Your smile is a big part of who you are; it’s how you share joy, confidence, and connection with the world around you. But behind every healthy, beautiful smile is something even more important: consistent care.
At West Madison Dental, we know that general dentistry is about more than checkups and cleanings. Regular dental care is the foundation of lifelong oral health, whether it's catching minor issues before they become painful problems, keeping your gums healthy, or simply giving you the confidence to share your smile without hesitation.
Maybe it's been a while since your last visit. Maybe you're looking for a dental home where you'll feel genuinely cared for. No matter where you're starting from, we're here to meet you with understanding, compassion, and a gentle touch.
Routine dental exams are essential to maintaining the best oral health possible. When you visit our dental office twice a year, it allows us to identify any issues and treat them before they worsen. It’s always best to catch any problems early to avoid longer, more expensive treatments.
We also examine your gums and the rest of your mouth during your regular dental exam, looking for any signs of periodontal disease, oral cancer, or other issues. Again, early intervention is critical to helping you avoid tooth loss or serious medical conditions.
Even if you brush and floss your teeth daily at home, it isn’t enough to remove the plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. That’s why we recommend a professional dental cleaning every six months; our hygienists can reach all the areas your toothbrush might miss, helping you avoid tooth decay and gum disease. We’ll also polish your teeth, which allows us to remove surface stains, giving you a brighter look and making your mouth feel fresh
and clean.
Your oral health is important, and regular dental visits combined with our general dentistry services are the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. If you live in Madison, Limestone County, Athens, Decatur, or Huntsville, we’d love to hear from you.
Just contact our dental office at (256) 724-3530 to get started today.
General dentistry services focus on diagnosing, preventing, and treating a wide range of oral health issues. Some of our services include the following:
Gum disease can cost you your smile and significantly impact your overall wellness, including your lungs, heart, and more. Your dentist in Madison, AL, takes a preventive approach to your oral health to help lower your risks for this condition. But if you are diagnosed, we are here to help.
To lower your risks, you must visit your dentist twice annually for checkups and teeth cleanings to keep your smile healthy and prevent issues like gingivitis and periodontitis (gum disease).
Gum diseasean is an inflammation or infections of the soft tissues around the teeth, including the periodontal ligaments. In its early stage, we refer to gum disease as gingivitis. Without intervention, curable gingivitis advances to periodontitis, which is only treatable.
With periodontitis, the infections and inflammation have penetrated the bone. At this point, your dentist takes measures to save your teeth and prevent systemic health complications. However, you can live with gum disease with an excellent dental care regimen.
What Causes Gum DiseaseMany factors may contribute to gum disease, but the primary culprits include:
If you have gum disease, you might notice bleeding gums when cleaning your teeth, bad breath, gum recession, red and inflamed gums, and loose teeth as the disease progresses. Should you see any of these symptoms (or oral health changes that do not improve), it’s crucial to reach out to your dentist in Madison, AL, for an assessment.
Untreated gum disease can lead to a whole host of health complications, including:
Studies also connect gum disease to severe complications like Alzheimer’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, gum disease may cause severe health issues that have yet to be studied. In other words, your gum health is crucial to your overall well-being and health.
Gum disease treatment is based on your level of disease, meaning it is always customized to meet your specific needs.
Treatments may include scaling and root planing, a method that removes bacteria, tartar, and plaque below the gumline. Scaling and planing encourage your gums to adhere better to your teeth, eliminating pockets where new bacteria can collect.
Other methods may include routine teeth cleaning schedules, at-home care instructions, and topical antibiotics.
Because periodontitis is staged, your dentist may refer you to a trusted periodontist if your disease is significant or complex.
If you suspect gum disease or have not been to the dentist in a while, we encourage you to arrange a dental visit today. We assess your periodontal health at every checkup and teeth cleaning, which means we can catch gum disease in the gingivitis stage.
Call us today to get started or if you have any questions about our services, including gentle and judgment-free periodontal treatment.
We serve all locations, including Madison, Huntsville, Athens, Decatur, and the surrounding areas. Additionally, we are happy to work with CareCredit financing.
Dental fillings in Madison, AL, are designed to eliminate small areas of tooth decay and "fill" the hole left behind by a cavity. The procedure is straightforward, and you will be able to eat after your treatment as long as your mouth is not numb.
For larger fillings, our dentists may need to numb the area around the compromised tooth to ensure your comfort during the procedure. If we numb your tooth for a procedure, it's a good idea to wait to eat until after the numbness wears off. Otherwise, you could risk accidentally biting your cheek or harming your soft tissues.
Smaller fillings may not require anesthetic as they are quick and straightforward. Eating right afterward is fine if you're not numb during your tooth filling procedure.
Dental anesthetic typically wears off one to two hours after the procedure. However, contact your West Madison Dental team immediately if you experience prolonged numbness or notice that it doesn't seem to be wearing off.
Tooth-colored fillings are an excellent option for restoring your smile without detracting from the appearance of your tooth. They're our dentist's top choice for repairing teeth with tooth decay.
If you have questions about tooth-colored fillings in Madison, call Gibson Dental at (256) 724-3530 for more information.
Tooth sensitivity can have many causes, but it’s essential to contact your Madison, AL dentist if you suddenly develop this issue. Sensitivity can mean underlying cavities or early gum disease. In some cases, it even indicates an early tooth infection.
At your dental checkup, your dentist will look for underlying causes of your tooth sensitivity. If we don’t find the culprit, we may suggest a fluoride treatment to strengthen your teeth and help reduce or eliminate sensitivity.
A member of our team can also offer advice on caring for sensitive teeth at home, including:
We want you to enjoy a healthy smile that is comfortable and functional. But, unfortunately, tooth sensitivity can get in the way of that!
Don’t let tooth sensitivity keep you from the dentist. In many cases, we can combat this issue and restore your well-being. Give us a call today if you have questions or if you’d like to arrange a dental health evaluation and teeth cleaning.
If you need a tooth-colored filling in Madison, AL, it is because you have a dental cavity. Your treatment time to fill and close this cavity depends on the complexity or severity of your tooth decay—typically, you can expect to spend a few minutes to an hour in the dental chair.
The process itself starts with a diagnosis from your dentist. You must seek a diagnosis as dental cavities can hide between teeth. If your dentist finds a cavity, we schedule treatment.
During your dental filling appointment, we make sure you’re relaxed and comfortable—if you’re still feeling nervous, ask us about nitrous oxide. We also numb the treatment area before filling your tooth. After the area is numb, your dentist gently removes the tooth decay and fills the hole to prevent further complications.
In most cases, we close with a tooth-colored filling. However, if your tooth is severely damaged, we may recommend a tooth crown. A tooth crown is a cap that fits over your entire tooth. It is shaped and colored to look like your other teeth. The dental crown creates a safety zone between your bite force and the treated tooth to prevent further complications. A tooth crown requires more than one visit.
If you suspect a cavity or if it’s time for your dental checkup and cleaning, reach out to our dental team today.
Early gum disease or gingivitis is reversible with treatment from a skilled dental hygienist. However, without treatment for gingivitis, gum disease progresses to the advanced stage called periodontitis, which can be managed and controlled but not reversed.
Gingivitis is widespread and affects nearly half of US adults over age 30. One reason is that many don’t recognize the symptoms and don’t seek treatment. Some gum disease symptoms to be aware of are:
As gum disease advances to periodontitis, it attacks the bone and ligaments that hold teeth in place. Symptoms include all of the above and loose teeth, pain when chewing, and eventually, tooth loss.
Fortunately, gum disease is highly preventable, but it requires a team effort. You may not notice mild symptoms of gum disease, but your hygienist will.
To prevent gum disease, you do your part by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once. Your hygienist follows up with thorough teeth cleanings every six months to eliminate plaque and tartar buildup that your brush and floss miss.
Our amazing hygiene team offers teeth cleanings to help our patients avoid gum disease. If you have gingivitis or periodontitis, they offer periodontal treatment and cleanings that they will tailor to your specific needs.
Please call our Madison, AL, dental office to schedule a teeth cleaning appointment.
Life gets hectic! Especially after school starts, busy parents find themselves struggling to get their children to sports or other extracurricular activities, making it difficult to fit in doctor or dentist appointments.
Here's a tip to make your life less stressful. Instead of running around town trying to make it to ...
Having just one dentist for your entire family is more than just a matter of convenience. A dental team that knows each family member's unique needs and preferences and provides customized, comprehensive care can be foundational to maintaining long-term oral health with minimal fuss.
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We talk all the time about the importance of committing fully to a robust oral health routine and lifestyle—twice daily brushing, flossing, antibacterial mouthwash, a healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco. This is true regardless of age.
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Digital patient communication and scheduling have made visiting our dental office more effortless, more convenient, and more personalized than ever before. Instead of phone tag and paper reminders, we use secure, streamlined technology to stay connected with patients at every step of their care.
Dental teams can send appointment reminders, follow-ups, treatment updates, and even post-visit instructions directly to your phone or inbox through email, text messaging, and patient portals. Online scheduling allows patients to book, confirm, or reschedule appointments anytime without having to call during office hours.
These digital tools help reduce no-shows, improve communication, and ensure patients stay informed and on track with their dental health. Whether you are confirming a cleaning or receiving updates about upcoming treatments, digital communication makes the process simple, fast, and stress-free.
At West Madison Dental, we are all about making dental care more accessible and patient-friendly so that you can focus on your smile, not your schedule.
Patient education is an integral part of the dental services we provide for our Madison, AL patients. We don’t dictate what treatment you need; we include you in the decision-making process by using technology like intraoral cameras that help you visualize a particular condition and understand how the proposed treatment will benefit you.
An intraoral camera is a handheld device that we use to give you a tour of your teeth and gums. As we direct the small digital camera over your teeth, you’ll see the real-time images appear on your chairside monitor.
If we detect a problem like a cavity or gum disease, we’ll point it out to you so you can see it and understand how it’s impacting your oral health. We use intraoral cameras in conjunction with digital x-rays to give you the most comprehensive picture of your oral health possible.
Since we can also capture them as still images, we can save them to your patient record and refer to them as needed for treatment planning and monitoring.
A coworker referred me to West Madison Dental. I love everything about this office. Undoubtedly the best dental-related experience I’ve ever had. From the first day I visited this office, I felt like I had been cared for and treated like family. The front desk team greets you with a warm smile; my hygienist was fantastic, and Dr. Andrew Henninger is incredible!
I was a new patient, and EVERYONE in the office was so professional. Dr. Andrew Henninger was knowledgeable and very informative. The entire office was up-to-date with modern equipment and had a pleasant environment. Dr. Andrew Henninger loves what he does. I had a great experience and will be coming back regularly. One of the best.
-Brooke
