Dentist in Columbia, SC

Do you take a proactive approach to dental health and oral hygiene? Does your daily routine include a tooth decay prevention program?

Maintenance matters when it comes to the long-term health of your natural teeth. Dr. Tom Trinkner and Dr. Nick Keefer are general dentists in Columbia, SC. For nearly 30 years, our office has provided patients with the highest standard of dental care through conservative dental solutions.

One thing that sets Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer apart from other local dentists in Columbia, SC is his patient-focused approach. Every patient’s needs are unique, and our dental care team takes time to design personalized, preventative oral care programs.

With these plans, we will be able to detect and treat developing dental problems as early as possible. Prevent costly dental procedures down the road with bi-yearly routine dental exams.

The Goal of General Dentistry

General dentistry is all about detection and prevention. Most dental problems requiring cosmetic or restorative dental procedures can be avoided with routine oral health care.

Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer want to be a partner in your overall health care. We will help you to achieve optimal oral health with personalized dental care and hygiene advice. We will also help you maintain that standard with ongoing preventive dental care and routine checkups to monitor the health and stability of your oral health. A healthy smile significantly impacts your quality of life, impacting your diet, ability to speak clearly, and overall physical well-being.

  • Dental Fillings: We fill dental cavities for patients of all ages. Dental cavities create an excellent environment for bacteria to prosper. Therefore, it is imperative to get them filled as soon as possible.
  • Pediatric Dentistry: The American Dental Association recommends that children begin seeing the dentist at 3 or when their first teeth start coming in. Our dental care team offers preventative dental services for young patients. We believe in building a trusting patient-dentist relationship with our young patients. Hence allowing your child to grow fond of the dentist, and avoid developing dental anxiety and irrational fears of visiting the dentist.
  • Periodontal Therapy: Gum disease is also known as the silent disease. Most do not even know they have some form of periodontal disease. If you are experiencing bleeding gums every time you brush, call us.

Age-Specific Dental Care

When we perform general dentistry, we take care to target the specific problems that come with your age group. The same issues most prominent in toddlers aren’t the ones most prominent in teens and adults. We want to ensure we’re practicing preventative care for the issues you’re most likely to face at this particular time in your life.

Younger children most commonly suffer from tooth decay. Their diets are usually higher in sugar, and they aren’t as good at brushing and flossing their teeth. We offer education for the child and the parent to ensure they brush their teeth correctly and effectively. We provide tips for an ideal diet as well. Dental sealants provide an extra layer of protection against tooth decay. We paint them onto the child’s teeth, and the dried material protects against decay-causing bacteria.

As children get older, their mouths continue to grow and change. They get all of their adult teeth and are developing their permanent smiles. We want to ensure that they’re going to have a healthy smile. Crooked teeth are common as the mouth develops. We offer Invisalign treatment for teens that have mild to moderate orthodontic problems. If we notice more severe orthodontic issues, we’ll refer you to a trusted orthodontist to get the necessary care.

In the late teens and early twenties, wisdom teeth grow in. Most of the time, our mouths aren’t able to handle an extra set of molars. If they erupt, wisdom teeth cause smiles that are crooked and cramped. Wisdom teeth can also get impacted under the surface of the gums. If they’re stuck under there, they can cause pain and infection. Usually, we recommend wisdom tooth extraction to avoid more problems with your smile.

As we age, the years take their toll on our smiles. If you have lifestyle habits like using tobacco or drinking coffee, your teeth are going to be more discolored than others. Even if you don’t do either of these things, your teeth discolor with age. The enamel layer on the outside becomes thinner, so the off-white color of the dentin layer shows through. Professional teeth whitening can take years off of your smile, giving you bright white teeth again.

Lastly, seniors are also the most likely to suffer from missing teeth. Luckily, there are many options to replace missing teeth. In particular, dental implants can give you the most natural look and feel. They’re the only option that gives you back full bite function in your smile. We also offer things like dental bridges and dentures to complete your smile again.

Columbia, SC Family Dentist

Children are welcome in our Columbia, SC dental office. Our staff is well-tuned into the unique needs of our young patients, and we offer services to make them as comfortable as possible. Our dentists will monitor the health and development of your child’s teeth, making appropriate recommendations when necessary to address any dental health concerns.

One of the reasons patients choose Dr. Trinkner or Dr. Keefer as their dentist in Columbia, SC is that we offer the full range of dental services they need under one roof. Family dentistry means that several family members can be treated together, saving time for today’s busy families.

If you are looking for a family dentist in Columbia, SC, or need a dentist specializing in solving complex dental problems, contact our office for a consultation with Dr. Trinkner or Dr. Keefer. Call 803-400-8729 or request a consultation online.