Dr. Rodriguez believes in ongoing continuing education, surpassing the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners requirements for coursework. She has successfully completed the 5-year MasterTrack education program with the Academy of General Dentistry to earn the top honor of Master, Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD).
Dr. Rodriguez enjoys staying involved in her community. She has volunteered at the Asheville-Buncombe Christian Community Medical Ministries Clinic, the Mountain State Fair free clinic, and takes part in the Mission of Mercy dental programs. She served as chairperson during the first two years of the Give Kids a Smile Program, in which children in need received free dental care.
The people I work with make this practice really enjoyable. We all work so well together. When a patient is hesitant to come to the dentist, I try to remind them that sooner is better! Don't wait until you are in so much pain you can't stand it. If you are scared, I will gladly hold your hand during the procedure.
One young patient we had was very nervous about getting numb. Dr. R & I were able to administer the injection without him even noticing the child even asked if we had really done it. When I told him yes, he got the biggest smile on his face! It reminded me we can all overcome fears if we have enoughsupport.
Candace joined our practice in September of 2007 after completing the Dental Assisting II program at AB Tech Community College. Her warm and compassionate approach has been critical to the success of our practice. Candace has accompanied Dr. Rodriguez and other members of the team at various free dental clinics around the area on the weekends in order to serve the community. Candace enjoys spending time with her husband David, her two dogs Maggie and Axel, her family and friends as well as gardening on the family farm and hanging out at the lake.
Meet Leyla. She is a proud wife and mother. Leyla has been with our team since 2015 and continues to be the backbone of the office. She is the one whose vibrant personality greets each patient as they come into our office. No patient has ever made it out of Dr. Rodriguez's office as a stranger after Leyla has gotten tothem.
Leslie is our newest addition to the office. She has lived in Asheville for the last 10 years with her beautiful daughter. Leslie has a genuine interest in the patients and strives to make their experience an enjoyable one. She works alongside Leyla in the front which makes our front office staff unstoppable.
Leslie grew up in a military family where she moved often. She eventually went to Appalachian State University where she received her bachelor's degree of science. She is newer to the field of dentistry but has worked in the medical field for several years. If you have any questions on your insurance she is the one to talkto.
We recommend that our patients visit our office every 3-6 months for routine preventive care. At this visit, we will take necessary digital xrays and Dr. Rodriguez will perform a dental examination to evaluate the condition of your teeth, gums and jaw joints. With this information in hand, Dr. Rodriguez will offer recommendations and options for any necessary treatment and work with you to develop a plan to keep your smile healthy.
Oral Cancer Kills One Person Every Hour, 24 Hours a Day in North America. At each preventive visit, Dr. Rodriguez and our Hygiene Team will examine the tongue and oral soft tissue for signs of oral cancer. If any abnormalities exist, we will work with our oral surgeon and medical partners to rule out cancerous conditions.
Be Aware! Oral cancer usually appears as red, white or discolored lesions, patches or lumps in or around the mouth. It is usually painless in the early stages, and often goes unnoticed, so regular screenings can be life-saving.
Restorative techniques utilize the strength of porcelain ceramics and precious metals such as gold and titanium to rebuild teeth to proper shape, size and function. Our goal is to return your smile to a comfortable, disease-free state that is easier to clean and maintain.
This approach also offers the opportunity to enhance smile appearance we can make teeth appear whiter and sometimes make them look straighter or more evenly aligned by combining cosmeticdentistry techniques with the restorative process.
In the natural development and aging process, the only teeth that are truly designed to be lost are deciduous teeth, or baby teeth. (The exception being wisdom teeth or third molars, which are typically recommended for extraction as they are nearly impossible to keep clean, making them prone to decay and infection).
If a permanent tooth is lost, the oral system malfunctions - in most cases, other teeth will shift into the space that is left open and drift into a spot that does not fit the bite properly. This misalignment causes teeth to come together abnormally, resulting in tooth trauma that can lead to teeth sensitivity, cracked teeth, nerve damage, and eventual loss of other teeth.
A dental crown covers the top portion of a tooth that has been structurally compromised by decay, broken-down fillings, or trauma. A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring at either side to existing healthy tooth structures or dentalimplants.
Porcelain inlays and onlays cover more tooth structure than a dental filling, but unlike a dental crown, does not cover the entire top portion of the tooth. A dental inlay is similar to a filling, covering just the center groove portions of a tooth, whereas a dental onlay will cover more of the chewing surface of the tooth. This approach requires less removal of tooth structure and is more conservative than a full-coverage dental crown.
Dr. Rodriguez works closely with local dental specialists to coordinate the placement of dental implants. These tiny titanium cylinders act as structural replacements for the roots of lost teeth to create a foundation that is restored with a dental crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture.
Esthetic Complete & Partial Dentures Dentures today can be designed to look natural and fit properly, so you can eat, smile and laugh with confidence. After consulting with you about your goals for your smile, Dr. Rodriguez partners with our local dental laboratories to design the shade, shape and size of each tooth, tissue height and color to achieve a completely comfortable, natural-looking denture.
Many denture patients that are fitted with custom esthetic dentures with implant supports find that they can eat foods they previously avoided with their old dentures, and are very comfortable laughing and smiling in social settings. It is a true joy for us to be a part of such an amazing transformation!
The Advantages of Gold in Dentistry Gold is highly pliable, making it an excellent material for shaping and rebuilding tooth structure. It is biocompatible, meaning it is safe and non-toxic; gum tissues do not become irritated with gold as they do with some restorative materials.
With inherent properties that allow it to expand and contract with thermal changes in the mouth, gold does not crack, chip or shrink as is possible with other dental materials. The strength of gold makes it ideal for repairing back teeth, and it can be used as a backing for porcelain restorations in front teeth for added reinforcement to sustain biting pressures.
Gold Inlay & Onlay Restorations Dr. Rodriguez provides conservative gold restorations, such as inlays and onlays, wherever possible, as they require removal of less tooth structure than a crown. (Inlays fill small holes and onlays replace larger sections of the tooth.)
Gold is the optimal upgrade from a filling, many patients retain gold restorations for a lifetime. Because of their tolerance of temperature changes in the mouth, gold inlays and onlays are typically less sensitive than silver or tooth-colored fillings. If you have older fillings that need replacement, gold is a conservative option and a great health investment.
Molar (back) teeth have very deep grooves and pits in the chewing surface that are often impossible to clean with a toothbrush. These areas become a safe harbor for harmful oral bacteria and can eventually develop into dental cavities.
As a preventive measure (especially for children), dental sealants are the first choice to help protect teeth against this destructive process. After a cavity develops, however, it becomes necessary to remove the decay and restore the tooth with a filling to prevent infection and pain.
Mercury-free White Fillings Tooth-colored white fillings are made of composite resin material and are available in a number of natural-looking shades to match existing teeth. They are non-metallic and mercury-free, and many have fluoride-releasing properties.
Large areas of decay and broken tooth structure typically require more durable restorations such as conservative gold restorations or crowns. White composite fillings, however, can be a great solution for minor repairs.
Dental decay is progressive and unstoppable without treatment. The only way to arrest dental decay is by removing it and placing a restoration to prevent recurrence. If you have any of these symptoms, please contact us to address the problem as soon as possible.
Protecting Your Teeth and Your Budget It is important to uncover small areas of decay as early as possible. Regular preventive care with necessary xrays is your family's best defense against dental decay.
Our goal is always to prevent dental decay and infection, and to save your teeth whenever possible. Restoring a tooth with root canal treatment and a dental crown can save the tooth from further damage or extraction. The tooth retains its position in the mouth, preserving healthy tissue and bone levels, and can help to prevent additional dental problems caused by surrounding teeth shifting into the space of the missing tooth.