Family Dentistry in Valencia, CA

At Smile Care Valencia they are the same thing: a general dentist who sees children, teens, adults and seniors. MedlinePlus explains that a dentist is a doctor with special training to care for teeth and gums who can treat people of all ages, and that pediatric dentists are dentists with additional training in dental care for children. Dr. Robert P. Hedvat is a general dentist, practicing since 2011 and leading Smile Care Valencia since 2018.

What a family dentist adds is continuity. One team keeps your family's records and history in one place. Our team includes Dolores, a registered dental hygienist, Dr. Raffie Garabedian, a periodontist for gum disease, and Dr. Benjamin Levi, an endodontist for root canal treatment.

A family dental visit usually combines a cleaning by the hygienist with an exam by the dentist. MedlinePlus lists the parts: a cleaning to remove plaque, an exam of your teeth and mouth for signs of gum disease or tooth decay, and X-rays on certain visits depending on the health of your teeth and the time since your last exam. During the exam the dentist checks your teeth and gums, your bite, and for oral cancer by looking and feeling for unusual lumps in the mouth, lips and tongue.

Cleveland Clinic says every cleaning has two main steps, scaling to remove plaque and tartar and polishing, and that most cleanings take 30 to 60 minutes. At our office X-rays are digital, which give clear images within seconds and let Dr. Hedvat show you what he sees and explain his recommendations, with typically less radiation than traditional film. When a crown or clear aligner is planned, an intraoral scanner builds a three-dimensional model of your mouth without bulky impression trays.

The ADA recommends the first dental visit within six months after the first tooth appears and no later than the child's first birthday; the CDC gives the same first-birthday deadline. The ADA says the first visit is mainly for the dentist to examine the child's mouth and check growth and development, and to get the child comfortable: the dentist inspects for injuries, cavities or other problems, says whether the child is at risk of tooth decay, cleans the teeth and gives tips for daily care, and discusses teething, pacifier use or thumbsucking.

The ADA suggests a morning appointment, when children tend to be rested and cooperative. On toothpaste, it says children under 3 should have no more than a smear the size of a grain of rice of fluoride toothpaste, and children 3 to 6 a pea-sized amount, with brushing supervised. Most children have all 20 baby teeth by age 3.

Cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States, according to the CDC, and more than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in a baby tooth. The CDC's prevention list is brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, watching children under 6 brush and making sure they spit the toothpaste out, drinking fluoridated tap water, and asking the dentist about sealants when appropriate. For Santa Clarita, SCV Water says it does not add fluoride; our summary of its reports shows the natural levels by year, and by area through 2022.

Two numbers from the CDC: fluoride varnish can prevent one-third of cavities in baby teeth, and sealants on the back teeth prevent 80 percent of cavities. MedlinePlus describes sealants as thin coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, used mostly in children and teens, and notes that adults who have never had cavities in their back teeth may also choose them.

Most adults and children should have a routine dental exam every six months, according to MedlinePlus, and Cleveland Clinic says most dentists recommend a cleaning every six months. Both say some people need to come more often. MedlinePlus lists gum disease, frequent cavities, a family history of oral health problems, medicines that dry the mouth, smoking and pregnancy, plus conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and anything that affects the immune system.

After the first visit, MedlinePlus says babies are usually checked every six months. If you or your child has swollen, dark red or bleeding gums, tooth pain or other discomfort, MedlinePlus says not to wait for the routine exam. Call (661) 255-1211 and our team will make every effort to see you as quickly as possible.

For adults, general dentistry at our office covers exams, cleanings, tooth-colored fillings and crowns, with conservative treatment and metal-free restorations when appropriate. MedlinePlus says tooth decay and gum disease can lead to pain, infection and tooth loss, and that losing teeth can cause problems with eating and nutrition.

Cleveland Clinic lists a deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, as the cleaning for people with gum disease, and Dr. Garabedian, our periodontist, treats gum disease here. MedlinePlus notes that if you have certain health conditions, such as heart problems or an immune system disorder, you may need antibiotics before a dental visit, and that you should ask your dentist and your physician.

Tell us before the visit if you or your child is anxious. MedlinePlus says to tell your dentist before your visit, and Cleveland Clinic says many dentists offer sedation to help you feel calm. We take dental anxiety seriously, and patients tell us they feel listened to and never rushed or pressured.

Our sedation options are nitrous oxide, which is gentle and fast-acting with the patient awake and responsive and effects that wear off quickly; twilight sedation where appropriate, after reviewing your health and the planned procedure; and IV sedation under the care of a Dental Anesthesiologist.

We accept most PPO dental plans, CareCredit, and offer financial arrangements. Our team helps patients understand their benefits and financial options clearly before proceeding, and because benefits and network participation vary by plan, our team will gladly verify your coverage before treatment. Families from Valencia, Santa Clarita, Saugus, Newhall and Stevenson Ranch come to our office at 23838 Valencia Blvd, Suite 301.