General Dentistry

Your oral health is the foundation of your overall well-being. At Pelican Dental, we provide comprehensive general dentistry services designed to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy for life. While we offer a full range of advanced dental treatments, we also incorporate holistic techniques, including safe mercury filling removal, to ensure your care supports your entire body, not just your teeth.

What Is General Dentistry?

General dentistry focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of common oral health issues. Our goal is to maintain your natural teeth and help you achieve a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

We focus on preventing common oral health issues with our general dentistry services. This focus on prevention helps you save money and avoid permanent issues with your smile. We don’t just treat poor oral health; we maintain good oral health, too, with general dental cleanings and exams.

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Our General Dentistry Services

The Benefits of Preventive Care
Preventive care is the foundation of a healthy, confident smile. Routine preventive care allows us to protect your oral health long before problems develop, making your dental care more comfortable, more predictable, and more affordable in the long run. 

Preventive dentistry focuses on early detection, gentle maintenance, and personalized guidance so your smile stays strong at every stage of life.

Regular checkups help us identify changes in your teeth, gums, bite, and airway early, which allows us to offer more conservative treatments while issues are still small. These visits also allow us to discuss how your lifestyle, home care habits, and overall health are influencing your oral health.

Preventive care also supports whole-body wellness. Your mouth plays an important role in your immune system, breathing, and daily comfort, which means small improvements in your oral health can lead to a better quality of life overall. With ongoing preventative visits, our team can help you maintain a smile that looks beautiful, functions comfortably, and supports your long-term health.We offer a wide variety of treatments to meet your dental needs:

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How Often Should I Have Preventive Dental Appointments?

We recommend seeing our dentists every 6 months, or twice a year, so we can aid you in maintaining the health of your smile. If you have restorative dental work or periodontal concerns, we may suggest more frequent appointments so we can maintain the health of your gums. Periodontal disease can increase how rapidly your teeth decay.

Our General Dentistry Services

We offer a wide variety of treatments to meet your dental needs. These are treatments that generally you don’t need to see a specialist for, and we complete them during a routine appointment or a single follow-up appointment.

Our comprehensive exams are designed to give you a complete picture of your oral health. During this visit, Dr. Choi evaluates your teeth, gums, soft tissues, jaw function, and airway health to understand how each part of your mouth is contributing to your overall well-being.

Professional cleanings help maintain a healthy smile by removing plaque and tartar in areas that brushing and flossing can’t always reach. Our hygienists focus on gentle, effective techniques that protect your enamel while leaving your mouth feeling refreshed. For patients with sensitivity or anxiety, we tailor the cleaning process to ensure the appointment feels as comfortable as possible.

We use modern digital X-rays and diagnostic imaging tools—including CBCT scans when needed—to capture detailed views of your teeth, roots, bone structure, and airway. These high-resolution images help us identify cavities, infections, or structural concerns with far greater accuracy than traditional imaging, all while reducing radiation exposure.

Tooth-colored fillings restore decayed or damaged teeth using a durable, natural-looking material that blends with your smile. These restorations bond securely to your tooth structure, strengthening the area, and are non-toxic.

For patients interested in replacing older silver amalgam fillings, we offer safe mercury filling removal with careful protocols that minimize exposure. Dr. Choi isolates the tooth, uses advanced suction and filtration, and replaces the metal filling with a strong, biocompatible composite alternative. This approach supports your overall health and delivers a cleaner, more modern look that enhances your smile.

If you clench or grind your teeth, custom night guards or bite splints can protect your enamel and reduce strain on your jaw. These appliances are made from precise digital scans for a comfortable, secure fit. They help prevent chipped teeth, sensitivity, TMJ discomfort, and morning tension. Dr. Choi may recommend a specific design based on your symptoms—whether you need support for grinding, bite correction, or jaw stabilization.

Periodontal disease is very common in adults. It is caused by all of the bacteria in our mouth that forms plaque on our teeth. Without routine brushing and flossing, it continues to build up, forming tartar.

People with periodontal disease can have red and swollen gums that often bleed quite easily. It may be hard to eat because their teeth are so sensitive. They may be missing teeth. Some people with periodontal disease have very bad breath.

We diagnose periodontal disease by examining your teeth. We also use a probe to look for any problem areas. X-rays are also necessary to diagnose the disease.

Why Receive Regular Dental Care?

Regular dental care is the cornerstone of a healthy smile. We love to offer general dental care that feels welcoming and gives a boost to your overall wellness. Regular dental visits with Pelian Dental can:

  • Prevent Major Issues: Routine visits help catch problems early when they are easier to treat.
  • Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums: Preventive care reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease.
  • Improve Appearance and Confidence: Clean, healthy teeth enhance your smile and self-esteem.
  • Support Overall Wellness: Good oral health is linked to heart health, diabetes management, and more.

Choose Us for General Dentistry Needs

We are committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. From preventive treatments to advanced restorative solutions, we take the time to listen to your concerns, explain your options, and deliver comfortable, precise care using modern technology and safe techniques. We even offer anti-anxiety medications to help those who struggle with visiting the dentist or getting dental work done. Ask a member of our team how we can help you feel comfortable in our office!

Our Holistic Touch

While we are primarily a general dental office, we recognize the mouth-body connection and use holistic methods when beneficial to your treatment. We use safe, biocompatible, tooth-colored materials for restorations. We focus on preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible by incorporating minimally invasive techniques in every treatment.

We also follow strict safety guidelines during the removal of old mercury-amalgam fillings to minimize harmful chemical exposure and keep both patients and staff safe.

What to Expect at a General Dentistry Visit with Pelican Dental

A general visit often follows the same structure for each appointment.

  • We will welcome you into our office and have you fill out any necessary forms upon your arrival. Please bring insurance information, your past health history, and a credit card or cash to pay for your appointment.
  • We will take X-rays and other diagnostic scans if necessary, so we can see the details of your smile and detect issues that the naked eye might not see.
  • You will receive a thorough cleaning of your teeth from our highly trained hygienists, which removes plaque and tartar that brushing alone cannot. We will be gentle and effective during our cleaning.
  • Dr. Choi or Dr. Koo will examine your teeth and evaluate your X-rays to check on your oral health. We will also take the time to educate you on oral health routines at home and answer any questions you have.

Pediatric and Teen Visits

We see teens and children for dental visits in our Redondo Beach office. We understand that dental visits can be hard for children, especially; this is why we keep the appointments short and focus on helping children feel comfortable during the appointments.

Dental Sealants

Children often benefit from sealants, which are a light coating put over molars to protect them from decay. The ridges of molars can be difficult to clean, and if children have permanent adult teeth, that decay can mean lasting effects on their smile. We can complete dental sealants at your child’s next general dentist visit.

General Dentistry FAQs

You are always welcome here, no matter how long it has been. Many patients return to dental care after a long break, and our team supports you without judgment. Your first visit focuses on understanding your current oral health and creating a plan that feels manageable, comfortable, and tailored to your needs.

Yes. Many patients feel anxious about dental visits, which is why we offer a calm environment, gentle techniques, and anti-anxiety medication when appropriate. Our goal is to help you feel in control at every step of your appointment so you can receive the care you need with confidence.

Some oral health concerns develop quietly and don’t cause discomfort or cosmetic changes until they become more advanced. X-rays allow us to detect early changes—such as bone loss, hidden decay, or issues below the gumline—so we can treat them while they’re still small and manageable.

We use biocompatible, tooth-colored materials and can review your medical history to ensure the products used during treatment are safe for you. If you’ve experienced sensitivities in the past, let us know—we can adjust materials, techniques, and scheduling to prioritize your comfort.

We understand that life can get hectic. Many of our general dentistry treatments can be completed in a single visit, and we work efficiently to help you maintain your oral health without disrupting your routine. If you need help planning appointments around work or family commitments, our team will assist you.

Signs that you may benefit from a night guard include waking with jaw soreness, headaches, worn or chipped teeth, or tight facial muscles. If you’re unsure, we can evaluate your bite during your exam and determine whether a custom appliance would help protect your teeth and jaw.

Absolutely. Dr. Choi and our hygienists will walk you through brushing techniques, flossing methods, and lifestyle adjustments that make maintaining oral health easier day-to-day. We help you understand the “why” behind each step so your home care feels simple and effective.

Discover the Difference of Thoughtful General Dentistry

Whether you need routine preventive care, safe filling removal, or treatment for a dental issue, Pelican Dental is here to help. Call us today to schedule your appointment and experience the difference of thoughtful, whole-health-conscious general dentistry.

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