Comprehensive Family Dentistry in Durham, NC

At The Smile Shop, we enjoy seeing patients of all ages! We are happy to offer comprehensive dental care for the entire family. From the smallest smiles in your family to age-appropriate care for seniors, you’ll find all the high-quality dental care you deserve.

Dr. Adam Spriggs, Dr. Kate Dolin, and Dr. Daphne Toussaint are experienced dentists who are always happy to welcome new patients to our Durham, NC, dental office. Our entire dental care team looks forward to welcoming you and your family to The Smile Shop. 

Are You Ready to Book a Dental Appointment?

Give us a call to schedule your first appointment. We are here to answer any questions and hope to see you soon!

Gentle Dentistry for Small Smiles

kid brushing his teeth in durham ncOne of the greatest gifts you can give your son or daughter is to get them used to dental care starting at an early age. We follow the American Dental Association's recommendation of seeing children as early as six months.

We like to review with you the timeline of when baby teeth start to erupt and the expectations to have as your child grows and more baby teeth appear.

Oral hygiene should begin as soon as those teeth erupt. Different cleaning techniques can be explained to parents and caregivers to start your child off in the right direction with oral hygiene.

Your Child’s First Dental Visit in Durham, NC

Making appointments with children early in life for cleanings and exams also allows them to meet our dental staff. Seeing the dentist can be overwhelming to a young child. That’s why we like to start slow with simple cleanings between the ages of one and five. 

Preventive dental services like exams and teeth cleanings are as essential for your little one as they are for you. Baby teeth play a crucial role in your child’s dental development, so we need to keep them healthy until they’re ready to fall out on their own.

At the first appointment, we will review brushing with you, the parent or guardian, and your child. Encouraging them to brush and use toothpaste correctly and even introducing flossing at this age can jump-start their passion for a healthy mouth.

Also, at this time, our dentists perform an examination. They check for any signs of decay, review diet and its influence on forming cavities, discuss oral hygiene at home, and screen for any issues anticipated in the future, such as bite issues, a missing tooth, or spacing of baby teeth.

If your child is six months or older and is starting to get their baby teeth, please call our Durham, NC dental office to schedule their first appointment.

The Important Role Baby Teeth Play

Primary teeth, commonly known as baby teeth, start to appear around six months old. Some children get them earlier, some later; there is no definite timeline. Primary teeth play an essential role: 

  • Hold space for permanent teeth – Without baby teeth to serve as a guide, permanent teeth can erupt in all kinds of directions. Keeping baby teeth healthy allows them to fall out at the proper time when the permanent tooth is ready to come in. Crowded permanent teeth could require orthodontics in the future.
  • Aid with speech development – Teeth serve as a guide to pronounce words correctly and aid with speech development.
  • Provide more comfortable chewing and better nutrition – Healthy baby teeth allow your child to consume healthier foods to support a growing body as your child develops.
  • Improve communication and emotional connections – A healthy smile helps build high self-esteem and promote cognitive growth.

If our dentists find a cavity in a baby tooth, we need to fill it to protect its structure until the permanent tooth is ready to emerge. But don't worry—Dr. Spriggs, Dr. Dolin, and Dr. Daphne Toussaint enjoy treating children and will do everything to help them feel safe and secure. 

Dentistry for Adolescents and Teenagers in the 27703 Area 

group of kids smiling before dentistry exam in durham ncAt this age, a lot of growth is taking place. This is the usual time to evaluate the need for orthodontics, more commonly known as braces. Screening for orthodontics at this age is a simple procedure. 

As your son or daughter grows, we’ll also provide fluoride and dental sealants to strengthen and protect their teeth. If they get a cavity, we’ll fill it right away, so your child doesn’t experience discomfort.

Using x-rays and clinical exams, our Durham, NC dentists evaluate your child’s bite, how the lips and tongue function with chewing and speaking and their natural smile. We include dental x-rays as part of your comprehensive dental exam and tailor them to your specific needs based on the prevalence of cavities.

Many children are introduced to contact sports that could cause damage to their teeth. A great way to protect their teeth is with a customized mouthguard.

We take impressions of your child’s teeth and send them to our lab that fabricates a customized sports guard. Mouthguards help protect your child’s teeth, but many studies show they can also decrease the severity of concussions with contact sports.

Comprehensive Adult Treatment

As you continue to get older, each exam acts as a checkup to ensure your oral health stays at an optimum level. A change in hygiene habits, diet, and introduction to new medications can significantly influence the health of your teeth and gums.

At The Smile Shop, our core focus is prevention. With these routine comprehensive exams at our Durham, NC dental office, we can screen each smile and hopefully catch any issue before they become extensive and more complicated to treat.

We help you understand your oral health needs by using technology like digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. Both are excellent for diagnosing dental problems, but we can also share the images with you, so you see what we see. When you do, you'll understand why we recommend dental treatment and how it will benefit your oral health.

Whatever your needs are, you can be confident that we'll keep you informed and include you in the decision-making process.

The Goal of Dental Cleanings for Adults

Unchecked plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay and gum disease because sometimes it hides in places you can’t reach. That’s why making twice-a-year dental cleanings part of your dental care routine is essential.

When you get your teeth cleaned, your dental team has several goals in mind. The first goal is to remove plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth. The second goal is to examine your teeth and gums. When you schedule a dental cleaning in Morrisville, NC, it’s usually a quick, painless procedure. Knowing what to expect can put your mind at ease and prepare you for your dental visit.

When you arrive at your appointment, your dental hygienist or dental assistant will begin cleaning your teeth, starting with scraping off any plaque or tartar that has accumulated. Plaque is a soft deposit that builds up from the food and drinks you consume, particularly sugars and starches. When not removed from your teeth by regular brushing and flossing, plaque hardens and becomes tartar, which is more difficult to remove.

After your dental cleaning, your dentist will examine your teeth for swelling, inflammation, or redness. Our Durham, NC, dentists will also check your gum health by measuring the spaces between the tops of your gums and where they attach to the teeth. Finally, the dental team will take digital x-rays to find any hidden issues. We will discuss the results and any recommendations before you leave.

We Are on Call 24 Hours a Day for Your Emergency

family dentistry in durham ncA dental emergency can be a stressful event. We want you to know that The Smile Shop team is here to help! Our dentists are on call 24 hours a day to take your call and help you handle your dental emergency in Durham, NC.

Dental emergencies come in all shapes and sizes and can include:

  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Loose tooth
  • A tooth that has been knocked out
  • Severe pain
  • Swelling of the mouth or gums

If you are experiencing an urgent dental problem, we recommend calling our office immediately for assistance.

If your emergency happens after regular office hours, we are still here to help. Our dental team is on-call to help assist you with any dental emergency you may have. Call our office number and follow the instructions to reach us anytime, 24 hours a day!

During a dental emergency, you should seek care as soon as possible. The earlier we can address the problem, the better the long-term prognosis.

Please call us immediately if you are experiencing a dental emergency!

If you have suffered trauma to your face or head or experience severe bleeding, please call 911 immediately or go to an emergency room.