General dentistry
General dentistry for the whole family, in one office on Braddock Drive.
Eleven procedures, from a routine cleaning to implants and dentures, with the diagnosis and the cost explained before any work begins.
Chapter 01
A cleaning and an exam, and a look at what you can't see for yourself.
Most visits at Mill Creek Family Dental begin with Cleanings & Oral Exams. The hygienist cleans away the plaque and tartar that a toothbrush leaves behind, and the dentist looks over your teeth and gums and tells you what he found in plain words. Rick W. wrote that he almost fell asleep while the dental assistant cleaned his teeth, she was so gentle. Rena Wang, who has been a patient for about two years, wrote that it is the only office whose cleaning doesn't leave her teeth feeling rough.
Oral Cancer Screenings sit on the same list of general procedures. It is a check of the soft tissue inside the mouth for sores, lumps or color changes that shouldn't be there. It takes very little time, and it is the sort of look nobody thinks to ask for, which is why it is worth having someone do it for you.
The other half of this chapter is keeping trouble from starting. Sealants are a thin protective coating on the chewing surfaces of back teeth, where decay likes to begin, and Tooth Decay Prevention is the home-care advice and the follow-up checks that go with them. The practice also offers dental care tips to help raise cavity-free kids, and Leanne P. wrote that the staff made her daughter feel at home.
An exam tray with a mouth mirror, explorer and folded gauze beside a patient bib chain
Repairing what is damaged: fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions.
When a tooth is already damaged, the first thing that happens is an explanation. Dr. Cronkhite goes over the diagnosis, the recommended treatment and every option, and the cost is discussed and your insurance estimate reviewed before any work begins. Renee N. wrote that she was informed at every step about cost and procedure, and Danny A. said the team did a great job explaining what was being done and what he needed to do at home.
Fillings are the everyday repair: the decay is cleaned out and the tooth is rebuilt. When a tooth has lost too much of itself for a filling to hold, Crowns & Bridgework are the next step. A crown caps a weakened tooth, and a bridge spans the gap that a missing tooth leaves, tied to the teeth on either side.
Root Canal Treatment clears an infected or inflamed nerve out of the inside of a tooth, so the tooth itself can stay in your mouth. Extractions are for the teeth that can't be saved. If either one makes you nervous, say so when you book. The hygienists offer warm blankets, comfy neck pillows, sunglasses and headphones to patients who need help relaxing, you're welcome to bring your own music, and the practice also does sedation dentistry.
Chapter 03
Replacing what is missing, and easing the jaw.
Dental Implants replace a missing tooth with an artificial root and a crown on top, so the gap closes without leaning on the teeth beside it.
Removable Dentures are the other route when several teeth are gone: replacement teeth that come out for cleaning. Which option fits depends on your mouth and on what you want to spend, and Dr. Cronkhite, the practice's dentist since July 2006, lays out each one so you decide with the facts. Mill Creek Family Dental is an in-network preferred provider for Delta Dental, Cigna, MetLife and Anthem, and it is partnered with CareCredit for financing, so ask the front desk what your plan covers before you commit.
TMD Treatments are for the jaw itself: the joint in front of your ear, the clicking, the sore muscles after a night of clenching. If your jaw hurts, call 765-471-6025 in Lafayette and say so. The front desk is open Monday to Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and a toothache that can't wait is also a reason to call, since the practice offers emergency dental care.
“They did a great job explaining what was being done and what I needed to do at home!” Danny A., a Mill Creek Family Dental patient.