Our goal is to combine excellent professional preventative dentistry (regular exams, cleanings, digital x-rays, fluoride treatment, sealants) with customized home care routines to promote superior oral and total body health.

Clinical research has confirmed that your mouth is a window into the health of your entire body. Oral disease plays a major role in systemic health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies and even adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Dyersville Family Dentistry supports the American Dental Association’s recommendation of least 2 dental exams and professional cleanings per year for the healthy patient, although individual needs are diverse. The frequency of regular preventative dental visits should be determined on an individual basis to accommodate one's unique oral health status, risk factors and overall health history.

Dyersville Family Dentistry welcomes children of all ages! As recommended by both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association, a child’s first dental visit should be when the first tooth erupts, or no later than their first birthday. Dr Runde and her team go above and beyond to ensure your child’s dental appointment is fun yet educational for both child and parents.

Periodontal Disease (gum disease) is an inflammatory condition that affects the hard and soft tissues that support your teeth. If left untreated, it ultimately causes tooth mobility and tooth loss. In addition, recent research has suggested that this oral inflammation is linked to a host of other systemic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Dyersville Family Dentistry provides non-surgical periodontal treatment. With early detection and management this inflammation can be reversed. If it becomes advanced, it cannot be reversed but controlled; and a maintenance program will be designed by your hygienist and dentist to meet your specific needs.

When the health of your tooth is compromised in some way, either by a cavity, an old failing filling or even a crack, your dentist has a number of techniques to restore your tooth to normal function.  

Fillings

A filling is indicated when the tooth health becomes compromised by a cavity, crack or fracture. Dyersville Family Dentistry uses tooth colored filling materials, which contain no metal, no mercury, and no BPA and they are shaded to blend with the natural color of your teeth.

root canal

A root canal is a procedure performed to save a tooth with an infected or damaged nerve.  Often the nerve gets damaged from a very large cavity or a very deep filling, but can also be compromised by trauma or a crack.  A root canal is performed to save a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted.  The nerve is cleaned out of the inside of the tooth, and the tooth is disinfected and sealed.  Following a root canal procedure on a back tooth, a crown is usually indicated to protect the tooth from breaking.  

crown

A crown is a type of restoration that fully covers the part of a tooth that can be seen above the gum line. A crown is indicated to restore a tooth if you have little of your natural tooth structure remaining, possibly due to a large old filling, a crack, or after getting a root canal procedure on a back tooth. Crowns provide strength and protect the tooth against breaking. There are a variety of crown materials and the choice of material depends on the specific tooth’s requirement for strength, durability and esthetics.

implants

Dental Implants are another restorative option to replace missing teeth.  They can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or in conjunction with dentures.  Dental implants are titanium screws that are placed in the jaw bone, the bone fuses to the implant and thus forms a strong foundation.  This foundation acts like the root of a tooth.  After the implant is placed, a crown will be fabricated to fit into the implant that will look, feel and function like a normal tooth. 

bridge

A bridge is a way in which to replace a missing tooth. It is similar to a crown but uses the teeth ahead and behind the space of the missing tooth for support. A bridge restores function and esthetics. It is non-removable and you can clean and maintain it like a natural tooth.

Dentures

Dentures are ways in which to restore missing teeth and there are multiple types of dentures.  Complete dentures entirely restore a mouth that has no remaining teeth, they utilize the remaining ridge of bone and gum tissue to hold the denture in place.  Partial dentures can restore a section of missing teeth, using your remaining teeth for anchorage.  Dentures can be fabricated in conjunction with implants to provide additional stability to a denture, or to completely fix a denture in place so you no longer have to take it in and out.

Sometimes a tooth is compromised in such a way that it is not salvageable or has a very poor prognosis.  These teeth need to be removed before they cause additional problems such as oral infection.  Luckily there are many options to replace teeth that must be extracted. 

This condition is typically characterized by pain, restricted opening, or popping noises coming from one's jaw. It is an inclusive term used to describe dysfunction of either the muscles that move the jaw or the jaw joint itself. Jaw pain can be related to a grinding or clenching habit, which can benefit from the fabrication of a custom mouth guard or splint. Severely worn teeth or dental work can also contribute to jaw problems. Your dentist will examine the jaw joint, jaw muscles, and your dentition in order to decide which course of action is individually appropriate for you.

Cosmetic dentistry is an area of dentistry that utilizes techniques and procedures to enhance the attractiveness of your smile. We can enhance the color, shape and size of your teeth, as well as contour your gum line to give you a beautiful smile.

Tooth Whitening

Dyersville Family Dentistry offers two types of professional whitening treatments based on your personal goals and needs:

• In-Office Professional Whitening Treatment: The advantage of in-office whitening treatment is results in a single day. You can safely whiten your teeth a number of shades in less than one hour. If you have a big event coming up soon, or you just want a jump start on that bright smile, this procedure is for you. We will additionally fabricate custom take home whitening trays so you can touch up your smile anytime at home following your in-office procedure.

• Custom At-Home Whitening Trays: Custom silicone trays are the best at-home system to achieve an even and consistent result. Whitening of several shades typically takes two weeks. Trays can be used repeatedly to perform touch ups.

Cosmetic Bonding

Minor chipping of tooth enamel, which typically happens around the edges of front teeth, can be conservatively restored with tooth colored filling materials, also commonly known as bonding. Tooth colored filling material is placed and sculpted to match the color and natural contours of your teeth.

Ceramic Crowns

Ceramic crowns are restorations that fully cover the portion of tooth you can see above the gum line. If a tooth is already heavily restored with filling material or a crack is suspected, a crown is the restoration of choice. The ceramic material is both esthetic (completely tooth colored inside and out) and strong. They contain no metal, so you will not see any dark bands around the gum line that was common when using older porcelain/metal crowns. Modern ceramic materials can be used on both front and back teeth.

Porcelain Veneers

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that covers the front surfaces and edges of your teeth.  Veneers can enhance the shape, size, or color of your teeth and even correct slight misalignment.  The veneers are bonded to your teeth and can correct a single tooth or multiple teeth resulting in a beautiful smile.