft tissues. We will take into consideration any special needs you have as a result of another health condition.
As part of your oral health exam, we will perform an oral cancer screening. This involves looking for lesions and any abnormalities in your mouth. Making regular visits to the dentist and maintaining good oral hygiene habits is essential to preventing oral cancer. According to the National Institute of Cancer, approximately 37,000 are diagnosed every year in the United States. More than 90 percent of oral cancers occur in patients older than 45 years. The incidence increases steadily until 65 years, when the rate levels off.
Periodontal maintenance is the foundation of dentistry. Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. Many signs may go unnoticed because it is virtually pain-free. Without regular cleanings and dental exams, you are at risk of developing gum disease. Our soft tissue management services help treat gum disease before it becomes a severe problem. Non-surgical ways to prevent periodontal disease are scaling and root planing.
The process of removing tartar from the surface of teeth is scaling. Root planing is the process of smoothing out root surfaces and removing infected tooth structures. Our soft tissue management services are designed to reduce the need for periodontal surgery.
Pediatric Dentistry
Dental sealants are an effective way to protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars and premolars). Sealants are an acrylic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This forms a protective barrier to help seal out germs and food which cause tooth decay and destroys tooth structure. As long the sealants remain intact, they are 100% effective in reducing tooth decay.
A chrome steel or stainless steel crown is one of the most durable restorative materials used in pediatric dentistry. They do not corrode in the moist atmosphere of the mouth, even after many years. This type of filling is used when:
Tooth decay involves more than two surfaces of a tooth (where a normal filling would not stay)
A tooth treated with a root canal or similar treatment
In some instances, these crowns are used as space maintainers
When the tooth is affected badly by other developmental problems
When deep cavities are in or close to the nerve of a primary tooth, it is sometimes necessary to remove the irritated part of the pulp. This procedure leaves the healthy root canals intact.
Sleep Apnea
*Dental sleep medicine for the treatment of disruptive sleep apnea*
Our dental clinic offers a non-invasive and convenient solution for sleep apnea with the use of a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD). This custom-made oral device is designed to improve the flow of air through the airways during sleep by gently moving the lower jaw forward. By opening up and stabilizing the airway, the MAD helps to reduce snoring and sleep apnea episodes, resulting in improved sleep quality and daytime alertness. It is comfortable, portable, and provides long-term relief from sleep apnea symptoms, allowing for a restful and rejuvenating sleep.
For more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Gildner Family Dentistry at 803-957-2440. We look forward to treating you and your family.