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Dentistry and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The American Dental Association and the Tennessee Dental Association have and continue to be our guiding source as we navigate dentistry in today’s society. We have worked diligently to clean our office from top to bottom. You may also notice our patient reception area with a new protective glass shield at the front desk. Our operatories and hygiene rooms now each have air purifiers with HEPA filters to improve the air quality. In addition, we are limiting the number of patients we see, and we ask that you wait in your car until we are ready to care for you; please have your loved ones wait in the car during your appointment.

What extra precautions is the office taking? Your health and safety is our goal! In addition to cleaning our offices, we have implemented-

• N95 masks, surgical gowns, and various other personal protective equipment.

• Protective shields at our front reception areas.

• Air purifiers with HEPA filters in our surgical and hygiene rooms.

• Waiting in your car and informing us you have arrived via call or text message. We will call or text you when you can come into the office for your scheduled appointment.

• Limiting the amount of people in our office by asking your friends and family to remain in the car before, during, and after your appointment.

• Screening patients with a verbal and/or paper questionnaire along with a temperature check.

• Having you rinse with hydrogen peroxide at our office prior to your procedure.

Again, we appreciate your patience and trusting us with your dental health!

meet-your-dentist

Meet Dr. Baker-Curtis

Serving the Inglewood-Nashville area since 2002!

Dr. Baker-Curtis is a graduate of science in Biology from the University of Tennessee in 1991. She received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama in 1995, and has been licensed in both Tennessee and Alabama since 1995.

She was an Honor Prosthodontics student and Ethics Council President from 1994-1995. Dr. Baker-Curtis was a member of the Rivergate study club, and is now a member of Sumner SheDocs study club since 2012.

Dr. Baker-Curtis is also a pet lover: she has three cats and a bunny rabbit.

Affiliations:

Nashville Dental Society

Tennessee Dental Association

American Dental Association

Academy of General Dentistry

Days: Tuesdays-Thursdays

“The people who make up Inglewood Dentistry do not provide excellent care because it is their job. They really care about people which is rare these days… Give them a try and you will not be disappointed.”

The entire staff is friendly and thorough, exactly what you need when going to the dentist. My teeth were so clean and cared for as far as the hygienist went. And the Dr., well she was efficient and on point. I would highly recommend Inglewood Family Dentistry for the services I received thus far.

“Amazing experience!!!! They are excellent at explaining that is happening throughout the whole appointment. Definitely referring everyone to Inglewood family dentistry!”

“Every visit is the same: professional, personable and welcoming. In my humble opinion, absolutely the best dentist and staff in Nashville!”

“Every visit I have had I have been greeted by friendly, professional staff. In over 8 years I have yet to have a negative encounter with anyone. The technicians, assistants, and dentists are all very skilled. As odd as it may sound to some people I have fun and enjoy going to Inglewood Family dentistry!”

“I’ve been going to this office for 12 years because they are top notch. The doctors, hygienists, assistants and staff are friendly, knowlegable, and professional. Do not hesitate to give them a call!”

“If I could rate this office/staff with 100 stars I would. They treat you like family. Make you feel at ease. My family age ranged from 6 – 41 when I first started going here. And I’ve never felt more at ease with the comfort and service Dr. Karen Curtis and ALL her staff provides.”

“Dr. Karen Curtis and her staff are very professional, clean, neat and provide the most excellent service one could ask for. I have been seeing Dr. Curtis for about 15 years and I can not imagine going to see anyone else for my dental needs. As long as her dental office is in business this is where I will go. When you have found the best why look at the rest ? I highly recommend Dr. Karen Curtis to all my friends and relatives who live in the area.”

“I felt totally at home in this office. All friendly, smiling faces and super clean atmosphere! Its very important to feel comfortable and at ease when getting scary dental work done and I trust this place and these women. My hygienist Tangie and dentist Dr. Shadix were both very attentive and had a great bed side manner! SO happy I chose to visit Inglewood Family Dentistry, I won’t go anywhere else!!”

“It’s just like family when I go to the Dentist because I have been going a long time. I love the office staff especially Brandy. I really love Naomi that is my Dental Hygienist, she is very thorough and always friendly. It’s always clean, neat, magazines and TV to watch if you want to. Dr. Curtis is just the best ever. She is gentle, friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. She makes sure you are taken care of in every way. She is the best.”

our-service-for-you

Our Service For You

A brief overview of some of our frequent services!

Prophylaxis

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop.

Cosmetic Bonding

Bonding involves adhering composite resin material that is matched to the color of the tooth, to the front of the tooth. This is performed to repair damage caused by decay, to alter the alignment of the tooth, close gaps between the teeth, or for other cosmetic purposes. First the surface of the tooth is roughened in order to accept the bonding. A gel is applied so the resin will adhere to the surface of the tooth. The composite is then placed on the tooth and the bonding agent hardens with intense light. The last step is shaping and polishing to give a lustrous finish.

Dental Implant Crown Placements

A dental implant is an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth as a result of injury, periodontal disease, or any other reason. A dental implant is a metal titanium post that a periodontist or oral surgeon surgically positions into the jaw. While implants are typically more expensive than other methods of tooth replacement, they provide superior benefits. Implants are stronger than natural teeth and generally last 10-20 years. They are also a more favorable approach than bridgework since they do not depend on neighboring teeth for support.

Tooth Extractions

Good oral hygiene should always be practiced since the loss of a single tooth can have major impact upon your oral health and appearance. Although dentists will use every measure to prevent tooth loss, there are still sometimes necessary occasions when a tooth may need to be extracted. Based on the degree of difficulty, we may refer you to a specialized oral surgeon. For a simple extraction, we will first apply a local anesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort. Once the procedure is complete, the area may be closed with one or two stitches. We will then provide you with care instructions to alleviate discomfort and ensure proper healing.

Simple Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the last molars or “third molars” that develop on each side of the jaws. Wisdom teeth usually emerge in the back of the mouth between the ages of 16-20. Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. A wisdom tooth extraction is a relatively routine procedure. The dentist will numb the area in your mouth with a local anesthesia. If the extraction will be a more difficult procedure, we will refer you to an Oral Surgeon who will use IV sedation, so you will be asleep during the procedure.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is made necessary when an untreated cavity reaches all the way to this pulp. Treatment may also be needed when deep restorations or trauma to a tooth cause nerve damage. Once the pulp becomes infected, it can begin to eat away at the surrounding bone. If the pulp is infected, not only is it painful but it will require treatment as it cannot heal on its own. Symptoms that indicate the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets, pain, swelling, pain to biting or pressure, and a bad taste in the mouth.

Dentures and Partials

A full denture or a partial denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available, including partial and complete dentures. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain, while complete dentures are used to completely replace all teeth. Dentures are made to resemble your natural teeth so there should be no noticeable change to your appearance. In fact, dentures may even improve your smile!

Fillings

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. If you have a tooth that requires a filling, the dentist will first remove the decayed tooth material, clean the affected area, and then fill the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. A filling helps prevent further decay by closing off any cracks or spaces where bacteria can enter.

Bleaching

X-rays are a focused beam of x-ray particles passed through bone which produce an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This provides the familiar black and white images doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems and disease. In our office we use digital radiography which allows us to take x-rays using up to 90% less radiation than conventional film x-rays. Using this technology, we are able to take an x-ray of your mouth by using a small sensor which records the image of your teeth and sends it to a computer.

meet-the-team

Our Team

Meet our awesome and friendly staff!

Dr. Sarah Shadix

DDS

Dr. Shadix is a graduate of Biomedical Engineering in 2007 and received her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama in 2010. She has been with Dr. Baker-Curtis since 2012 at Inglewood Family Dentistry as an Associate Dentist on Mondays.
Affiliations:

Nashville Dental Society

Tennessee Dental Association

American Dental Association

Academy of General Dentistry

Brandi Seckinger

RDA & Office Manager

Brandi has been an RDA since 1997 she attended Nashville Tech Community College dental assisting program. Brandi has been with Dr. Baker-Curtis since 1997. When she is not at work she enjoys time with her family, hiking, walking and playing with her two dogs and cats.

Melanie Crosby

Registered Dental Hygienist

Melanie has been with Dr. Baker-Curtis since 2007 at Inglewood Family Dentistry. She is a Registered Dental Hygienist certified in local anesthesia and Nitrous Oxide administration. She has been in dentistry since 1986.

Days: Mondays – Wednesdays

Audrey Hollis

Registered Dental Assistant

Audrey Hollis attended Remington College for dental assisting and graduated in 2013.
Audrey loves her job and loves educating people on their oral health. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her kids and do things outdoors. Audrey was born and raised in the Nashville area and enjoys helping people in the community.

Jennifer McCoy

Registered Dental Assistant

Jennifer has been with Dr. Baker-Curtis since 2011 at Inglewood Family Dentistry. She is the Front Receptionist and a Registered Dental Assistant, and has been in the dental field since 2000.

Naomi Tomlinson

Registered Dental Hygienist

Naomi has been with Dr. Baker-Curtis since 2003 at Inglewood Family Dentistry. She is a Registered Dental Hygienist certified in Local Anesthesia and Expanded Functions. She has been in dentistry since 1999.

Days: Thursdays Only

Eden Holley

Expanded Function Dental Assistant

Eden attended Volunteer State for dental assisting and graduated in 2014. She also received her expanded restorative and prosthetic functions at the dental school at UT Memphis. Eden was raised in Dickson and loves the Nashville area.

Shannon VanBrackle

Registered Dental Hygienist

Shannon graduate from Tennessee State University with her associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene, and she is certified in local anesthesia. Shannon was born and raised in Brentwood and loves Nashville. When she’s not working, she enjoys working out, reading, and spending time with her husband and Labradoodle. She enjoys teaching people about their oral health and creating more smiles!

Halle Wilson

Registered Dental Hygienist

Halle graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2019 with her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, and she is certified in local anesthesia. When she’s not working she enjoys spending time with her husband and their puppy, as well as her family and friends.

Payton Jones

Registered Dental Assistant

Payton graduated from The TN Professional Training Institute in September, 2021 with an RDA Certification, and is currently working towards her degree in Dental Hygiene. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, her dog Willow, and drag racing.

our-policies

Important Information For You

Our policies and programs!

Our Policies

We would like to welcome you to our office and thank you for giving Dr. Karen and her staff the opportunity to serve you. We care about your needs and want to give you the best experience available. Providing quality patient care to you and your family is a commitment that we stand behind.

Please be advised that we do not ‘double book’ appointments in order to ensure wait times are kept to a minimum. Please be on time to your appointment. If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, we kindly request you give us minimum two (2) business day advance notice. If you miss your appointment with no advanced notice, a missed appointment fee may be assessed. This policy allows us to keep costs to a minimum and offer the appointment to others in need of treatment. We appreciate your understanding.

Dental Insurance

Inglewood Family Dentistry happily accepts most insurance plans from Aetna, BCBST, Delta Dental, Cigna, and others. Please call if you have any questions about your provider.

Please note, at this time Inglewood family dentistry is NOT accepting new patients with the following insurance providers: Guardian, Humana, Metlife & United Healthcare.

Finance Options

You can pay for your office visits and any treatments by cash, credit or debit card at the time of treatment. We also accept most major dental insurance plans. To discuss your payment options or insurance coverage, please call 615-228-9066.

For your convenience, we are pleased to accept patient financing through CareCredit.

Referral Programs

We appreciate the referrals of your family, friends, and colleagues. For each referral you send to us, you will receive a $15.00 credit on your account, which can be used towards future treatments. This is our way of thanking you for your generous referral.

Make An Appointment

Please call us at 615-228-9066 to schedule your appointment today!

Inglewood Family Dentistry

Serving Nashville Since 2002

Dentistry and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Meet Dr. Baker-Curtis

Our Service For You

Prophylaxis

Cosmetic Bonding

Dental Implant Crown Placements

Tooth Extractions

Simple Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Root Canal Treatment

Dentures and Partials

Fillings

Bleaching

Our Team

Dr. Sarah Shadix

Brandi Seckinger

Melanie Crosby

Audrey Hollis

Jennifer McCoy

Naomi Tomlinson

Eden Holley

Shannon VanBrackle

Halle Wilson

Payton Jones

Important Information For You

Our Policies

Dental Insurance

Finance Options

Referral Programs

Make An Appointment

OUR PRACTICE