General Family Dentistry in Wilmington, DE
Welcome to Bruce E. Matthews, DDS, PA, the dental practice of Dr. Bruce E. Matthews, Dr. Brian Matthews, Dr. Daniel Matthews, and Dr. Katie Matthews. Dentistry is a family affair at our dental office, and we love welcoming families and patients of all ages. When you visit our office, you'll be partnered with a gentle and thoughtful dentist who takes a vested interest in your oral care.
If you're seeking a dentist in Wilmington, DE, we invite you to contact a member of our team to schedule an examination today. Also, reach out if you would like information about our services.
Preventive Dentistry vs. General Family Dentistry
Preventive dentistry provides the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Preventive services include: 
- Twice-yearly dental checkups
- Twice-yearly teeth cleanings
- Periodic x-rays
- Oral cancer screenings
- Dental sealants
- Fluoride treatments
- Other specific services meant to prevent costly and complicated dental issues down the road
We customize your preventive treatment to help you achieve your best dental health. Our dentists have found that twice-yearly exams, periodic x-rays, and professional teeth cleanings lower your risk for gum disease, dental emergencies, and cavities.
General dentistry provides the necessary maintenance to keep your teeth and gums healthy, which may include but isn't limited to:
- Fillings
- Root canal therapy
- Extractions
- Restorations
What Dental Technologies Do You Use?
Our team uses technologies that educate our patients about their oral health, brighten smiles, or allow for a safer and more comfortable dental experience. Intraoral cameras, for example, will enable you to see close-up images from inside your mouth. These intraoral images help your dentist better explain your specific treatment plan and help you make more informed decisions about your dental care.
How Often Should I Visit the Dentist?
We recommend getting twice yearly for exams and cleanings. If you have specific oral health conditions like periodontal disease or if you suffer from sleep apnea, your dentist in Wilmington may customize your treatment schedule to better care for your oral health situation.
What Happens During My Child's First Dental Visit?
Parents are always invited to be with their children during treatment, and we will proceed at the child's pace. Our team is gentle with children, and we work hard to help them feel positive and confident about their dental habits when visiting the dentist. Parents can view their child's oral status with our modern monitoring system, so you are always informed about their dental needs.
Do You Treat Dental Emergencies?
Our emergency dentists in Wilmington, DE, always set aside time to provide urgent dental care, and our staff works hard to get you seen as soon as possible. Dental emergencies may include a toothache, broken or damaged tooth, missing tooth, or oral bleeding and swelling.
Always contact our dental office in Wilmington at the first sign of a dental emergency in Wilmington, DE. Even if you need an emergency dental appointment after hours, one of our dentists will take your call and help you through your situation.
Will My Wilmington Dentist Help Me with Anxiety?
Feeling anxious before a dental checkup is common. However, if you suffer from anxiety, we offer sedation dentistry––like nitrous oxide and oral sedation––so you can still receive the dental care you need. For those patients with severe anxiety, we may also consider sleep dentistry. Our dentists are very gentle and compassionate, and nervous patients are often surprised by the easy care they receive in our dental office.
What Services Do You Offer Besides General Dentistry?
Preventive and general dentistry help keep your smile healthy. One of the benefits of good dental care is that it usually makes you an excellent candidate for cosmetic dentistry in Wilmington.
Cosmetic dentistry may include:
Professional Teeth Whitening
Our professional teeth whitening system is heads above anything you can purchase without a prescription; this includes store-bought gels and trays.
Tooth Crowns
Dental crowns cover a prepared tooth to provide strength following trauma or deep root infection. They can also conceal tooth flaws, misshapen teeth, gaps, and stubborn stains. We customize the crown's color and shape to blend with your surrounding teeth and provide a consistent smile.
Veneers
These ultra-thin shells go across the front surfaces of your teeth to create a uniform smile. Veneers conceal discoloration, flaws, cracks, chips, height discrepancies, and gummy smiles. Your Wilmington dentist can usually complete the veneer process in as little as two dental visits.
Dental Bonding
Bonding relies on a tooth-colored resin material to conceal your tooth flaws. Bonding is a simple and inexpensive cosmetic option to hide discoloration and reshape a tooth.
Dental Implant Restorations
Dental implants are slim posts made of sturdy titanium that your dentist surgically implants into the gums. Over several months, these posts bond with your jawbone to create a stable support for a restoration tooth. You can opt for an implant-supported denture or bridge if you have several missing teeth. Dental implants improve your smile but also help prevent bone loss in your jaw and stop your teeth from shifting.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a clear alternative to traditional metal and wire braces. Invisalign relies on clear aligners to bring your teeth into position over time. You can remove your aligners when eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing!
Six Month Smiles
You can straighten your teeth in six short months with Six Month Smiles. These tooth-colored braces are virtually invisible and concentrate on your smile line, making them an excellent option for older teens and adults.
Other Services 
In addition to cosmetic dentistry, we also offer therapy for sleep apnea! Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder that means you stop breathing several times during the night. This can lead to daytime sleepiness, mood issues, and more severe problems like heart attack and stroke.
Contact Our Wilmington, DE Family Dental Office Today
We invite you to call our family-friendly dental office to schedule exams for yourself and your loved ones.
We proudly serve patients in Claymont, Marcus Hook, Ashton, Brookhaven, Kennett Square, Wallingford, Philadelphia, PA, and beyond.
Did you know that modern dentistry is virtually painless? For moderate anxiety, however, nitrous oxide and/or oral medication is available. For patients with more severe issues, sleep dentistry may be an alternative to consider.
The options for repairing or replacing damaged teeth vary drastically based on your unique needs. After careful diagnosis of your particular situation with our state of the art diagnostic tools, we offer a full range of solutions to your dental health issues. These treatments range from non-invasive, cosmetic-only procedures to full mouth reconstruction, employing implants and permanent restorations. 
Our dentists recommend that patients in good dental health visit our Wilmington dental office every six months, or two times per year, for teeth cleanings and x-rays. Patients who are managing gum disease may need one or 
