When it comes to your teeth and smile, few people consider the impact they have on our day-to-day routine, happiness, and quality of life—until they’re gone.
A missing tooth immediately changes your appearance, but it also affects what you can comfortably eat, and how you can speak. When these common, everyday actions are made difficult, your self-confidence can falter significantly. Therefore, it’s imperative to try to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.
While there are events and dental emergencies that no one can predict or prevent, we can still do our best to minimize preventable damage by practicing preventive dentistry.
There is no doubt that dental technology has made considerable advancements and strides in recent years, but even so, prevention is still your best route to a healthy mouth. One of the best ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to visit your dentist twice a year for dental examinations and tooth cleanings. With regular dental checkups, we can treat problems that do arise more efficiently and less invasively.
Protect your dental health by visiting Downtown Dental every six months, or as directed by your New Orleans dentist. Dr. Richard Rathke and his exceptional dental team provide the oral health treatments you need to keep your smile healthy.
- General and Preventive Services to Care for Your Teeth
- Emergency Dental Services for Unexpected Tooth Pain
- Restorative Dental Services to Improve Smile Flaws
- Cosmetic Dentistry Services to Beautify Your Smile
- No More Dental Anxiety with Sedation Dentistry
- Call Downtown Dental to Make an Appointment
General and Preventive Services to Care for Your Teeth
In addition to preventive care such as routine dental examinations and cleanings, Downtown Dental offers a full range of general services, from fillings to root canals. During your visits, we will look for issues such as tooth decay and periodontal disease, both of which are best treated in their early stages.
We know that each patient’s smile and oral health needs are unique, which is why we offer a variety of different dental procedures to alleviate oral issues and strengthen your teeth. Standard dental treatments include:
- Dental cleanings
- Dental exams
- Digital x-rays
- Tooth-colored fillings
- Dental crowns
- Mouthguards
- Full mouth rehabilitation
- Dental bridges
For dental issues that Dr. Rathke may not be able to detect with a visual exam, we will take a set of digital x-rays—usually once a year—to find problems while they are still small and easy to treat.
We offer tooth-colored fillings to take care of dental decay, and we treat gum disease with scaling and root planing when needed. We perform most root canals and dental extractions in-office. However, if required, we will refer patients to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Emergency Dental Services for Unexpected Tooth Pain
Dental emergencies happen, and they usually do so at the most inopportune times. We try to leave time in our schedule open for emergency cases, so we can often see you on the same day. Common dental emergencies include:
- Sudden tooth loss
- Bleeding
- Loose tooth
- Broken or fractured tooth
- Broken or loose dental restoration
- Sudden swelling
- Fever
- Toothache
- Jaw pain
If you are feeling any sudden tooth or jaw pain, don’t try to tough it out. Unlike headaches or cramps, tooth pain often will not go away on its own. Very often, it is indicative of a deep-rooted issue that needs to be addressed soon.
Don’t suffer needlessly, contact Downtown Dental immediately so we can treat your pain and address the issue.
Restorative Dental Services to Improve Smile Flaws
When a tooth is damaged, such as with a crack or a chip, they are likely not functioning at peak performance. These issues can also impact your appearance and make you self-conscious. We can fix many problems with dental bonding, cosmetic fillings, or dental crowns—saving your tooth and giving you back full chewing function.
Our restorative services include:
- Dental implants
- Dental bridges
- Complete dentures
- Partial dentures
- Implant-retained bridges
- Implant-supported dentures
When teeth are missing, there are several options to replace them. We can talk to you about dental bridges, implants, or dentures, depending on your individual needs. We recommend restoring your tooth as soon as possible for reasons beyond appearance. Without a tooth root anchoring your jaw bone, the bone will start to recede. This bone loss creates a sunken appearance that prematurely ages you—which no one wants. Additionally, neighboring teeth start to drift into the gap, which moves them and can damage surrounding teeth. Tooth loss can easily lead to more tooth loss, which can create a vicious cycle.
Therefore, it is essential to try to save your existing teeth and prevent further damage as soon as you can.
Cosmetic Dentistry Services to Beautify Your Smile
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. In fact, studies show that your smile is the first thing people recall when they remember someone they just met. We're not saying that only perfect smiles are loveable, smile flaws can indeed be cute and unique—but only if you are happy with it. People who aren't super ecstatic about their little smile quirks tend to hide their smile or smile less often, which doesn't quite compel others to you in the way you might want.
If your smile isn’t all it could be, cosmetic dentistry can take it from dull to dazzling. Among our many dental treatments, we offer:
- Professional teeth whitening
- Tooth-colored fillings
- Porcelain veneers
- Complete smile makeovers
- Orthodontic treatment
- Dental bonding
- Dental crowns
- Dental implants
We provide cosmetic dentistry procedures that can give you the beautiful smile you should have been born with. Procedures such as professional tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental crowns, and dental bonding can give you your dream smile. Are you ready to enhance your smile? Call Dr. Rathke to discover what your options are!
No More Dental Anxiety with Sedation Dentistry
Does the thought of visiting the dentist fill with you dread or anxiety? Many Americans forego necessary dental treatment out of fear or stress, which puts them in a serious bind over time.
Without treating ongoing decay or infection, you may one day wake up with severe tooth pain that requires an emergency trip to the dentist. If dental restoration is needed, you may end up spending more money than a preventive dental visit would have cost.
We want our patients to make regular trips to get their teeth and gums checked, so if you feel anxious, we can treat it with sedation dentistry to help relax and calm you. Oral sedation is prescribed by Dr. Rathke to take before coming for your dental visit. Many patients confirm feeling relaxed and comfortable, having little memory of their entire dental appointment. We also offer nitrous oxide for patients before dental cleanings or other dental procedures.
There is no reason to suffer for your oral health. If you want peace of mind, we offer treatments to make your dental appointment relaxing.
Call Downtown Dental to Make an Appointment
Don’t underestimate the importance of a healthy mouth and how it can impact your overall health. Dr. Rathke and his entire dedicated team at Downtown Dental look forward to taking care of your dental needs now and in the years ahead to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles!
We are here to improve the smiles of you and your family!