General Dentistry
You may not give it much thought, but the state of your oral health is closely tied to your quality of life and general well-being. Poor oral health weighs you down every day, but a healthy, confident smile can improve your entire outlook on life.
At Michael Smith DMD, LLC, we offer comprehensive general dentistry for patients of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, in a warm and welcoming environment. It isn’t difficult to achieve and maintain a healthy smile, and with the help of our experienced dentists and fantastic dental team, we can make it a reality for you.
General Dentistry for a Healthier Smile
Whether you have a healthy smile and want to maintain it, or you need treatment for issues like cavities, gum disease, broken teeth, or infected teeth, we can help you. General dentistry at our Belleville dental office includes:
- Dental exams
- Teeth cleanings
- Dental x-rays
- Tooth fillings
- Gum disease treatment
- Crowns and bridges
- Dentures and partials
- Emergency dentistry
- Root canals
- Tooth extractions
Of all these services, dental exams and teeth cleanings at the office of Michael Smith DMD, LLC every six months are the most critical. Without prompt treatment, problems like cavities and gum disease can lead to toothaches, missed time from work, and additional dental costs.
It's far easier and better for your oral health if we see you every six months for exams and cleanings. These appointments allow us to find and treat these problems in their early stages and helps you maintain a worry-free smile.
We Tailor Your Treatment Just for You
If Dr. Smith, Dr. Fazili, or Dr. Ridenhour finds an issue during a routine appointment, they will work with you to create a personalized plan for treatment to resolve it. You may have one issue like a cavity or broken tooth we need to address, or you may have multiple dental problems that have crept up on you over time.
Everyone’s dental needs are unique, and we know that factors like work, family life, and budget all play a part in the decisions you make about treatment. Because they take the time to get to know you and your priorities, our experienced dentists can provide treatment that makes the most sense for you.
You can be confident that we will provide you with honest information and help you explore all your treatment options. With technology like digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, we can show you any problem we find, and you can see for yourself why we recommend a specific procedure.
We will work together to plan your treatment, so that before we begin, you will have a clear understanding of what to expect, including an estimate for your out-of-pocket expenses.
Schedule Your Next Dental Exam
There is truly nothing more rewarding for us than to see the joy and confidence our patients experience when they leave our office with a healthier, happier smile. At the Belleville, IL dental office of Michael Smith DMD, LLC, we offer everything you need to help you achieve your best smile.
If you are due for your next dental exam, please call us at (618) 235-5141so we can schedule a convenient appointment to get started.
The dental team has taken all the necessary measures to keep everyone safe due to the COVID pandemic
Everything was great, as usual. I'm always pleased when appointments are on time and the dental team has taken all the necessary measures to keep everyone safe due to the COVID pandemic. The staff is always courteous as well.
- Darcie R.
Frequently Asked Questions
Achieving and maintaining excellent oral health isn’t difficult, and we are here to help you. Our dental team recommends that you bring your family in for dental exams and cleanings every six months. Even if your teeth are feeling fine and aren’t experiencing any noticeable problems, you still need to stay current with these appointments.
It’s always better for your oral health if we find cavities and gum disease when they first start developing. Checkups at the office of Michael Smith, DMD allow us to detect and treat these problems in their earliest stages before they cause discomfort and harm your oral health.
For example, say you have a small cavity that Dr. Smith, Dr. Fazili, or Dr. Ridenhour finds during your routine checkup. We’ll schedule an appointment to place a simple tooth filling and have you on your way with a healthier smile.
But imagine that you’ve missed several checkups and don’t come in until you have a toothache. This means that decay has already caused significant damage to the tooth. Now, instead of a simple filling, we may need to perform a root canal or remove the tooth if it's unsalvageable.
Our Belleville dentists stress the importance of preventive dentistry because it can spare you unnecessary pain and the cost of more complex dental treatment. Dental exams and cleanings every six months—or as recommended—are the easiest and most affordable ways to ensure that your family’s smiles stay healthy. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Michael T. Smith
Dr. Michael Smith was raised in New Melle, a small town in Missouri. He attended St. Louis University High School, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and finally SIU School ...
Dr. Snowber Fazili
Dr. Nicholas Swanson
Dr. Nicholas Swanson was raised in Mascoutah, Illinois, and remained in the local area to attend SIUE for college. He first entered the dental field in 2019 as an assistant to Dr. Smith, and later graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in 2024.
Initially, he joined the Air National Guard right after high school in 2013, but he is currently serving as a Captain in the Dental Corps of the Illinois Army National Guard, stationed at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.
In his personal time, Dr. Swanson ...
General Dentistry Technology
Electric Handpieces
Our goal is to ensure that your experiences with us are pleasant and stress-free. There are several ways we do this, and one that our patients really appreciate is the use of electric handpieces.
Instead of air-driven handpieces that produce a high-pitched sound and uncomfortable vibrations, Dr. Smith has invested in electric handpieces. Since they’re not air-driven, they are quieter, and electric handpieces are much more powerful because they’re driven by a motor.
Our dentists and hygienists remove decay and plaque more efficiently, streamlining your appointments, and getting you out of the dental chair faster. Electric handpieces also provide a level of precision that is not possible to achieve with air-driven tools.
Intraoral Camera
Have you ever sat in the chair during a dental exam feeling a little frustrated because you couldn't see what your dentist was looking at?
Today we use intraoral cameras that produce images we can share with you on your chairside monitor. An intraoral camera is a small handheld instrument that illuminates the inside of your mouth and captures images that appear instantly on your chairside monitor. You can follow along with your dentist and see in great detail everything they see during a visual examination.
With intraoral cameras, we can point out problems and explain what treatment you may need and how it will benefit your long-term oral health. We also add the images to your patient history so we can refer to them and send them to your insurance company or specialists as needed.