General Dentistry
Chairside at 260 Stockton
Everything a healthy mouth needs, in one practice, a block off Union Square.
General dentistry is the part that keeps everything else from becoming a bigger problem — regular exams, professional cleanings, and repairing damage while it's still small.
We're on the fourth floor at 260 Stockton Street, minutes from Powell Station and BART, which makes it realistic to come before work or over lunch instead of taking a morning off.
A first visit
A proper look
Digital X-rays and an intraoral camera, plus an examination of teeth, gums, bite and jaw — not just the tooth that's bothering you.
You see what we see
Findings go up on the screen in front of you. It's a lot easier to decide about a cracked filling when you're looking at it.
A written plan
What we'd recommend, what the alternatives are, and what each involves — in writing, to take home.
Preventive
Exams and cleanings
A routine visit is an examination plus a professional cleaning to remove the hardened plaque a toothbrush cannot reach. Most PPO plans cover preventive care at the highest level, which makes this the cheapest dentistry you will ever do.
We also screen for gum disease, check existing restorations for failure, and look at how your teeth meet — worn or chipped edges are often a bite problem rather than an accident.
Restorative
Fillings, crowns and bridges
When a tooth is damaged or decayed, the goal is to keep as much natural tooth as possible. Tooth-coloured fillings handle smaller repairs. A crown covers a tooth that has lost too much structure to hold a filling reliably — after a fracture, or a root canal.
A bridge replaces a missing tooth using the teeth on either side for support. Where an implant is the better long-term answer, we'll say so.
- 01Tooth-coloured fillings, matched to the surrounding tooth
- 02Crowns for teeth that are cracked, worn or heavily restored
- 03Bridges to replace a missing tooth
- 04Root canal treatment to save a tooth with an infected nerve
Urgent
When something is wrong today
Toothache, a broken tooth, a lost filling or a crown that has come off are all things we try to see the same day. Call rather than wait — a small problem seen quickly is usually a smaller repair.
Talk it through
Not sure which option applies to you?
Questions
Common questions
How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?
Every six months suits most people. If you have a history of gum disease or a high decay rate, more frequent visits are usually recommended — we'll tell you which applies to you rather than defaulting everyone to the same interval.
Do you take PPO dental insurance?
Yes — all major PPO plans, and we're in-network with Delta Dental and accept MetLife. We verify your benefits before treatment and file claims electronically.
How quickly can I be seen?
Same-week appointments are usually available and you can book online. For urgent problems like a toothache or a broken tooth, call — we keep room for them.
What happens at a first appointment?
A full examination with digital X-rays and an intraoral camera, a cleaning where appropriate, and a written plan with options if anything needs attention. Findings are shown to you on screen as we go.
Do I need a crown or will a filling do?
It depends how much healthy tooth is left. A filling relies on the surrounding tooth to hold it; once too much structure is gone, or the tooth is cracked, a crown protects it from splitting. We'll show you the tooth and explain which situation you're in.
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