General dentistry includes all the dental services your family needs to maintain healthy, problem-free smiles.

Improve your smile today – call to schedule a consultation!

General Dentistry

A healthy smile is foundational when it comes to your overall wellness. Your teeth and gums require regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure that they stay comfortable and disease free.

We offer comprehensive general dentistry to help our patients enjoy optimum oral health and a comfortable smile.

Preventive Dentistry

We strive to prevent dental conditions, whenever possible. With regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays, we can often detect dental conditions in their earliest stages before they pose a severe risk to your smile.

A comprehensive dental exam evaluates the health of each tooth and looks for signs of periodontal (gum) disease. If we find anything that requires treatment, we will let you know right away.
Our dental cleanings are designed to keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy, as well as give you a smooth, fresh smile. Our hygienist will remove all plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. We will finish up with a polish so that your teeth are completely clean.
Dental x-rays assist us in the diagnosis of conditions that are not visible through a visual exam alone. This can include dental decay, infection, bone levels, and certain types of cysts and tumors.

We typically recommend a dental exam and cleaning every six months unless you have a dental condition like gum disease that may require more frequent visits.

Restorative Dentistry

Whether you require a dental filling, crown, or dental bonding, we are here to repair your teeth, which protects them and can extend comfortable function.

Fillings – Fillings are used to repair a tooth after removing decay.
Crowns – Crowns protect and stabilize a cracked or deeply decayed tooth.
Bonding – Bonding can fill in small chips and narrow gaps in teeth for cosmetic purposes or to prevent stains or decay.

When providing restorative dentistry, we make sure that the results are both comfortable and long-lasting.

Tooth-Replacement Options

Saving your natural teeth is a priority for us, but sometimes removing a tooth is necessary to relieve your symptoms and protect your health or because restoration is not possible. Having a gap in your smile, however, is not ideal either for your appearance or for chewing and speaking comfortably.

We offer the following tooth replacement options:

Fixed dental bridges– replace a missing tooth by anchoring an artificial tooth in place using two healthy teeth
Dental implants – replace a missing tooth by surgically implanting a replacement root and placing a dental crown
Dentures – replace all teeth on the upper or lower arch with a removable prosthetic
Partial dentures – replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring a prosthetic to your remaining natural teeth

A comprehensive dental exam will give us the information we need to make a recommendation to restore both your smile and your ability to eat and speak comfortably by replacing your missing teeth.

Contact Us to Schedule a Dental Appointment

Give us a call to schedule your next dental appointment. We look forward to welcoming you!

Couldn't be happier with the services provided

I have been seeing Dr. Purlee for as long as I have lived in the area and couldn't be happier with the services provided. Extremely friendly staff, knowledgeable, and very professional. We have also had our children see Dr. Purlee and are very pleased with pediatric offerings. I highly recommend Dr. Purlee for anyone looking for anything dental!

– Jason M. – Lake Carroll, IL

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need dental x-rays?

As with all dental treatment, we personalize your dentistry to meet your health needs and will make recommendations designed to keep you healthy and comfortable. According to the ADA, for most patients, yearly x-rays are enough to evaluate your teeth, bone, and gums and identify any conditions that put your oral health at risk.

If you suffer from gum disease (periodontal disease) or you have a history of losing teeth, we may recommend x-rays more frequently. Conversely, if you do not have significant dentistry or a history of tooth decay, we may be able to schedule x-rays every two years if you remain healthy.

Here are some of the different types of x-rays commonly offered:

Bitewing x-rays – checks for dental decay (yearly)
Full mouth x-rays – examines the tooth structure from crown to root and assesses bone levels (every 3 to 5 years)
Periapical x-rays – typically used for restorative dentistry or emergency dental appointments when an image of the whole tooth structure is needed (as needed)
Panoramic x-rays – takes a comprehensive image of all of your teeth at once and includes your jaw joints, bone, and dental anatomy (every 3 to 5 years)

Every patient is different, and the timelines listed above are a generalization based on averages. We will adjust your x-ray recall schedule to ensure you always have up-to-date information regarding your oral health.

Can my entire family see you?

We welcome all ages in our office! We are happy to discuss your scheduling needs, so just give us a call and speak with our friendly front desk staff!

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. David Purlee

Dr. Purlee is a graduate of Northwestern University Dental School and Monmouth College. He has maintained a General Family Dentistry practice in Mt. Carroll since 1984.

He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society, the US Grant Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, the International Association for Orthodontics, and QCASO Study Club. He regularly attends continuing education classes in general dentistry and orthodontics.

His interests outside of dentistry include golf, music, painting, attending sporting events and spending time with his grandchildren.

He and his wife, Jodi, ...