General Dentistry

General Dentistry

We provide general dentistry to make sure that you can enjoy a lifetime of great oral health.

Start by scheduling a dental cleaning and exam for yourself. This will allow us to give you a clean, fresh smile and give our dentist the chance to look for any potential problems or areas where you can improve your oral hygiene routine. If we find any issues, we will work with you to create a treatment plan to get your smile back on track. Your child’s first visit should be by the age of 1 or within six months of their first tooth. After the first visit, we recommend seeing our dentist every six months. However, if you have significant issues with your smile, we may want to see you on a more frequent basis.

General Dentistry Services

Dental Hygiene Counseling

You can depend on our dentist and team to give your smile a thorough cleaning during your routine dental visits. But the truth is that you are the primary person responsible for caring for your smile. Dr.Drew can meet with you for an appointment for dental hygiene counseling in Jacksonville, FL, to help you see if you can improve your home care.

Our team works hard to maintain the health of your smile while you are in our office. However, taking care of your smile at home is just as important as receiving treatment from our dentist. Dental hygiene involves daily habits that help keep your smile healthy over your lifetime.

Tooth contouring can be used to correct:

  • Brush your teeth after every meal or at least twice a day. It is recommended to use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

  • Floss your teeth at least once every day. The most effective time to floss is right before going to bed.

  • Eat a balanced diet. The food you eat can significantly affect your oral health. We recommend limiting your intake of sugary and acidic foods.

  • Come in for visits with our dentist and team at least every six months. During these visits, our team can check for any developing oral issues and help you strengthen your oral health through a thorough and professional dental cleaning and exam.

Dental Sealants

Because of their shape and location, your back teeth, or molars, can be difficult to brush, leaving them vulnerable to tooth decay and infection. At our office, we offer dental sealants in Jacksonville, FL. Our dentist, Dr. Drew Rappaport, can use the sealants to keep your molars healthy.

Dental sealants are a type of preventive treatment that work to protect teeth from cavities. They are among the simplest, yet most powerful and effective, preventive treatments available. Sealants are made of clear or tooth-colored resin material and are painted onto the chewing surfaces of the teeth to form a smooth, protective barrier over the natural pits and grooves of the tooth surfaces. This blocks out food debris, harmful bacteria and plaque, and it has the added benefit of making it easier for you to clean your teeth with regular brushing and flossing.

Sealants are most frequently recommended for children after their permanent molars begin to erupt, usually between the ages of 6 and 12. Dental sealants are also available for adults who are at greater risk of developing tooth decay. Sealants can be applied in just a few minutes as part of your regular dental appointment. Our dentist will simply coat the chewing surfaces of your teeth with the sealant material, and it will either dry quickly on its own or be cured with a special light.

Emergency Dental Care

Surprises are fun, if they are a surprise party, gift or pay raise. But when the surprise is a dental emergency, it can be painful and unsettling. If you or someone you know needs emergency dentistry in Jacksonville, FL, your first call should be to our office at 904-736-6657 for an appointment with our dentist. Rappaport Dental will see you as soon as possible.

Our office understands that sometimes the unexpected happens. That is why our dentist and team offer emergency dental care for patients who have had a dental emergency. Dental emergencies are situations where the patient needs urgent dental attention. We encourage you to call our office as soon as possible if you need emergency dental care.

Dental emergencies include:

  • Knocked-out or loose teeth

  • Chipped or broken teeth

  • Fractured molars

  • Damage or cuts to the soft tissue of the mouth, such as inner cheeks, lips, gums or tongue

  • Missing dental fillings, crowns or implants

  • Acute, long-lasting toothaches

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or emergencies, please give our dental office a call today. Our team will promptly schedule you to receive the care you need and provide you with instructions on how to take care of your smile during the interim. If you have experienced more extreme trauma to your head, neck or jaw, please see your primary physician or visit the emergency room before making an appointment at our office. Your safety is our first priority.

Fluoride Treatments

The enamel that covers your teeth is your first line of defense against cavities and other oral health problems. While your tooth enamel is one of the strongest substances in nature, it can be worn down by the sugars and acids in your diet and the plaque on your teeth. Our dentist and team provide fluoride treatments in Jacksonville, FL.

As a treatment used to help prevent tooth decay, fluoride treatment can greatly benefit the state of your oral health. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens the enamel of your teeth, effectively slowing down the risks of developing tooth decay. We recommend this treatment for all our patients during their general check up to help them reduce the chance of their teeth developing infections and cavities, which often lead to more expensive treatments and restorations.

During your appointment, our dentist can apply a fluoride varnish or gel over your teeth, completing the treatment in mere minutes. The fluoride is painted onto your teeth with a small brush, and the fluoride eventually hardens as it comes into contact with the saliva in your mouth. To preserve the fluoride as it hardens and adheres to your teeth, we recommend that you avoid hot foods and liquids and do not brush or floss your teeth for at least six hours.

This treatment can be applied every six to 12 months to maintain the overall strength of your tooth enamel and keep your smile in top condition.

Night Guards

Stress is a fact of life, and everyone deals with it in different ways. If you cope with stress by grinding or clenching your teeth, you risk damaging your smile and causing yourself discomfort.

Night guards are usually recommended for patients who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding, at night. Most patients do not realize they suffer from bruxism, which often leads to damaged or sensitive teeth. Our friendly dentist and team can help diagnose this condition and recommend treatment to help mitigate it, such as a night guard, which is an oral appliance worn at night.

If you are unsure if you have bruxism, some symptoms of teeth grinding or clenching include:

  • Severe soreness in the jaw, face or ear

  • The muscles in your jaw feeling tired once you wake up

  • Tension headaches or migraines

  • Chipped, flat or cracked teeth

  • Excessively worn tooth enamel

  • Tongue indentations from your teeth

  • Tooth sensitivity

Night guards are custom oral appliances that match your bite and fit comfortably over your teeth for a nonintrusive solution while you sleep. They protect your teeth from grinding against each other and help relieve the symptoms experienced by those with bruxism.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer can have a devastating effect on your smile and your life if it is not treated, which is why you should see for regular screenings. Our dentist will use VELscope® technology to give you a comprehensive exam and locate issues that could otherwise be missed.

An oral cancer screening is a test we provide during regular checkups to check your mouth for early signs of cancer. We perform a thorough series of small tests to determine if there are any areas of your mouth affected by cancer. This can involve cancer in the lips, tongue, cheeks, throat, sinuses, or other areas like the floor of your mouth.

Several signs of oral cancer may include:

  • Soreness and irritation

  • Lumps or rough spots

  • Tenderness or numbness in the mouth and lips

  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing

  • Red or white speckled patches inside the mouth

  • Unexplained bleeding in the mouth

  • Ear pain

  • Dramatic weight loss

Oral cancer has the potential to become a severe and life-threatening disease if not detected and treated early. We offer oral cancer screenings to help patients avoid this struggle and stay on track to optimal oral health. During your checkup, our dentist and team will ask you questions about your current overall health and examine your mouth for signs of lumps or sores that may indicate oral cancer. If necessary, we can begin prepping you for treatment according to the results of your exam.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

If you snore, you have may have been woken up from time to time by irritated people in your home. In fact, you may have even woken yourself up. Beyond keeping you and other people in your home from getting a decent night’s rest, snoring can also be a symptom of sleep apnea, which can lead to serious general health problems. As part of our sleep apnea treatments in Jacksonville, FL, our dentist will provide you with a sleep study kit to help diagnose the severity of your problem.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious medical condition characterized by interruptions and pauses in breathing while asleep. These pauses can occur multiple times each night and can last for 30 seconds or more. Sleep apnea occurs when the tongues rolls back in the throat or the soft tissues of the throat collapse, blocking the airway and preventing normal breathing.

Some common signs of sleep apnea include:

  • Extreme daytime drowsiness

  • Insomnia or difficulty staying asleep

  • Frequent, loud snoring

  • A dry or sore throat upon waking

  • Frequent morning headaches

  • Personality changes, irritability, anxiety and depression

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, we recommend that you seek treatment immediately. Sleep apnea contributes to a number of serious medical and health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, behavioral disorders, obesity and liver problems. Our dentist and team will be able to diagnose the problem and work with you to find a solution that meets your needs and fits your lifestyle.

There are several types of treatment available. If you suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea, we may recommend oral appliance therapy. A custom oral appliance can keep your airway open so that you breathe easily. More severe cases may require treatment using a CPAP machine or a surgical procedure.

Sports Mouth Guards

If you or your child is gearing up for a sports season, protecting your smile should be just as important as choosing the right equipment. Rappaport Dental creates custom mouthguards in Jacksonville, FL, that provide the highest level of comfort and protection. Whether you’re preparing for football, martial arts, or another contact sport, a properly fitted mouthguard can make all the difference in safeguarding your teeth and jaw.

Our dentist designs each mouthguard to meet your unique needs, ensuring not only protection but also improved performance, comfort, and the ability to breathe and communicate effectively during play.

Mouth Guards Are Essential for Sports

Mouth guards protect athletes from serious injuries to the teeth, gums, tongue, and other soft tissues. A custom mouthguard also helps absorb impact, reducing the risk of broken teeth, jaw injuries, and even concussions. For patients with braces, a properly designed guard provides extra protection by preventing wires and brackets from damaging the mouth during impact.

While mouth guards are most often associated with high-contact sports like football, wrestling, martial arts, hockey, and rugby, they can be beneficial in nearly all athletic activities. Even sports such as basketball, soccer, or cycling carry risks of falls or collisions where teeth and jaws are vulnerable. Wearing a custom mouth guard is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your smile.

Custom Fit vs. Store-Bought Mouthguards

Generic “stock” mouthguards available at sporting goods stores may offer some level of protection, but they cannot match the security and comfort of a custom mouthguard made by a dentist. Stock guards often interfere with breathing, chewing, and speaking, which can reduce performance during sports.

A custom-fit mouthguard, on the other hand, is molded precisely to your bite, ensuring the most protection while remaining comfortable to wear. Because it is tailored to your unique mouth, it stays securely in place, allowing you to focus on the game rather than worrying about your gear. Many patients report that custom guards feel natural and make it easier to breathe and communicate with teammates.

Tooth Extractions

One of the goals of our dentist and team is to help you keep all of your natural teeth for life, since they are the ones that serve your smile best. But there may be times when an extraction may be unavoidable.

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth. While we strive to avoid the need to remove a tooth whenever possible, certain conditions may make tooth extraction the most effective option for returning your smile to good health and function. Following the tooth extraction, we are happy to provide you with one of our excellent tooth replacement treatments to restore your smile to optimal health, beauty and function.

Several conditions may necessitate tooth extraction. Among these are:

  • Severe infection that has destroyed a significant portion of the tooth and supporting bone structure

  • Serious decay that has damaged a tooth beyond repair, making a successful restoration impossible

  • Crowding caused by too many teeth to properly fit in the mouth

Our dentist and team use great care and skill when performing a tooth extraction to ensure that your experience is as comfortable and painless as possible. We will also provide you with detailed post-treatment care instructions so that you can properly take care of your smile as it heals.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Eventually, all but a few people deal with the eruption of wisdom teeth. Unless you or your child are one of those lucky few, wisdom teeth will become a reality sometime in the late teens or early 20s.

Wisdom teeth are commonly known as third molars. They are often the last teeth to erupt from the gumline, and as such, the mouth usually does not have enough space for the wisdom teeth to grow in properly. If the wisdom teeth cannot fit, they may grow in at an odd angle or become impacted, a condition where teeth cannot grow through gum tissues and the jawbone. This may lead to several harmful dental conditions, such as:

  • Teeth misalignment

  • Damaged jawbones

  • Infection

  • Tooth decay

  • Oral cysts

  • Damaged surrounding teeth

To avoid these complications, our dentist may recommend having your wisdom teeth removed. Your mouth and bite will be carefully examined by our dentist to see if wisdom teeth removal is necessary for the health of your smile. If it is, we will consult with you so that you know what to expect before, during and after your wisdom teeth removal. The procedure itself should be quick and efficient to help ensure you have a positive dental experience.

Why Jacksonville Chooses Rappaport Dental?

For over 30 years, Jacksonville has trusted us with their smiles. We combine advanced technology with personalized care to create a dental experience that puts you at ease. Our same-day crown technology means fewer appointments for your busy schedule, while our comprehensive services cover everything from routine cleanings to dental implants and clear aligners.

What sets us apart is our commitment to understanding your complete health picture — not just your teeth. Dr. Drew Rappaport and our team take the time to listen to your concerns and explain your options clearly, ensuring every visit is comfortable, transparent, and tailored to you.

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