Our team provides a wide range of general dentistry services
At Hardin Advanced Dentistry, our team provides a wide range of general dentistry services and welcomes patients of all ages—from toddlers to teenagers, to adults, to seniors. We have established our dental office to be exceptionally comfortable, welcoming, and pleasant—we want you to look forward to visiting us, and to be the dental office you trust for all of your dental and oral health issues.
Comprehensive Consultations for Complete Care
MASON, OHIO’S CREATOR OF THE MISS USA SMILE
Nationally renowned for her smile designs for multiple beauty pageants, Dr. Tara Hardin is also an accomplished general dentist.
Before beginning any dental service, Dr. Hardin always starts with a consultation to better understand each patient’s needs. Her goal is to find the root cause of dental issues before suggesting treatments so that patients can have the assurance that any treatments are offered with the patient’s health in mind.
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PROMOTING HEALTHY SMILES
When diagnosing and treating dental issues, Dr. Hardin uses a “Google Earth” approach, looking at the big picture—the full body—before zooming in on where the symptoms are. This holistic mindset allows her to treat what’s causing the issue, not just the symptoms. Dr. Hardin always keeps the connection between oral health and overall health in mind.
IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH
Advanced dentists like Dr. Hardin consider more than just your mouth. Many health conditions have connections with oral conditions, so keeping your mouth healthy can help your body stay healthy too.
A healthy and beautiful smile can also increase confidence. When a smile says so much about a person, having a healthy smile can help patients express themselves without inhibitions about how their smile looks or feels.
GENERAL DENTISTRY PREVENTS SERIOUS ISSUES
To keep your smile healthy, Dr. Hardin offers general dentistry services that are designed to prevent and protect against potential problems before they require extensive treatment. Here are a few problems general dentistry treats:
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Chipped or broken teeth
If left untreated, any of these conditions can worsen and cause serious infections, tooth loss, and higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.
Dr. Hardin’s general dentistry services can detect these problems early. These services can also prevent problems with frequent professional cleanings.
FAMILY DENTISTRY
Dr. Hardin welcomes patients of all ages. Children and families have a place at her Mason, OH, practice as well. Dr. Hardin brings a personal touch—a woman’s touch—to all her visits with patients.
GENERAL DENTISTRY SERVICES & TREATMENTS
To give her patients the greatest chance of successful treatment, Dr. Hardin offers a comprehensive array of general dental treatments.
TOTAL BODY WELLNESS
During every visit, Dr. Hardin is looking at your whole-body health, complementary to your oral health. She may give you treatment and advice in the following areas:
- Nutrition
- Fitness and lifestyle
- Bite alignment
- Gum health
Dr. Hardin is also very picky about the materials she uses in all dental tools, treatments, and restorations. Everything she uses is handpicked to be compatible with the body and won’t cause any adverse reactions.
CLEANING & EXAMS
Frequent and regular dental cleanings are crucial to maintaining a healthy smile and a healthy body. At these six-month appointments, our meticulous hygienists will take x-rays and clean and polish your teeth. Once your teeth have had all the plaque removed, Dr. Hardin will take a look at your x-rays and your teeth.
This exam is an important step in preventing and detecting dental issues. Using advanced dental technology and a trained eye, Dr. Hardin can spot budding problems and suggest treatments before issues have a chance to develop fully.
ORAL CANCER SCREENING
Part of a general dentistry exam at Hardin Advanced Dentistry includes an oral cancer screening. Because cancer can be so devastating, Dr. Hardin is always on the lookout so that this dangerous problem can be tackled sooner rather than later.
To accurately detect and diagnose oral cancer, Dr. Hardin uses the Identafi® oral cancer light, which illuminates the soft tissues of the mouth and makes potentially cancerous areas easier to identify.
SEDATION
Many patients don’t feel comfortable coming to the dentist because of previous bad experiences or a general fear of pain or discomfort. Dr. Hardin takes patient comfort very seriously. Her dental office is designed to feel safe and relaxing with amenities and sedation dentistry.
For patients who know they need dental treatment but are nervous about completing it, sedation dentistry offers a relaxing and comfortable experience.
METAL-FREE DENTISTRY
Traditionally, dental restorations and cavity fillings have been made from an amalgam of metals, but these materials can be harmful to the body. Dr. Hardin uses materials that are both natural-looking and biologically compatible. All restorations and fillings at Hardin Advanced Dentistry are safe, beautiful, and long-lasting.
INLAYS & ONLAYS
If a cavity is particularly deep or extensive, Dr. Hardin will use an inlay or onlay to repair the damage. Inlays and onlays are like cavity fillings except they are milled before being placed on the tooth. Fillings are a malleable putty shaped to the tooth and then hardened with a light.
Inlays and onlays protect these more severely damaged teeth with a sturdy restoration that prevents infection.
GUM DISEASE TREATMENT
Gum health is just as important as dental health. One might argue that gum health is even more important because the health of the gums can directly impact the health of the rest of the body.
Gum disease has been linked to multiple health conditions including heart disease and diabetes. The bacterial infection that causes gum disease can spread through the blood vessels in the mouth to the rest of the body. To stop this, Dr. Hardin uses a variety of tools and techniques to prevent and halt the worsening of gum disease:
- Oravital® mouth rinse
- Scaling and root planing
- Laser gum treatment
- PerioSciences gels and toothpastes
INSTANT ORTHODONTICS
Dr. Hardin can create a beautifully straight smile in just 1–2 dental visits using a combination of restorative and cosmetic treatments:
- Porcelain veneers
- Lumineers or DURAthin veneers
- Crowns
- Bridges
A straight smile not only helps patients feel more confident and proud of their appearance but also prevents tooth wear that can come from misaligned teeth. Instant orthodontics can also help with proper digestion and nutrition.
INVISALIGN
Another way to get straight teeth with Dr. Hardin is Invisalign clear aligners. These advanced orthodontic clear aligners can give patients a naturally straight smile without the metal wires and brackets. This makes them more comfortable and discreet, perfect for adults who need straight teeth but are concerned with looking unprofessional with traditional braces.
6-MONTH SMILE
6-Month Smile is a convenient way to combine the advantages of instant orthodontics with Invisalign. With 6-Month Smile, patients get a straight smile in just 6 short months using clear aligners similar to Invisalign. They gently nudge the teeth into position so that patients can enjoy a beautifully straight smile sooner.
SLEEP APNEA & SNORING TREATMENT
Snoring and sleep apnea conditions can range from mildly annoying to potentially life-threatening. Many sleep apnea patients have a CPAP machine to help them breathe more easily and consistently at night, but Dr. Hardin offers a solution that many patients prefer.
Our SomnoDent® nightguard is custom-made for the wearer, keeps the airway open during sleep, makes no noise, and is conveniently sized to bring with you wherever you go.
DENTURES & PARTIALS
Patients with missing teeth can get gorgeous, lifelike replacements with dentures and partials from Dr. Hardin. Having a full set of teeth contributes to full-body health and nutrition, so replacing missing teeth is about more than just filling in gaps in a smile. Dr. Hardin has seen first-hand the joy, confidence, and health that come with a newly completed smile.
WHITE SPOT TREATMENTS
Poor hygiene or an overdose of fluoride sometimes creates small white blemishes on the surfaces of the teeth. These white spots can make patients feel self-conscious about their smile, but they’re usually a sign of underlying problems like plaque deposits and weakened teeth. Treating these underlying conditions and the white spots they create can create a more healthy and confident smile.
Dr. Hardin offers 3 types of white spot treatments:
- Microabrasion
- Icon Infiltration
- Opalustre
MOUTH GUARDS
Our Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ does more than just protect teeth from impact during sports. Its custom design helps reduce jaw tension, letting patients focus on the game and not on their teeth.
Dr. Hardin can fit patients with this appliance in a single visit; she wants to make protecting your teeth as easy as possible.
ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING DR. HARDIN AS YOUR GENERAL DENTIST
Dr. Hardin is skilled in aesthetics and physiology as well as general dentistry. She combines all three fields to create a beautiful, healthy smile for each patient. Here are some advantages of such comprehensive treatment:
- A blend of both health and beauty: Dr. Hardin’s unique skill set allows her to create healthy smiles that are also stunningly beautiful. Patients can feel and look as healthy as their smiles are.
- Confidence in your smile’s appearance and function: When patients get general dental care from Dr. Hardin, their smiles are in capable hands. Dr. Hardin’s work inspires confidence in her patients.
- Dental treatment that benefits the whole body: Dr. Hardin truly cares for her patients. To her, it’s not just about the money. She wants to make sure each patient is as healthy as they can be; that’s why she always works holistically, keeping the whole body in mind.
- Personalized care from a detail-oriented dentist: Each smile is a work of art that requires a trained eye and a practiced hand. Dr. Hardin adds a personal touch to each smile she works with.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY
To offer such advanced and personalized services, Dr. Hardin uses a host of elite dental technologies. These tools improve diagnosis accuracy, shorten appointment lengths, and increase treatment safety.
DIAGNOdent CAVITY DETECTION
DIAGNOdent Cavity Detection represents a leap forward in cavity identification, enabling Dr. Hardin to uncover hidden decay with unparalleled precision.
This advanced tool uses laser fluorescence to detect caries (cavities) in the earliest stages, often before they become visible to the naked eye or detectable with traditional methods. Early detection using DIAGNOdent allows Dr. Hardin to treat cavities before they have a chance to wear through much of the tooth, preserving more of the natural tooth structure.
DIGITAL X-RAYS
In Dr. Hardin’s practice, digital x-rays make the diagnosis process easier, faster, and safer. Offering a detailed view of the oral structure with significantly reduced radiation exposure, these state-of-the-art images are crucial for identifying underlying issues not visible during a standard examination.
Digital x-rays are essential for comprehensive treatment planning, allowing for a thorough assessment of tooth health, bone density, and the positioning of each tooth and its root with crystal clear clarity.
OralDNA
OralDNA testing is a revolutionary tool used by Dr. Hardin to tailor dental care to the genetic makeup of each patient. This sophisticated analysis can identify specific bacteria and genetic markers in the mouth that may indicate a higher risk for certain dental conditions, such as periodontal disease, allowing for highly personalized treatment plans.
By analyzing the unique genetic properties in a patient’s saliva, Dr. Hardin can predict susceptibility to oral diseases, customize preventive strategies, and enhance overall health through targeted dental care.
ORAL CANCER LIGHT
The Identafi® oral cancer light is a cutting-edge device utilized by Dr. Hardin to enhance the early detection of oral cancer. This non-invasive tool uses special light technology to illuminate abnormal tissue that might not be visible during a conventional oral exam.
Early detection is critical in the successful treatment of oral cancer, making this tool an invaluable part of routine dental checkups. With the oral cancer light, Dr. Hardin is committed to not only maintaining the aesthetic appeal of her patients’ smiles but also safeguarding their health by identifying potential threats early.
Choose Dr. Hardin as Your General Dentist | Schedule Your Appointment
GENERAL DENTISTRY APPOINTMENT
Each routine dental cleaning appointment is about helping patients get and stay healthy. When patients come in for a visit, our team will guide them through the following steps:
- X-rays and imaging: First, an assistant will take digital images of your teeth. These radiographs provide information about the smile that isn’t always visible to the eye. Dr. Hardin will use these images to inform her diagnosis.
- Professional cleaning: Next, a hygienist will use dental tools to remove the plaque build-up from the teeth. Once the plaque is removed, the hygienist will follow up with a thorough flossing session to clean between the teeth.
- Tooth polish: The final step of the cleaning portion of the appointment is tooth polishing. Our hygienist will use flavored tooth polish to give your teeth a little extra shine. This coating helps protect your teeth from bacteria and general wear.
- Thorough oral exam: Once the cleaning is complete, Dr. Hardin will examine the x-rays and the patient’s mouth. She’ll look for cavities, signs of oral cancer, gum disease, and other oral issues.
- Recommendations: Dr. Hardin will make a diagnosis and provide treatment recommendations. This may be as simple as improving at-home hygiene, but she may also recommend dental treatment to repair the patient’s smile.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT GENERAL DENTISTRY
What is the best way to prevent cavities?
While there is no sure way to completely avoid cavities, you can prevent them by maintaining proper oral hygiene. The best oral hygiene practice involves gently brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and visiting the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning.
How often should I visit the dentist?
Dr. Hardin usually recommends coming in for a cleaning and exam every six months, but she may suggest more frequent visits if your oral health needs it. You may also need to visit more frequently if you are getting a treatment that spans multiple appointments. Talk to Dr. Hardin for personalized recommendations.
What are the benefits of fluoride?
Fluoride treatments are often offered at the end of a dental cleaning appointment. Dental fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and protects the teeth against decay and tooth wear. Too much fluoride can cause problems, but fluoride is most often a necessary mineral that helps teeth stay strong and healthy.
How do I choose the right toothbrush and toothpaste?
Select a toothbrush with soft bristles and a size that fits comfortably in your mouth. Choose one that doesn’t irritate your gums when you brush. Look for a toothpaste with fluoride to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities. If you have specific concerns like sensitivity or gingivitis, choose a product targeted to those issues.
Why are my teeth sensitive? How do I treat it?
Teeth sensitivity often results from exposed dentin due to worn enamel or receding gums. Use desensitizing toothpaste and avoid acidic, hot, and cold foods to minimize discomfort. If sensitivity persists, consult Dr. Hardin, as it may indicate a more serious condition needing professional treatment.
Patient Testimonials
Here’s what our patients have to say about their experiences with Dr. Hardin.
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Dr. Hardin brings a personalized touch to every appointment. Her attention to the whole body provides a unique dental experience that ensures a healthy and beautiful smile for each patient.
WHY CHOOSE
DR. TARA HARDIN?
Dr. Hardin is a Las Vegas Institute Fellow, granted only after a minimum of 278 hours of advanced education and experience in aesthetics, physiologic science, and a comprehensive practical examination. Additionally, she is an Accredited Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, an accreditation granted only to those with superior performance and knowledge in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. These qualifications are compounded by almost two decades of experience and continued education.