Dr. Nastassia Shields, DMD

Dr. Nastassia Shields, DMD is a Preventive Dentistry specialist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive preventative dental care. As a partner in preventive health featured on weprevent.org, she practices at Lake Miona Dental Care in Oxford, FL, and is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine, practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). General Preventive Dentistry serves as your primary partner in lifelong oral health, creating personalized plans to prevent cavities and gum disease, coordinating necessary screenings, and managing your overall wellness to ensure optimal oral and systemic health. She is committed to this approach for all ages and welcomes new patients to begin their proactive health journey. Please call (352) 461-0830 to schedule. Dr. Shields, after years of training and practice in the north, appreciates the sunshine and warm weather of Florida. She truly believes in total-body wellness, striving to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, strength training, and engaging her mind with a good book. Her educational background includes a Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Science in Microbiology from Morehead State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Smith College, and a General Practice Residency from Faxton St. Luke's Hospital. I strive to deliver the highest quality of care by first understanding my patients' needs and desires and then working collaboratively to optimize their oral health. I look forward to serving my patients with empathy, compassion, and an obsessive attention to detail. Dr. Nastassia DMD provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Nastassia DMD is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Nastassia DMD can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Nastassia DMD provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Stained Teeth: While stained teeth may be a cosmetic concern, they can sometimes indicate underlying problems, highlighting the importance of proactive dental care.
• Grinding of Teeth: Protecting your teeth from the damage caused by teeth grinding is vital for preventing costly and painful dental work down the line; talking to your dentist is the first step.
• Mouth Conditions: Maintaining good oral hygiene prevents many mouth conditions, reducing your risk of cavities, gum disease, and other serious health problems.
• Cavity: Cavities are preventable! Practicing good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are key to protecting your teeth from decay and maintaining your overall oral health.
• Tooth Loss: Preventing tooth loss starts with regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene to catch problems early and avoid major issues down the line.
• Sensitive Teeth: Protecting your teeth from sensitivity is key to preserving their long-term health and preventing the need for extensive dental work.
• Bad Taste in Mouth: A bad taste in your mouth can signal a need for improved oral hygiene practices, preventing future cavities and gum disease.
• Tooth Malformation: Malformed teeth can be more prone to chipping, cracking, and decay, making preventive care, including regular cleanings and protective sealants, even more crucial.
• Toothache: Managing toothaches effectively through preventive dental care, including proper brushing and flossing, significantly reduces the risk of future dental issues.
• Gingivitis: Gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums, is a preventable condition; addressing it promptly safeguards your gums and supports overall well-being.
• Tooth Abscess: Preventing tooth decay and gum disease through diligent oral hygiene is crucial, as these conditions can lead to painful and costly tooth abscesses.
• Dental Injury: Managing dental injuries promptly through professional care can reduce the need for extensive restorative work later, protecting your smile and preventing complications.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Nastassia DMD offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Amalgam Dental Fillings: By filling cavities with amalgam, we prevent the spread of decay and maintain the structural integrity of your teeth, safeguarding your long-term oral health.
• Cosmetic Procedure: Cosmetic procedures can enhance your smile's appearance, boosting your confidence and encouraging regular dental checkups.
• Dental Cleaning: A dental cleaning is a simple yet effective preventative measure to keep your mouth healthy, detecting any issues early and avoiding future complications.
• Dental Crown: A dental crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, strength, and protect it from further decay, helping you keep your natural smile for longer.
• Dental Hygiene Services: Take proactive steps toward a healthier smile by scheduling regular dental hygiene services to detect and prevent cavities and gum disease.
• Dental Implant: A dental implant offers a permanent solution to missing teeth, improving your confidence, enhancing your smile, and helping to prevent future dental problems.
• Root Canal: Protecting your overall oral health, a root canal treatment addresses severe tooth decay or injury, relieving pain and preventing the need for an extraction.
• Teeth Whitening: Take proactive steps to improve your smile's appearance and protect your teeth from future damage with professional teeth whitening.
• Tooth-Conserving Dentistry: Tooth-conserving dentistry focuses on preserving your natural teeth through early detection and treatment of dental problems, preventing the need for more extensive procedures later.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Preventive Dentistry Services in Florida.

Dr. Nastassia DMD is dedicated to partnering with Dental Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By scheduling regular checkups and following a personalized oral hygiene plan, a patient successfully maintained a healthy, bright smile, preventing any future staining concerns. This proactive approach provided them with the peace of mind to confidently enjoy their favorite foods and social interactions.
• By addressing teeth grinding concerns early, a patient avoided extensive dental procedures and maintained a healthy, comfortable smile.
• By diligently following a personalized preventive dentistry plan, a family significantly reduced their risk of developing mouth conditions, enjoying a healthier smile and increased peace of mind.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Preventive Dental care with Dr. Nastassia DMD:

How often should I visit the dentist for a check-up and cleaning?

At Dr. Nastassia DMD, we recommend visiting every six months for a check-up and cleaning. This allows us to remove tartar buildup that brushing alone can't, detect cavities early, and screen for gum disease and oral cancer.

Why are routine dental cleanings so important for prevention?

Even with meticulous brushing and flossing, plaque hardens into tartar that only a professional cleaning can remove. This is crucial for preventing cavities and gum disease, which can be linked to other health problems, including heart disease.

How is oral health connected to my overall health?

Your oral health is intrinsically linked to your overall well-being. Chronic gum inflammation (periodontitis) has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and poorly controlled diabetes. Preventive dental care is therefore an essential part of maintaining optimal body health.

What is TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorder is a condition affecting the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. Common symptoms include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, and headaches. Dr. Nastassia DMD can help diagnose the issue and recommend treatments, such as a custom nightguard to prevent damage from grinding.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are the modern gold standard for replacing missing teeth. They are titanium posts that act like artificial tooth roots, which are then topped with a natural-looking crown. This helps prevent bone loss and preserves the health of surrounding teeth.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by worn enamel, receding gums exposing the tooth root, or tiny cracks in the teeth. A proper diagnosis by Dr. Nastassia DMD is needed to determine the cause and recommend effective treatments, like desensitizing toothpaste or in-office procedures.

When should my child first see a dentist?

Dr. Nastassia recommends a child's first dental visit within six months of their first tooth erupting, or by their first birthday. This early visit is crucial for ensuring proper tooth development and establishing a positive dental home for future care.

What are veneers and how are they different from crowns?

Veneers are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of teeth to improve their appearance, while crowns are caps that cover the entire tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength after significant damage or decay.

Lake Miona Dental Care
4232 E County Road 466 # 101
Oxford FL 34484
Phone: (352) 461-0830

Dr. Nastassia Shields, DMD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1093198301

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Preventive Dentistry Services like Dr. Nastassia DMD are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your preventive dentistry about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.