General Dentistry

Cleanings, checkups, fillings, repair of cracked or broken teeth, and care for dental emergencies. It is ordinary care, built on the same measurement-first standard as the most complex case in the building: examined carefully, imaged when needed, documented and explained before anything is decided. The practice is designed around adult care. If your exam points to something larger, such as a bite or jaw problem, we explain what we found and what your options are.

The visit starts with a conversation about anything you have noticed: sensitivity, bleeding gums, a tooth that feels different. Your teeth are then cleaned to remove plaque and tartar (plaque that has hardened and can no longer be brushed away), and your teeth and gums are examined. X-rays are taken when they are needed. Before you leave, we show you what we saw and explain anything that needs attention. If it has been a while since your last visit, that is fine. We start from where you are.

It depends on your mouth. The health of your gums, your dental history, whether you clench or grind, and how quickly tartar builds up all play a part. Dr. Patel sets your interval at your exam and explains the reasoning, so you know why you are coming back when you do. If anything changes in between, such as bleeding or new sensitivity, call rather than wait. Healthy gums with few past problems usually need fewer visits than gums being treated for disease.

A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the teeth at and just above the gumline. A deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, reaches below the gumline to clean the root surfaces when gum disease has formed pockets there. We recommend a deep cleaning only when your gums need it, and we show you the findings that support the recommendation before anything is done. If your gums are healthy, a regular cleaning is what you get.

Most people find a routine cleaning comfortable. If an area is tender or sensitive, tell the team and they will adjust as they go. Sensitivity is also worth mentioning for its own sake: sensitive teeth and bleeding gums are signs Dr. Patel wants to understand, because they can point to a problem with the gums, the teeth or the bite. If a past visit was difficult for you, tell us that too, and the pace can be set around you.

We start by listening: your history, your concerns, what you want. Then comes the exam, using the intraoral camera (a small camera that photographs inside your mouth), X-rays and, when more detail is needed, a 3D cone beam CT scan. Every procedure is recorded before, during and after, and you are walked through photos of your own mouth. The method is simple: tell, show, then do. If something needs treatment, you will understand why before you decide.

Only when there is a reason, such as new decay, a crack or a filling that is breaking down. Dr. Patel’s rule is to save natural teeth first and to keep as much healthy tooth structure as possible. He is happy to repair damage and make it look better, but he will not remove healthy tooth structure for appearance alone. If an old filling is sound, it stays, and we show you the photos that tell us so.

Severe or lasting tooth pain, swelling in the face or gums, signs of infection, a broken or knocked-out tooth, or bleeding that will not stop are all reasons to call us right away at (321) 254-4613. If you are unsure, call and describe what is happening. If swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, or you have a serious injury to the face or jaw, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Taking care of emergencies is how Dr. Patel built this practice, and the team works to see people in pain the same day. Call as early as you can and tell us what is happening. Once the urgent problem is handled, we can talk about a fuller exam to find out what caused it, so it is less likely to happen again. Emergency visits are photographed and documented like every other visit, so you can see what was wrong and what was done.

It depends on what your exam finds, so fees are not listed here. Before any treatment begins, our team explains what is recommended, why, and the full cost, so you can decide with all of the information in front of you. Questions about insurance can be answered when you call (321) 254-4613. The conversation covers how the work is designed to last, not only what it costs today.