General Dentistry St. Louis
General dentistry services are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. At Smile Now STL, we’re committed to offering general dentistry services you can count on. At our modern, comfortable dental office, you can receive services such as:
- Dental cleanings
- Dental examinations
- X-rays
- Diagnosis of dental problems and conditions
- Cavity fillings
Patients come to our office because they know our dental professionals are committed to ensuring they receive good dental care. Our patient care practices help support good patient outcomes.
Dental Cleaning
Preventative services like dental cleanings are the most important reason to visit the dentist on a regular basis. We recommend that patients visit the dentist for regular dental cleanings every six months. Most dental insurance will cover this kind of schedule if you’re insured.
Keeping up with this regimen helps keep your teeth healthy and strong. During your dental cleaning procedure, we’ll use a dental tool called a “scaler” and an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and tartar from your tooth enamel. We’ll also use mirrors to see the parts of your teeth that are hidden from view, and we’ll polish your tooth enamel to stop plaque and tartar from sticking so easily to your teeth.
When the cleaning is over, we may give you a quick tutorial on brushing and floss your teeth to ensure you have the information you need to maintain a good oral hygiene routine at home. Even if you clean your teeth twice daily, you should still visit the dentist regularly for dental cleanings.
Dental Examinations
Dental examinations are another part of preventative maintenance to help keep your teeth healthy and strong. During the dental examination, your dentist will examine your tooth enamel. They’ll also look over any dental X-rays to make determinations about what’s happening inside the gums.
During these dental examinations, your dentist will provide a diagnosis of conditions like gum disease, cavities, and more. Getting regular dental examinations can help catch problems in their early stages. Catching problems early is important for maintaining good dental health. If your dentist identifies a problem with your teeth, they’ll make a treatment plan and give you the next steps.
At the end of the dental examination, you’ll have an opportunity to ask your dentist questions. We encourage you to make good use of this time, as maintaining open lines of communication with your dentist will help you take care of your teeth in the future.
Cavity Fillings
Cavities typically happen because of poor dental hygiene habits, bacteria in the mouth, and a diet high in sugar. Cavities are a common problem that children experience, but they can happen to anyone at any time. Some people have a genetic tendency to get more cavities than others. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits, like brushing and flossing daily, is important to help protect your teeth from cavities.
If you do get a cavity, your dentist in St. Louis, MO, can help. At Smile Now STL, we offer diagnosis of cavities and cavity fillings for patients to help them maintain healthy teeth and gums. There are two types of cavity fillings:
- Amalgam. Amalgam fillings are the “silver fillings” that have been used in teeth for decades.
- Composite fillings. Composite fillings are the tooth-colored fillings that have become popular because they’re less noticeable.
During the cavity filling procedure, we’ll clean the cavity, remove decayed tooth enamel, and fill the remaining hole with the filling you choose.
Dental X-Rays
X-rays are a tool that dentists use to see inside the gums and identify problems that are happening beneath the gum surface. Dental X-rays can reveal problems like cavities, gum disease, bone loss, and problems with wisdom teeth that have yet to erupt from the gums. Many dentists will not take X-rays every time their patients visit but will take X-rays at least once annually to stay on top of dental problems.
Dental X-rays are a very useful tool because they provide a clear, accurate picture of what’s happening in places the dentist cannot see.
Are Dental X-rays Safe?
X-rays are a tool that dentists use to see inside the gums and identify problems that are happening beneath the gum surface. Dental X-rays can reveal problems like cavities, gum disease, bone loss, and problems with wisdom teeth that have yet to erupt from the gums. Many dentists will not take X-rays every time their patients visit but will take X-rays at least once annually to stay on top of dental problems.
Dental X-rays are a very useful tool because they provide a clear, accurate picture of what’s happening in places the dentist cannot see.
Are Dental X-rays Safe?
Dental X-rays release a small amount of radiation that is comparable to the dose of radiation you may experience from your smartphone. Dental X-rays are considered safe, although it is important to avoid very large doses of radiation. For this reason, your dentist at Smile Now STL will limit the use of dental x-rays.
Benefits of Routine Dental Cleanings
It’s important to get routine dental cleanings to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Below are the reasons that you should get your teeth cleaned on a regular basis:
- Help maintain clean, healthy teeth and gums
- Catch dental problems in the early stages
- Get tips from your dentist to improve your oral hygiene routine
Why Choose Smile Now STL
At Smile Now STL, we’re committed to our patients and providing good patient care. We’re proud to be St. Louis’s choice for general dentistry, like dental exams, dental cleanings, cavity fillings, and dental x-rays. Patients like to come to Smile Now STL because of our modern dental facilities, our excellent patient care routines, and our professional, considerate staff.
When was the last time you visited the dentist? If it’s been more than six months since you received general dentistry services in St. Louis, MO, it’s time to make an appointment. Call today to make an appointment with our dental professionals.
