Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes! We welcome children to Thurmont Family Dentistry starting at age one or whenever their first tooth arrives. From babies to grandparents, our dentists provide the wide range of dental services your family needs to have healthy and happy smiles. 

A Conservative Approach to Family Dentistry in Thurmont, MD

Dr. Raymond and her team believe in preserving your natural smile for as long as possible. She takes a conservative approach to dental care, using innovative skills, techniques, and technology to deliver treatments designed to strengthen your smile while preserving aesthetics.  

We also offer advanced services at Thurmont Family Dentistry that you may not find at other dental practices, such as:

• BioClear
• Digital Smile Design (DSD)
• Sleep Apnea Diagnosing and Treatment

We aim to build positive relationships with our patients that allow us to offer personalized dental care tailored to each individual's needs. We hope to provide each member of your family with an exceptional experience every time they visit us. 

We Accept New Patients

If it's time for you or your little one's next dental appointment, our team would love to meet you! Contact our team at (301) 271-2346 to learn more about what our dental practice has to offer and to book your next visit. 

BioClear is an innovative treatment technique that Dr. Raymond uses for repairing and strengthening decayed, fractured, or compromised teeth. 

BioClear is a conservative approach to tooth repair similar to other tooth-colored restorations but far less invasive.

Bringing You Modern Dentistry

Dr. Raymond is one of only one percent of dentists certified to perform the BioClear techniques. She's completed extensive training and received the highest certification offered. 

BioClear aligns with her commitment to bringing patients the most conservative treatment procedures possible to promote natural tooth longevity. 

What Are the Benefits of BioClear?

BioClear offers several advantages for our patients that promote healthy and happy smiles:

• Cost-effective: BioClear tends to be less expensive than other treatment procedures like a crown or veneer.
• Less invasive: BioClear is a minimally invasive procedure we can typically complete during one visit. 
• Durable: The BioClear technique provides exceptional durability and longevity, and restorations can even be repaired in the future if needed. 

If you'd like to determine if BioClear may be right for your smile, the first step is booking an evaluation with Dr. Raymond. She'll gather information about your teeth with an exam, x-rays, and photos, allowing her to assess your needs and recommend suitable procedures to help you reach your smile goals.  

Contact your BioClear dentist in Thurmont, MD, by calling (301) 271-2346.

Digitally Designed Smile (DDS) helps us to design and create your dream smile, allowing you to "test drive" it before proceeding with any cosmetic dental procedures! 

DDS is innovative software that projects 3-D images of your smile onto a screen, allowing Dr. Raymond to design your ideal smile with changes to tooth size, shape, positioning, and shading. The software helps Dr. Raymond determine the best treatment procedures to achieve your perfect smile. 

Next, it prints a 3-D prototype of your unique smile that you can actually wear so you can get the look and feel of your new appearance to ensure it's everything you've always wanted before you start treatment. 

What Treatment Will I Have Using DDS?

Some of the treatment procedures Dr. Raymond may recommend after your DDS evaluation are: 

• Professional teeth whitening
• Porcelain crowns and veneers
• Tooth-colored composite resin fillings
• BioClear composite resin restorations
• Dental implants
• All-on-x
• Injection molded veneers

DDS treatment plans are extremely personalized, and you'll work closely with Dr. Raymond to decide which procedures will best suit your needs, lifestyle, and budget to help you reach your smile goals. 

To book a DDS evaluation with Dr. Raymond, contact your Thurmont cosmetic dentist at (301) 271-2346.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during your sleep, typically due to an obstructed airway. This can happen multiple, even hundreds of times per night in severe cases of sleep apnea, which can prove detrimental to your health and well-being. 

Dr. Raymond and her team offer solutions for patients with sleep apnea, and we can partner with your general physician to ensure that you're receiving the most effective treatment for sleep apnea, especially in severe cases.  

Diagnosing Your Sleep Disorder

Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a take-home sleep test that you can use at your own home. Your team at Thurmont Family Dentistry provides you with a device that measures your breathing and heart rate while you sleep and determines how often you wake up during the night.  

A sleep specialist analyzes the data collected to determine if you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) is the standard of care for patients with sleep apnea; however, many patients find the mask uncomfortable to wear at night while they sleep. 

Dr. Raymond can design and craft a customized oral appliance for you to wear during sleep that helps reposition your jaw and open your airway for clear breathing while you sleep. This can be an excellent option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea and could replace CPAP therapy. 

Contact our team at (301) 271-2346 for more information about sleep apnea treatment in Thurmont, MD, and how we can help you reclaim your good night's rest. 

The all-on-x treatment concept refers to the technique of using a few dental implants to support dental prosthetics like a bridge or denture to restore multiple lost teeth.  

Patients missing multiple teeth often cannot easily chew their food, impacting their diet and nutrition. They may also feel self-conscious about the appearance of their smile due to the gaps when they smile or talk with others. 

A bridge or denture can restore multiple missing teeth, helping patients enjoy full chewing function and a beautiful smile once again. All-on-x gives them the benefits of dental implants, like protection against bone loss and better appliance longevity. 

How Does All-on-X Work?

Dr. Raymond works with a trusted local specialist who places two to six dental implants, depending on the patient's needs and which appliance they're getting. Then, she designs the appliance accordingly, considering the patient's skin tone and facial structure to create the most natural look possible. 

All-on-x treatment restores the patient's function, facial structure, and smile, allowing them to reclaim their confidence and live a full life again. 

If you'd like to learn more about all-on-x treatment or dental implants in Thurmont, contact our team at (301) 271-2346 to book an evaluation with one of our dentists. 

Thurmont Family Dentistry offers prompt emergency dental care and same-day treatment whenever possible!

Do not wait to contact us at (301) 271-2346, as we'll also instruct you on how to reach us if your dental emergency occurs outside of regular business hours. 

Dental Emergencies We Handle

Your emergency dentists can help with these concerns:

• Facial pain and swelling
• Toothaches, dental pain, or abscesses
• Knocked-out teeth
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Broken or cracked dentures
• Lost or broken restorations
• Swollen or bleeding gums

Even if your condition is not listed here, contact our team first, as we can assess your condition over the phone and help to determine the next best steps to protect your smile. 

What to Do Until You Can See Your Emergency Dentist in Thurmont

Knowing what to do during a dental emergency makes the situation less stressful. Here are some helpful tips while you get to Thurmont Family Dentistry. 

• For Toothaches: Use over-the-counter medication to provide some relief until we can see you. A constant and severe toothache indicates a tooth infection and will need treatment. 
• Knocked-out tooth: Transport your tooth carefully to our dental office, handling it as minimally as possible. Place it back in its socket or use milk or saliva to keep it moist during transport. 
• Lost restorations: Try to bring the restoration with you if possible; we may be able to repair or reattach it. 
• Broken tooth: Use ice or a cold compress if there's any swelling. 

Our team will get you comfortable and back on the path to wellness as soon as possible.