Dr. Rizk Dental & Associates

Root canal treatment has a reputation for being something patients dread, but the team at Dr. Rizk Dental works hard to change that experience. The procedure is performed to remove infected or necrotic pulp tissue and save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted — and with modern techniques and proper anesthesia, most patients are surprised by how manageable it actually is. The dentists take their time to make sure the area is fully numb before starting, and they check in throughout the procedure to ensure patients feel in control. After treatment, the team provides detailed guidance on what to expect during recovery — mild tenderness is normal, and the tooth may feel a bit fragile until a permanent crown is placed. Patients are told clearly what foods to avoid and what sensations are expected versus what would warrant a call back to the clinic. That level of clear, practical communication after the appointment is part of what keeps patients from feeling anxious between visits.

The hygiene appointments at Dr. Rizk Dental go well beyond a quick polish. The team performs thorough subgingival scaling to clear buildup below the gumline, followed by brush polishing and salt-jet treatments, while also recording periodontal pocket depths to track gum health over time. One of the things patients consistently appreciate is the use of intraoral cameras — instead of being told there's a problem, you can actually see it on screen, which makes it far easier to understand what's happening and why a particular treatment is being recommended. The clinic suggests coming in for a professional cleaning every six months, and the hygienists — Guylaine, Carolanne, Julie, and Gina — are known for making even anxious patients feel at ease. Whether it's been a while since your last visit or you're diligent about your routine care, the team meets you where you are without judgment and helps you build habits that last.

Custom-fitted night guards are one of those treatments that patients at Dr. Rizk Dental often wish they'd asked about sooner. Grinding and clenching during sleep can quietly cause significant tooth wear, jaw soreness, and even cracked restorations over time — a well-fitted guard distributes the forces evenly and protects both natural teeth and existing dental work. Because these are made from impressions of your actual bite rather than a generic over-the-counter tray, they're far more comfortable to wear and far more effective at doing their job. The clinic also makes custom sports guards for athletes of all ages. Whether it's hockey, rugby, or martial arts, a properly fitted guard stays in place during contact and provides real protection — unlike the boil-and-bite variety that tend to interfere with breathing and speaking. The team is happy to discuss options for kids as well, since youth athletes often need guards that can be adjusted as they grow.

Dr. Geneviève Audet has built a genuine specialty in early orthodontic intervention, and it's one of the things that sets this Rockland practice apart from a typical family dental office. She recommends an initial orthodontic assessment around age six — well before permanent teeth have all come in — because catching issues like narrow jaws, underdeveloped arches, or mouth breathing habits early means working with the natural growth process rather than against it. Using fixed or removable functional appliances, the team can guide jaw development and address problems such as thumb habits or cross-bites that, left untreated, often require far more complex correction in the teenage years. Dr. Audet holds membership in the International Association of Orthodontists and has pursued dedicated training in this field beyond her general dental degree. Parents in the Clarence-Rockland area often come in uncertain about whether their child actually needs treatment, and the team is refreshingly straightforward about that — if intervention isn't necessary yet, they'll say so and schedule a monitoring appointment instead.