General Family Dentistry

Family Dental Care at Franke Family Dentistry

While the many treatments available in the field of cosmetic dentistry can address the aesthetic aspects of the mouth, the health of the teeth, gums, and bones remains the foundation of a great smile. Our goal at Franke Family Dentistry is to give you the dental care you need in the most comfortable, relaxing environment possible. To that end, we perform a wide variety of procedures that can address an equally wide variety of dental problems. Oral exams and periodontal treatments may have been around for a while, but we still believe that it is important to strive for excellence and find ways to do them better.

Periodontal Care

People usually think of the dentist’s realm as focused primarily on the teeth, but the gums and bones that hold them in place are just as important to oral health. In fact, disease in the gums is one of the most common and serious dental problems prevalent among the adult population. Gum disease is characterized by bleeding, swelling, and sensitivity of the gum, and in its more serious forms it can cause tooth damage and loss.

The key to controlling gum disease is good oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing can greatly reduce a person’s chances of developing it, and routine dental cleanings help as well. The Frankes use high tech ultrasonic scalers to clean their patients’ teeth, allowing them to eliminate tartar from the teeth quickly and comfortably. The goal of such treatments is to keep the gums healthy at all times and prevent the patient from needing more intensive care.

Oral Examinations

Regular oral examinations allow your dentist to keep tabs on your dental health over time, and often provide early warnings of medical problems in other parts of the body. A comprehensive oral exam, which is performed on all new patients and on established patients at intervals of a few years, involves a highly detailed inspection of all structures and tissues in the mouth, including the teeth, gums, tongue, and jawbones. Results of the exam are recorded in detail, allowing the dentist to more easily identify important changes during the more frequent periodic oral exams that follow. These periodic examinations are usually conducted during the patient’s regularly scheduled teeth cleaning sessions.

At Franke Family Dentistry, we pay careful attention to everything we find during oral exams so that we can address dental problems before they become too serious. Our digital X-ray and photography allows us to perform this task with ease and thoroughness not possible previously. If you would like to ensure that your mouth is as healthy as it can be, contact Franke Family Dentistry to set up an initial examination today.

Laser Dentistry

We are using the lasers for both our dental procedures as well as laser assisted periodontal therapy. Many times we can do procedures without anesthetic. We have 3 lasers now in our office.

Root Canals

It is unfortunately inevitable that some cavities will progress to the point that the simple “drill and fill” technique is not sufficient to fix the problem. Root canals, despite their undeservedly bad reputation, are an important tool for ensuring patient health. Many people fear having a root canal because of the discomfort, but with proper anesthetic and the use of optional sedation treatments, the patient need not feel anything at all. In fact, having a root canal is significantly more pleasant than letting a toothache go untreated. Dr. Walt and Dr. Jana Franke understand patient needs and concerns, and strive to make this process as easy as possible.

Tooth Extraction

Sometimes, the best thing for a patient’s oral health is to remove a problematic tooth entirely. This situation can arise due to severe decay, irreparable breakage, or just a lack of room, as happens to many people when their wisdom teeth come in. The Frankes can help patients in need of a tooth extraction evaluate their options and choose the best way to replace the tooth afterwards, if necessary. Dental implants allow many extraction patients move on with a functional and attractive replacement for a tooth that was beyond saving. To discuss your options for dealing with problematic teeth, please contact our office with details on your case today.

Sedation

At Franke Family Dentistry, we are excited about the chance to transform the dental treatment experience for patients who suffer from unnecessary anxiety whenever they have to deal with the dentist. That’s why we make nitrous oxide (otherwise known as laughing gas) available to our clients. While nitrous oxide does not put the patient to sleep, it does allow the subject to rid him or herself of fear during treatment. We also have conscious sedation pills that put the patient into a dreamlike state free from worry. If the negative feelings associated with the dentist have made you hesitant to get the dental care necessary for your oral health, then the sedation treatments available at our office may be a good option for you to explore.

Digital X-Rays

The “digital revolution” has affected almost everyone’s life, from the television shows we watch to the news publications we read to the music we listen to. Now, it is also moving into the dentist’s office. New digital X-rays have many advantages over the film technology used before, including faster results, more flexible presentation, and better detection of cavities and other health problems. This new means of getting a close look at teeth is on its way to becoming a standard in the dental industry. Thanks to it, your oral examinations and dental care at Franke Family Dentistry will be both fast and effective.

Waterlase®

Franke Family Dentistry uses the Waterlase® system for periodontal therapy in order to bring its patients the very best in both hygiene and comfort. Our dentists employ this technology, which utilizes a combination of laser energy and a spray of water, to gently treat areas of the mouth that have suffered the effects of damage and decay. Because the Waterlase® machine can do its work without the sharp physical contact involved in the use of drills and scalpels, the patient experiences less pain and heat and requires less anesthesia. The dentist can also perform more rigorous treatment without creating the need for a long recovery. As a result, our patients who experience the Waterlase® machine rave about its benefits and the quality of the results they enjoy.

Sleep Apnea and TMJ Treatments

Sleep apnea and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder may not be widely understood by the public, but they still can be very disruptive to a victim’s life. Sleep apnea, which is often accompanied by excessive snoring, is a condition in which a person’s breathing actually stops for a few moments during sleep. While most people have this occur occasionally for very brief periods of time, others experience longer breaks in the normal breathing rhythm. When this occurs, quality of sleep can be disrupted and significant stress can be placed on the heart. While victims may not notice these interruptions themselves, they often complain of tiredness even after a full night’s sleep. There are several causes of sleep apnea, and Franke Family Dentistry can provide treatment for some of them. Specifically, we often use a Suad™ Device to reposition the jaw and allow better flow of air through the patient’s esophagus. This device is similar to a mouth guard used in sports, fitting over the teeth so that they come together in a different position.

A similar method is used to treat TMJ disorder. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects the lower jawbone to the rest of the skull; when jaw alignment problems exist, pain can arise in this joint and spread throughout the neck and shoulders. Some patients with TMJ disorder simply have teeth that do not line up properly, while others grind their teeth very hard while they sleep at night. We use customized bite splints to realign the lower jaw and allow it to rest comfortably throughout the night. The result for most patients is a dramatic decline in pain and discomfort when they awake in the morning. If you have been experiencing mysterious pain or drowsiness upon waking, talk to someone at Franke Family Dentistry about how our treatment methods can restore peace to your resting hours.

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Franke Family Dentistry
Walter Franke D.D.S.
Jana Franke D.D.S.

2266 Frankfort Highway
Frankfort, MI 49635
Phone (231) 352-9221
Fax: (231) 352-9241

frankefamilydentistry@charterinternet.com