Cosmetic & General Dentistry

Riverpointe Dental Care provides pediatric dental cleanings and checkups for infants, toddlers, young children, and adolescents throughout the Ozarks. We strive to teach every child the proper techniques and practices to maintain healthy, lifelong oral hygiene habits.

Once our dentist numbs the area with local anesthetic, Dr. Struble will then remove the top part of the tooth to access the innermost layer, known as the pulp. After removing the infected and damaged tissue, Dr. Struble will clean and disinfect the surrounding area. Then, we’ll seal the area and place a restoration (typically a dental crown) to protect and restore function to the tooth.

Does your jaw click or pop? Do you grind your teeth at night? Do you frequently wake up with jaw pain, headaches, or toothaches?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be suffering from a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD affects the temporomandibular joint, which is responsible for controlling the movement of the jaw and surrounding facial muscles.

Bruxism (teeth grinding), arthritis, stress, and injuries are some of the causes of TMD. Treatments vary and may include any or a combination of the following:

• Dental splint/mouth guard
• Relaxation exercises
• Anti-inflammatory pain medication

Dr. Struble will work to identify the cause of your TMD and customize a treatment plan that minimizes your symptoms, improves your quality of sleep, and protects your teeth. If necessary, Dr. Struble may refer you to other physicians in the area who can provide advanced TMJ/TMD treatment.

Dr. Struble also performs occlusal (bite) adjustments at our office in Ozark, MO. If you have a misaligned jaw or bite or struggle with severe bruxism or TMD, we’ll provide a thorough examination and lay out a detailed treatment plan.

In many cases, we customize oral splints/mouth guards for patients who struggle with moderate to severe teeth grinding ‒ but our goal is to target and minimize triggers for your teeth grinding. Our dentist can review stress reduction techniques to help you relax your jaw muscles and minimize teeth grinding. Dr. Struble may prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medication or prescription muscle relaxers to help. Diet and lifestyle changes can also help.

Invisalign is a cutting edge orthodontic treatment designed to help patients correct bite issues and straighten their teeth gradually and discreetly. Invisalign is a great alternative to metal braces that uses clear plastic aligners to straighten your teeth. The aligners are virtually invisible and easy to remove and clean. If you have poorly aligned teeth or certain bite issues Invisalign can improve your smile with minimal interruption to daily life. Gain a new level of confidence in your smile without the painful metal wires and brackets with Invisalign.

The process begins with a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Allphin to assess your needs, answer any questions you may have, and determine if Invisalign can be an effective treatment for you. If we decide to move forward with this option, we will use our 3D iTero to guide us in developing an individualized treatment plan. Based on the detailed images of your teeth, alignment, and bite, we will create your customized aligners and give you a series of them to take home. Treatment time can vary based on your individual needs. Let us see if we can help.

For more information, visit the Invisalign website.