Etown Dental Blog

What is ‘ General Dentistry ‘? Here are a couple definitions, found from around the web:

The World Health Organization defines General Dentistry as “the science and art of preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and malformations of the teeth, jaws and mouth”.

According to Wikipedia :

A dentist is a healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry after graduating with a degree of either Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Chirurgiae (BDS) or (BChD) or equivalent.

In most western countries, to become a qualified dentist one must usually complete at least 4 years of postgraduate study. Generally, 2 years of clinical experience working with patients in an educational setting are required.

If you have a need for General or Family Dentistry in the Elizabethtown area, please give our practice a call. We are Elizabethtown Dental Associates, and our general dentistry office is located at:

100 Continental Drive
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania 17022

We practice family and cosmetic dentistry in the city of Elizabethtown. We provide general dentistry services to the greater Elizabethtown area, which includes general and family dentistry services for anyone in the cities of Hershey, Manheim or Lancaster.

Give us a call at 717-367-1336 to schedule a general dentistry appointment in Elizabethtown, or to ask questions about general dentistry.  We also offer sedation dentistry services for patients who are anxious about dental treatments.

Personal Attention, Professional Excellence, Phenomenal Care

Hello, I’m Dr. Ed White DDS. My dental practice is called Elizabethtown Dental Associates. We are located at 100 Continental Drive in Elizabethtown (17022), and you can reach us by calling 717-367-1336.

You can probably imagine why I look at smiles everywhere I go in the Elizabethtown area. Whether I am working with a Manheim dental patient, having dinner at a Hershey restaurant, or attending a Lancaster sporting event, I notice whether the people around me smile. Whenever I encounter someone with obvious tooth problems, I want to tell them about the procedures that can completely transform their frown into a healthy and beautiful smile.

Are you one of those people who don’t want to show their teeth? I would love to talk to you about a smile makeover. Whatever your excuse is for not seeking dental treatment, I can discuss all of your concerns with you during a free consultation.

Perhaps you are afraid of dental work. Have you ever considered sedation dentistry? With sedation dentistry, even extensive treatment is virtually pain free. Sedation will calm your mind as well as the nerves in your mouth.

Perhaps the cost of Elizabethtown cosmetic dentistry is holding you back. My caring and professional staff will be happy to talk to you about financing plans. It is important to remember that if your teeth are decayed, postponing treatment will cost more money in the long run. Filling a cavity is far more affordable dentistry than a root canal procedure or, in the case of an extracted tooth, a dental implant.

You can contact my office at 717-367-1336 or online at http://www.ETownDental.com. My Elizabethtown family dental website contains information about all the general, restorative and aesthetic services we provide.

I can transform your smile into one that you will want to show all the time!

Dr. Ed White

Malocclusions (bite problems) include overbites, underbites and crossbites. Jaw alignment disorders restrict proper chewing, talking, and swallowing. They can also cause teeth to shift around in the mouth. Elizabethtown cosmetic dentistry patients with bite problems are at a greater risk for tooth decay and periodontal disease because bite misalignment often makes it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene.

When the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw, it is called an overbite. When the situation is reversed, it is called an underbite. Crossbite occurs when lower teeth are in the wrong position.

Bite problems can cause headaches and TMJ pain. Some Elizabethtown dental patients with severe bite problems develop a distorted facial shape and damaged teeth.

If you suspect your toddler or older child has a bite problem, it is important to see your Elizabethtown family dentist as soon as possible. Bite issues and their various related problems get worse over time.

At Elizabethtown Dental Associates, we diagnose and successfully treat bite problems in addition to providing general and cosmetic dentistry. We can be reached at 717-367-1336. Our office is located at 100 Continental Drive in Elizabethtown. You can find out more about us at http://www.ETownDental.com.

Most of our patients live in Elizabethtown or nearby in Hershey, Leola, or Manheim. If you have recently moved into the area and need a skilled family and cosmetic dentist, come visit our caring and professional team. We pamper every patient and make dental visits as comfortable as possible.

When a tooth is threatened by severe decay, periodontal disease, or damage from an injury, a skilled Elizabethtown dentist or endodontist must make a judgment call concerning the course of treatment. If the pulp of the tooth is infected or inflamed, a root canal is often the only way to save the tooth.

Elizabethtown Dental Associates: 717-367-1336

During a root canal procedure (or endodontic treatment) the soft tissue in the root of the tooth is removed. This tissue contains veins, arteries and lymph vessels. Once the roots are cleaned out and widened, they are filled with a special rubber material. The root canal is only the first step in the complete tooth restoration. After the root canal, without a crown, the tooth will become dry and brittle. The final steps are the core build up and dental crown.

At Elizabethtown Dental Associates, we fabricate strong, natural-looking crowns that blend perfectly with the surrounding teeth. With proper oral hygiene and regular visits to an Elizabethtown dentist, a tooth with a filled root can often function problem-free for the rest of a patient’s life.

I am Dr. Ed White DDS of Elizabethtown Dental Associates. I have been practicing cosmetic dentistry since 1984. During that time I have seen hundreds of teeth saved by this effective dental procedure. Root canal therapy at Elizabethtown Dental Associates in Elizabethtown has a very high success rate.

Because teeth with infected pulp tissue often cause no symptoms, it is important to have regular dental examinations. I can determine which (if any) teeth have infected roots. If the infection in the soft pulp tissue is left untreated, it can progress to a point where the tooth cannot be saved. Is it time for a thorough dental exam? Call our office at 717-367-1336.

Call Elizabethtown Dental Associates immediately if one of your teeth is screaming for attention!

Many Elizabethtown dentistry patients have discovered the benefits of anxiety-free dentistry (sometimes called sleep dentistry). There are three main types of sedation dentistry options available in the Elizabethtown area.

Inhalation

Nitrous Oxide, sometimes called ‘laughing gas‘ has been used in Elizabethtown cosmetic dental offices for over a century, because, in many ways, it is an ideal sedative. It begins to work quickly, but then wears off as soon as the Elizabethtown dental patient stops inhaling it. Breathing nitrous oxide can produce warm tingling sensations and a feeling of euphoria.

Oral Conscious Sedation

Oral sedatives take longer to work than nitrous, but produce a calmer state for many nervous Elizabethtown dental patients. Triazolam and diazepam are common oral sedatives used in dentistry. These sedative medications are routinely prescribed by Elizabethtown physicians for anxiety, insomnia, and muscle spasms.

Oral sedation is a good sedation choice for anxious patients who require a lengthy dental procedure such as dental implants. After the dental visit, it takes a while for the medication to wear off. A Elizabethtown conscious sedation patient should not plan to drive home after undergoing oral sedation.

IV Sedation

Like nitrous, intra-venous sedation starts working immediately as the sedative enters the bloodstream. IV sedation usually produces the deepest state of relaxation. IV patients can dream away the entire procedure and wake up calm and relaxed.

To schedule a sedation consultation, call Elizabethtown Dental Associates at 717-367-1336. We have the answer for your dental anxiety.