Skip to main content
General Dentistry
Keep Your Smile Looking Its Best

Our general dentistry services can help you achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.

A man smiling after a Dental visit in Columbia, Md

General Dentistry in Columbia, MD

A healthy smile is essential for overall wellness, and your teeth and gums require regular maintenance to ensure they remain comfortable and disease-free.

We offer comprehensive general dentistry to our patients to help them enjoy optimal oral health and a smile that functions comfortably.

Preventive Dentistrya woman smiling after a routine dental treatment in Columbia, Md

We strive to prevent dental conditions whenever possible. With regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays, we can often detect dental conditions in their earliest stages before they pose a severe risk to your smile.

  • During a comprehensive dental exam, we evaluate the health of each tooth and look for signs of periodontal (gum) disease. If we find anything that requires treatment, we will let you know right away.
  • Our dental cleanings help keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy, as well as give you a smooth, fresh smile. Our hygienist removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and finishes with a polishing, so your teeth look and feel completely clean.
  • Dental x-rays help us diagnose conditions that we cannot see with a visual exam alone. These include cavities, infections, bone loss, and certain types of cysts and tumors.

We typically recommend a dental exam and cleaning every six months unless you have a dental condition like gum disease that may require more frequent visits.

Restorative Dentistry

Whether you require a dental filling, crown, or dental bonding, we can repair your teeth to protect them and extend comfortable function.

  • Fillings — Fillings are used to repair a tooth after removing decay.
  • Crowns — Crowns protect and stabilize a cracked or deeply decayed tooth.
  • Bonding — Bonding fills in small chips and narrows gaps between teeth for cosmetic purposes or to prevent stains or decay.

When providing restorative dentistry, we make sure that the results are comfortable and long-lasting.

  • Dr. Alec Dancy

    Dr. Alec Dancy brings a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to dentistry at Hickory Ridge Dental. He believes that great dental care goes beyond treating teeth—it’s about building lasting connections with patients and helping them feel genuinely cared for each time they visit.

    Dr. Dancy earned his undergraduate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 2011 and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Dentistry in 2016. He then completed a one-year General Practice Residency at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, gaining advanced experience in comprehensive ...

    Read More

Tooth Replacement Options

An illustration of dental implant in Columbia, Md

Saving your natural teeth is a priority for us, but sometimes it is necessary to remove a tooth to relieve painful symptoms, or when restoring it is not an option. However, having a gap in your smile is not ideal for your appearance or for chewing and speaking comfortably.

We offer the following tooth replacement options:

  • Fixed dental bridges — replace a missing tooth by anchoring an artificial tooth in place using two healthy teeth
  • Dental implants — replace a missing tooth by surgically implanting a replacement root and placing a dental crown
  • Dentures — replace all teeth on the upper or lower arch with a removable prosthetic
  • Partial dentures – replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring a prosthetic to your remaining natural teeth

A comprehensive dental exam allows us to recommend one of these options to restore your smile and ability to eat and speak comfortably again.

Contact Us to Schedule a Dental Appointment

Give us a call to schedule your next dental appointment. We look forward to welcoming you!

Testimonial

The Best Dental Work Experience.

I was in a lot of pain and my teeth in particular my back molars were in terrible shape and Dr. Dancy was so thorough yet gentle. He was transparent about the dental work that I needed to prioritize and understanding about my concerns regarding price point. Honestly it was the best dental work experience I have ever had. Highly recommend him and his team!

- Susana

Frequently Asked Questions

General dentistry is the foundation of your oral healthcare—it’s the type of care most people receive on a regular basis. At Hickory Ridge Dental in Columbia, MD, a general dentist serves as your primary provider for maintaining, improving, and protecting your overall oral health, much like a family doctor does for your body.

General dentistry covers a wide range of services designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat common dental issues at every stage of life. Rather than focusing on just one area, it takes a comprehensive approach to keeping your teeth, gums, and smile healthy and functional.

Preventive care is a major part of general dentistry and helps stop problems before they start. This includes services such as:

  • Dental exams and cleanings
  • Digital X-rays
  • Fluoride treatments and sealants
  • Custom mouthguards and nightguards

General dentistry also includes restorative treatments to repair and protect damaged teeth, such as:

  • Tooth-colored fillings and bonding
  • Dental crowns and other restorations

If you are missing teeth, general dentistry offers solutions to restore your smile and function, including:

  • Bridges
  • Partial or full dentures

In addition, many general dentists provide cosmetic treatments to enhance your smile’s appearance, such as teeth whitening, veneers, and cosmetic bonding.

At Hickory Ridge Dental, we combine these services with modern technology like digital imaging and comprehensive exams to detect issues early and create personalized treatment plans. If specialized care is ever needed, we can also connect you with trusted specialists.

If you have questions about your oral health or need guidance, call (410) 997-9494 or schedule an appointment with Hickory Ridge Dental in Columbia, MD today.