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General Family Care

• General Family Care
• Children’s Dentistry
• Tooth Extraction
• Root Canal Therapy
• Gum Disease and Treatment Options
• Arestin®
• Laser Therapy for Gum Disease
• Emergency Treatment
• Teeth Grinding
• TMJ Treatment
• Bad Breath Treatment
• Sleep Apnea / Snoring Treatment

General Family Care

A comprehensive family dentistry practice located in Newport Beach and serving all Orange County residents, OC Lifesmiles provides a full array of services to care for your family. We consider ourselves a one-stop resource for all of your general dentistry needs, as well as cosmetic and restorative procedures. Explore our treatment options below, and contact our practice to set up an appointment for yourself or a loved one.

Children’s Dentistry

As one of the most respected family dentistry practices in Orange County, OC Lifesmiles takes good care of our youngest patients. Children enjoy coming to our warm, friendly practice, and our staff loves teaching them about oral health. We make children’s visits fun, so they remain lifelong patients with strong teeth and healthy gums.

Tooth Extraction

Extracting a tooth is usually the last line of defense. Certainly our dentists try other means to preserve a broken, decayed, or otherwise damaged tooth. But, in some serious cases, Dr. Cross or Dr. Junker may recommend extracting the tooth and replacing it with a porcelain crown or bridge, for example. We make the experience as pain free as possible, offering sedation dentistry as an option to patients.

Root Canal Therapy

As the most common type of endodontic procedure, a root canal heals an infected tooth root, or “pulp” beneath the surface of the gums. Typically, a root canal is performed to prolong the life of the tooth while its enamel is still intact. At OC Lifesmiles, we work closely with an endodontic specialist to treat the infection and restore the health of the tooth. Contact our office for more details about root canal therapy or another comprehensive family dentistry service at our Orange County practice.

Gum (Periodontal) Disease and Treatment Options

A chronic bacterial infection in the gums is called periodontal disease. Dangerous because it sometimes develops without symptoms, periodontal disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss. With periodontal disease, bacteria builds up beneath the surface of the gums and creates pockets, or gaps around the teeth that may or may not become inflamed. These pockets are usually at least four millimeters deep, and need to be treated before the disease progresses. Periodontal disease can lead to serious health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and even strokes.

Arestin®

Arestin® is an antibiotic medication that we use to treat the causes of periodontal disease and not just the symptoms. It comes in a powder form, and contains tiny spheres of the antibiotic minocycline, which is released over a 21-day period to fight gum disease. Once we identify infected periodontal pockets, we administer the medication directly into the pockets, where it fights infection and kills bacteria. OC Lifesmiles is proud to employ some of the first dental professionals in our area to be trained in Arestin®. If you’d like to learn more about this treatment, please contact our practice today.

Laser Therapy for Gum Disease

If we do find bacteria or diseased tissue in the gums, we use cutting-edge Zap dental lasers to eliminate it. Lasers are valuable in treating periodontal disease because our doctors can carefully control the precise beam of light, thus reducing the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Emergency Treatment

We understand that dental emergencies can occur at any time of day and are often traumatic experiences for patients and members of their family. For emergency dentistry services, you may contact our Orange County office 24 hours a day for assistance.

Teeth Grinding

Constant teeth grinding or clenching can cause bite problems, excessive wear, and structural problems. Drs. Cross and Junker can explore some treatment options, like a mouth guard, when you make an appointment at OC Lifesmiles.

TMJ Treatment

TMJ treatment eases the discomfort of temporomandibular joint pain. This joint can ache for numerous reasons, including a misaligned jaw, repetitive teeth clenching, or simply many years of chewing. Drs. Cross and Junker treat TMJ disorders through a variety of options. To learn more about these options, contact OC Lifesmiles today.

Bad Breath Treatment

To remedy chronic bad breath, we suggest you make an appointment with one of our dentists. We offer professional treatments to freshen your breath, including mouth rinses. In some cases, chronic bad breath may be an indicator of a more serious problem, like periodontal disease, so it’s a good idea to visit one of our dentists for a dental checkup.

Sleep Apnea/ Snoring Treatment

Sleep apnea and snoring are common problems which can cause nights of fitful sleep and drowsiness during the day. Those who suffer from sleep apnea actually stop breathing during their sleep, making it a serious problem that should be treated by a professional. At our comprehensive dentistry practice, serving Newport Beach and other Orange County communities, we are happy to work with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses your needs.