Dentist Apex, NC
Simply put, Alliance reflects our shared core philosophy. As a husband and wife team, we are allies both at home in NC and in our approach to providing exceptional oral care to our Apex, NC dental patients. We build collaborative relationships with our patients, we’ve developed a network of first-rate specialists, and we’re committed to facilitating optimal dental health. We believe that every patient should get the highest quality dental care. This foundation shapes our collaborative approach to patient relationships as well as the diagnostic, preventive, restorative and cosmetic treatments we offer.
Why the Alliance name?
Simply put, Alliance reflects our shared core philosophy. As a husband and wife team, we are allies both at home in NC, and in our approach to providing exceptional oral care to our Apex, NC dental patients. We build collaborative relationships with our patients, we’ve developed a network of first-rate specialists, and we’re committed to facilitating optimal dental health.
Timothy C. Raczka, D.D.S.
Dr. Timothy C. Raczka received his dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 1992. He completed a general practice residency at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Medical Center and spent two years as a staff dentist at the nationally recognized Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Tim returned to Buffalo, where he practiced dentistry with his father for 11 years. At the same time, he was a clinical assistant professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and served as a consultant at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Dr. Tim has also worked for the US Department of Justice as an expert witness in several cases. In addition, Dr. Tim is a former associate professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. He now serves Apex, NC. He is an avid golfer and runner and enjoys spending time with his three children, cooking, and collecting wine. Email Dr. Tim Raczka.
Maureen M. Raczka, D.D.S.
Dr. Maureen M. Raczka earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and her dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. After completing a dental oncology residency at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, she spent two years practicing dentistry in private practice and at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, where she also served as assistant director of the dental residency program. At the same time, she was a member of the teaching faculty at Case Western Reserve University. Returning to Buffalo, she was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and also practiced in private practice. After 11 years, Dr. Maureen and her family relocated to Cary, NC, where she now serves Apex, NC. She served as an associate professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry for three years. She enjoys running and spending time with her three children. Email Dr. Maureen Raczka.
Call a Dentist in Apex, NC From Alliance Dentistry!
When you are looking for a dentist Apex, NC relies on, you should call Alliance Dentistry to see how we can help you. We understand that you may have many questions when it comes to your oral care. You may know that you should brush, floss, and use mouthwash every day, but you may want to know why. What does this help prevent? Do you really need to floss? Is mouthwash really necessary? Understanding the reasons why those habits are so important is crucial to dental health and preserving a bright and brilliant smile. Gum diseases, bad breath, and other conditions that relate to oral health are often overlooked by patients, and that is something we want to change. We care about making sure you are healthy and believe it or not, a large part of your overall health starts with your mouth. How you take care of your mouth can have an effect on the rest of your body, and making sure to practice good dental habits is a big part of preventing other health complications. If you would like to learn more about what you can be doing to have a healthy mouth or if you would like to set up an appointment to speak with our dentists, please give us a call.
Speak With Our Apex, North Carolina Dentist About Oral Care Basics
You have likely heard of some of the basics when it comes to dental health: plaque, fluoride, and tartar. These are all words that dentists throw around but you may not know what they mean. You may have been told about tips during your earliest visits to the dentist, such as brushing your teeth in a circular motion. It is not uncommon for even adult patients to still have confusion over the right ways to keep up their dental health. Many people still struggle with cavity prevention or remembering to floss regularly. Patients who come into our office often have many questions about ways to improve and maintain oral health and hygiene. We are here to answer some of your frequently asked questions so that you can come to our office feeling comfortable and prepared for your next visit.
What is plaque? Is it different from tartar?
Plaque and tartar are not quite the same things and it is very important that you brush and floss to prevent and remove them. Patients often confuse the two terms but they have several differences. Plaque occurs when you have a filmy layer on your teeth (from your saliva) that has food and liquid trapped right around your gums. When you notice you have plaque, it is relatively easy to begin removing it by keeping up with your daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash routine. Tartar, on the other hand, occurs when your plaque begins to build up. Once it builds up, it hardens and becomes much more difficult to remove. When tartar builds up on your teeth, it can cause cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. To prevent plague from building up, dentists recommend that you brush your teeth in between meals and floss out any food that is trapped between your teeth. Drinking water after meals and snacks, flossing regularly, using mouthwash, and cutting back on sugary foods and drinks also prevents heavy plaque build up. For people with sensitive teeth that are prone to cavities, they should make sure to brush and floss more frequently.
Some patients who come in for a dental cleaning often have a considerable amount of tartar. This can sometimes make cleanings uncomfortable because the dentist is removing the plague that has been built up, especially for patients who have sensitive gums. Your Apex dentist has the right tools to help remove your tartar and keep your teeth healthy!
Can fluoride help?
Fluoride is a substance found in most tap water as well as mouthwash and toothpaste. Fluoride can help restore minerals needed to help prevent your teeth from decaying. It helps make your teeth strong and more resilient, preventing cavities from forming. Some people may avoid tap water drinking that has fluoride, but it actually contributes to good oral health.
If you’re looking for an Apex, NC dentist, the reliable and accomplished dentists from Alliance Dentistry can help. We understand that taking care of your teeth might seem like second nature: everyone knows they should brush their teeth twice a day. However, they might not understand the importance of flossing or visiting their dentist for their teeth cleaning. We want to help set the record straight and explain why these things are so important when it comes to keeping your teeth bright, white, and healthy.
I don’t always go to dental cleanings. What should I expect?
We can’t stress enough how important it is to go to your dental cleanings every year. Going to the dentist is something that many people dread, so they often skip out on dental cleanings. You may think if you brush your teeth extra hard and use floss you won’t need to go to your dentist for a cleaning. However, we do more than brush and floss your teeth (and we never recommend brushing your teeth too hard!). Dentists can inspect your mouth and suggest additional treatments to improve your dental health and improve your smile. They are knowledgeable about many aspects of dental health as well as tips to improve the appearance of your teeth. Some dentists may even offer teeth whitening. They can educate you on tips for fixing and improving your dental routine so you can avoid problems in the future that may require expensive treatments, such as root canals. If you are experiencing tooth pain they can evaluate the cause of it. Some things you can expect from a dental cleaning are:
- A 30-60 minutes appointment, depending on whether you need X-rays
- Your dentist carefully scraping off any plaque on your teeth
- Your dentist checking the health of your teeth and discussing any issues, like cavities, gum health, and tooth-grinding
- Your dentist cleaning and polishing your teeth
- Your dentist discussing if a fluoride treatment would be beneficial for your tooth health
How many times a year should I come in to get my teeth cleaned?
We believe, like the American Dental Association recommends, that you should come in two times a year to get your teeth cleaned. If you have any issues at your cleaning appointment, we may ask you to come in for additional treatments to maintain gum, teeth, and mouth health. Visiting your dentist regularly ensures that your mouth is in good health and that any issues can be treated so they don’t turn into more serious problems. Waiting too long to treat minor tooth decay can be costly, and some dental treatments have only partial or zero insurance coverage. It is better to have a dentist fix a small cavity right away before it decays to the point where they might have to replace it with a crown or pull it out entirely.
I didn’t have a good checkup last time. What more can I do at home to make sure my teeth are healthy?
We know having perfectly white teeth can be unachievable. However, there are many things you can do every day to keep your mouth healthy and ready for their next checkup. We encourage our patients to brush twice a day (and sometimes after every meal), rinse with mouthwash, and floss once a day. This can be especially good for keeping the areas between your teeth healthy. Don’t forget to change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 months or when you notice wear and tear. This will ensure you are getting the most out of your toothbrush.
What Kinds of Dentistry Services Does Alliance Provide?
There are four primary kinds of dentistry services that North Carolina’s Alliance Dentistry provides. First, there is preventative dentistry. Preventive dentistry seeks to preserve healthy teeth and gums and prevent oral injuries, as well as the development of oral diseases and cavities. Everyone, regardless of the state of their oral health, requires regular preventative dentistry services. These services primarily consist of cleanings and fluoride treatments. However, they may also include sealants, mouth guards, and other preventative measures. Patients of every age benefit from regular preventative care. Oftentimes, with proper attention to preventative needs, patients can avoid having to connect with our Apex, NC dentist team for alternative services.
Second, there is diagnostic dentistry. Evaluating the state of your oral health can reveal issues in need of attention. Most commonly, our team discovers that our patients have developed cavities and/or have developed gum disease. However, these are only two of the many conditions that may be diagnosed after a patient has undergone an oral health evaluation. Our team takes whatever time is needed in order to complete a comprehensive assessment of our patients’ hard and soft tissue. Once our evaluation is complete, we will use the objective findings of that evaluation as the foundation upon which we will build a patient’s treatment plan.
Third, there is restorative dentistry. When a patient’s mouth is injured as a result of an accident, illness, or other trauma, restorative dentistry can help to ensure that patient’s oral health is addressed and they can return to smiling confidently. There are a host of restorative dental procedures that may benefit any particular patient. From crowns and implants to addressing the dental consequences of broken jaw bones and tissue damage, when our patients get injured, ill, or suffer from trauma, our Apex, NC dentist team can help.
Finally, there is cosmetic dentistry. Having confidence in one’s smile can do wonders for mind and spirit. Veneers, bonding, whitening and other cosmetic procedures often aid our patients in achieving this consequential form of confidence. Smiles are as unique as the people that wear them. If you are not confident in how your smile has developed, our team can evaluate which cosmetic dentistry options may assist you in achieving the smile that you desire.
Common Myths About Dental Care
Almost everyone hates going to the dentist. It can be uncomfortable, awkward, and scary to some. Unfortunately, this sense of worry and mistrust can lead to the creation and belief of some pretty harmful myths about dental care. Part of keeping your teeth healthy is staying well-informed about their care, so make sure you’re able to separate fact from fiction.
Myth 1: Dental Exams Are Only For Emergencies
One of the most wide-spread myths about dental care is that seeing a dentist in Apex NC is only for emergencies. Buying into this myth can be incredibly damaging to your teeth, as you won’t get routine cleanings and checkups that can protect your mouth. Even if you feel like your oral health is doing well, it’s important to continue to go to your dentist regularly for cleanings, exams, and x-rays. By getting these preventative measures done periodically, you can avoid future issues that would require more extreme treatment. Keep Alliance Dentistry in your regular schedule to optimise your oral health and prevent future problems.
Myth 2: Chewing Gum Can Replace Brushing
Another fairly common myth is that chewing gum can easily take the place of regular brushing. While some brands of gum that are sugar-free can help clean your teeth, it is in no way a suitable replacement for brushing at least twice a day. If you have a choice between chewing on candy or gum, you should reach for a piece of gum. Although they aren’t as good at cleaning your teeth as a toothbrush is, they will help to remove bacteria and bad breath in your mouth. If you have any questions about whether or not your normal gum is healthy for your teeth, reach out to a dentist in Apex NC for support.
Myth 3: Flossing is Unimportant
Finally, many people fall into the trap of thinking that flossing isn’t important to oral health. Even if you brush regularly, forgetting to floss can leave plaque and tartar on your teeth where your toothbrush doesn’t quite reach. This can lead to tooth decay and cavities, which require complex dental procedures from Alliance Dentistry, a dentist in Apex NC to fix. Rather than dealing with the frustration of getting fillings or surgeries, make it easy on yourself and floss daily. Remembering to floss along with your regular dental care will boost your oral health and protect your mouth from any damage. As always, if you’re concerned about the health of your teeth or gums, contact your dentist in Apex NC and set up an appointment.
Dentistry Technology
The Apex, NC dentist team at Alliance Dentistry uses highly technical equipment to better ensure that our patients receive the best possible results from their treatments. For example, we use a portable, painless device called DIAGNOdent to assist us in detecting hidden tooth decay. Know that if you have any questions – whatsoever – about the tech that we use to enhance our patients’ experience, we will be happy to walk you through it, step by step.
Call an Apex, NC Dentist Today!
If you would like to schedule an appointment for a cleaning, please call an Apex, North Carolina dentist you can trust at Alliance Dentistry now!
Alliance Dentistry is a well known dental office in the heart of Apex, North Carolina. Our dentists have dedicated their lives to their professions and the wellbeing of men, women, and children’s teeth. If you are in need of an Apex NC dentist, please call Alliance Dentistry today.
We Are Accepting New Patients
Our General Dentistry Services
As a leading comprehensive dentist, we offer a broad range of services including general dentistry. This ranges from standard dental exams to deep cleanings and root canals. Our staff offers preventative and restorative work to anyone who may need it.
Your First Visit
When you schedule an appointment at our Apex NC clinic, we may perform a dental cleaning and an oral exam. Regardless of your age, we care about your oral health and will make sure to conduct a very thorough exam. Rest assured we understand that some people have a fear of dentists, but we are no one to fear. Rather, we are careful, gentle, and will try to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
As soon as you come to our office, we strive to make you feel relaxed and welcomed. Our clinical environment is cozy and is liked by adults and children. It is our goal that you will leave your dental exam, smiling.
General Dental Exams
As a dental clinic, routine examination procedures can be scheduled at your earliest convenience. At your first visit, we may take radiographs and conduct preliminary tests to gauge your dental health and diagnose you with suggested treatment. This is followed by a dental cleaning. Our friendly team of dental technicians may ask you about your dental history and how often you brush and floss your teeth. It is useful to know as much a possible, especially about any challenges or concerns. This will help us to provide you with the best dental care.
Diagnosing Dental Issues
We believe that a routine dental exam is key to identifying and diagnosing any onset of infection or disease.
Examining Your X-Rays
At your dental exam, X-rays will likely be taken and reviewed by your Apex NC dentist. These are the best ways to screen for potential cavities, problems with the teeth, gum issues, and issues near the jaw bone. Radiographs are very important to have done during a dental exam as they are able to show the dentist a lot of invisible issues, or those that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
In children, radiographs can help a dentist assess whether or not their teeth are coming in correctly. In adolescents they can show impacted wisdom teeth or whether removal is necessary. If you are missing teeth, these X-rays can help us to determine whether there is healthy bone for a dental implant. If not, a bone graft may be recommended.
Radiographs are routine procedures and help your dentist to understand the current health of your teeth and mouth as a whole. Once they have been taken, your dentist will review the findings, make a diagnosis, and suggest recommended treatment.
We Will Help You to Feel at Home
If you are in need of general dentistry services, please call a dentist Apex NC patients recommend from Alliance Dentistry to schedule your first appointment.
