Preventive & Family
General Dentistry
General dentistry is the everyday care that keeps teeth and gums healthy and catches problems while they are small. At Avora Dental it covers exams, cleanings, X-rays when they help, fillings, gum care, and repairs like crowns and root canals. Two visits a year suits most patients. Dr. Shah oversees your care personally.
General dentistry is the foundation of everything we do at Avora Dental. It covers the routine visits that catch problems early, the restorative work that fixes them when they happen, and the ongoing relationship that makes every future visit easier.
Dr. Shah personally oversees every general dentistry visit, so you're never getting a different opinion from a different provider each time you come in.
What general dentistry covers
General dentistry is the part of your care that repeats. Most of what a mouth needs over a lifetime sits here. The routine visits that catch things early, the repairs when something breaks, and the record of what has happened to each tooth so far.
A checkup runs in a set order. We go through your health history and anything that has been bothering you. Then we examine the teeth, gums and bite, take X-rays or photos if they will add something, and clean your teeth. When we find a problem we put it on the screen. We explain what it is, what happens if it is left alone, and why we would or would not treat it now.
You leave with a plan you can read. Anything that needs treatment comes with the cost in writing before it is booked. Anything that can safely wait gets called that, with a note of what we are watching and what would change our mind. Starting prices for common treatments are on our pricing page, and they are confirmed in writing at the consultation.
- Full exams and professional cleanings
- Digital X-rays and imaging when they are needed
- Fillings and other repairs for cavities
- Gum health checks and periodontal care
- Sealants and preventive treatment
- Crowns, root canals and extractions when a tooth needs more than a filling
- Custom nightguards for teeth grinding
Preventing problems, and knowing when to call
Serious dental problems rarely arrive suddenly. They build from ordinary causes: plaque that never quite gets cleared from the same spot, snacking through the day, grinding at night, a small cavity nobody looked at. Each one is slow, which is the useful part. Regular exams catch them while the fix is still small and cheap.
Between visits, some things are worth a phone call rather than a wait. Gums that bleed when you brush. Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the drink is gone. Pain when you bite down on one particular tooth. A chip, a crack, or a tooth that has changed color. A bump or a sore spot on the gum that is not clearing. None of those is an emergency by itself, and all of them are easier to treat the sooner we see them.
If it hurts badly, if something is swollen, or if a tooth has broken, call (407) 774-4433 rather than booking online. We prioritize dental emergencies and do our best to see patients the same day. Spreading facial swelling or trouble breathing goes to an emergency room first.
Read: gum disease 101 →Read: causes of tooth sensitivity →Emergency dentistry →
Where general dentistry stops
A general practice is the right home for most dental care. It is not the right place for all of it, and being clear about that edge is part of the job.
Some cases belong with a specialist, and the honest time to say so is at the planning stage rather than part way through treatment. A root canal on a tooth with unusually curved or narrow roots can be one. Crowding or a bite that needs braces rather than aligners is another, and if your case needs an orthodontist that is what we will tell you. A surgical extraction may be safer in an oral surgeon's hands. Gum disease that has stopped responding to the treatment we can offer here is a third. The imaging usually makes the call obvious. Either way you will know who is doing the treatment and where before you agree to anything.
There are limits of a plainer kind too. General dentistry cannot repair a tooth that is beyond saving, and when that is the case an extraction and a plan to replace it is the honest answer. And it does not do the daily part. Brushing, cleaning between your teeth and what you drink through the day do more for your teeth than we can, and no filling, crown or sealant changes that.
Your general dentist in Altamonte Springs
Avora Dental is at 249 W State Rd 436 in Altamonte Springs, with free parking on site and a wheelchair accessible entrance. Patients come to us from Longwood, Winter Park, Maitland and Casselberry, and we are taking new patients.
Dr. Aashil Shah oversees every general dentistry visit, which matters more than it sounds. The dentist who watched a cracked filling last year is the one looking at it this year. The decision rests on what that tooth has actually done rather than on a fresh opinion each time. For a first visit, bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, and a list of your medications. If another office has recent X-rays, tell us who to request them from.
Consultations are free. Call (407) 774-4433 or request one online. Tell us on the phone if you are nervous about coming in, because it changes how we plan the appointment.
Benefits
Why patients choose this
- One consistent provider who knows your history
- Early detection of issues before they become expensive
- Flexible scheduling for busy families
- A calm, unhurried environment, even for a routine cleaning
Is This Right For You?
Signs to look for
- It's been 6 months or more since your last cleaning
- You're establishing care with a new dentist
- You want a second opinion on a recommended treatment
- You're due for your family's annual checkups
What to Expect
Your visit, step by step
A conversation about your dental history and any concerns
A full exam and digital imaging as needed
A professional cleaning
A clear, written plan for anything that needs attention
Questions
Common questions about general dentistry
Most patients do well on a checkup and cleaning every six months. Some need more frequent visits, usually because of gum disease, a high cavity rate, or a dry mouth from medication. We recommend a schedule based on your gums, your risk and your history, then revisit it as those change.
Yes. Avora Dental sees patients from young children through to seniors, so one practice can cover a household and everyone's records sit in one chart. Dr. Shah oversees care at every age. Younger children start with a short, low pressure visit rather than an attempt at everything on day one.
Not necessarily. How often you need X-rays depends on your history, your risk for cavities and gum disease, and whatever we are monitoring, so the interval is yours rather than a fixed rule. We take them when they will change what we do. If another office has recent images, we can request them.
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, and a list of your medications, including anything that dries your mouth out. If you have recent dental X-rays from another office, bring them or tell us who to request them from. If you have been putting the visit off, say so when you book.
Yes, and telling us at the start helps more than you would expect. We go at your pace, explain each step before it happens, and stop when you ask. Say something the moment anything feels sharp rather than waiting until the end. Nothing is treated in the same visit unless you agree to it.
Yes. Pain that keeps you awake, swelling, a broken tooth, or a filling that has come out and left a sharp edge all count. Phone (407) 774-4433 rather than booking online, and tell whoever answers which tooth it is and whether anything is swollen. Spreading facial swelling or trouble breathing goes to an emergency room first.