Preventive Dentistry

When it comes to your dental health, preventing problems like cavities from occurring is always better for you than waiting until a toothache develops. Seeing you every six months for dental exams and cleanings allows us to detect problems as soon as possible and treat them right away.

At the office of Michael Smith, DMD, preventive dentistry helps patients in Belleville and surrounding communities achieve healthy smiles and keep them that way. Treating decay and gum disease in their early stages not only spares you discomfort but also helps you avoid the cost of more involved treatment later on.

Why Is Preventive Dentistry Important?

We know from listening to our patients that living with an unhealthy smile and constant dental problems is not really living at all. But the good news is that issues like cavities, gum disease, and broken or failing teeth are all highly preventable.

There’s more at stake than your oral health, however, as numerous scientific studies indicate a strong link between your oral health and overall health and well-being. What happens in your mouth can impact other systems in your body, and chronic gum infections have been linked to serious conditions like heart and lung disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, pregnancy complications, and many others.

Comprehensive Dental Exams

Seeing you every six months for dental checkups allows our dentists to check your teeth for cavities and also look for signs of gum disease. We will also perform a head and neck exams and do an oral cancer screening.

Your appointment is a perfect time to share with us anything that concerns you and to ask any oral health questions you have. This time is devoted to you and you alone, and you have our full and undivided attention.

If we detect cavities, gum disease, or broken or worn teeth, we will customize a treatment plan to restore your smile. We will show you digital x-rays and intraoral photos of your teeth so you can see what we see.

You are part of the decision-making process, and we respect any decisions you make about your oral health. We will never try to upsell you or push a service that you don’t want or need.

Teeth Cleanings Keep Your Gums Healthy

You can’t have a healthy smile if you don’t have healthy gums. Gum disease or gingivitis is widespread, but it is also highly preventable with routine teeth cleanings and consistent oral hygiene on your part.

During your six-month dental cleanings, our hygienists remove all the plaque that has built up on parts of your teeth that you can’t reach with your brush and floss. Using specialized instruments, they also remove hardened plaque called tartar that you can’t get rid of with brushing and flossing.

Your Partner in Achieving Excellent Oral Health

Achieving excellent oral health isn’t difficult, and we offer all the services and support to help you enjoy a problem-free smile. With diligent oral hygiene on your part and preventive dental checkups and cleanings at our Belleville dental office, we can stay a step ahead of most dental problems that slow you down.

Please call us at (618) 235-5141 to schedule your next preventive dental appointment.