When you visit Dr. Spalitto, your dentist in St. Louis , he will screen you for an array of complications, clean your teeth, and evaluate your need for dental restorations like root canals or tooth extractions. It is important, however, to understand how to brush your teeth properly outside of the dentist’s office. Watch this video for an overview of how to brush your teeth.

Brushing your teeth is the cornerstone of dental hygiene, and yet many people are misinformed about the proper techniques. Whether you use a power brush or a manual brush, you should brush your teeth twice each day. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and gently brush away from the gums on each section of your teeth. You should spend 30 seconds on each of the 4 quadrants of your mouth.

There are a few different ways you can go about treating missing teeth. Many individuals seek dental implants in St. Louis from a dentist such as Dr. Spalitto of West County Dental, while others prefer to go with the more traditional route of conventional dentures. While each of these forms of treatment has its own benefits and drawbacks, some people may be interested in a combination of the two—implant-supported dentures. Keep reading if you are interested in learning more about dental implants for denture patients.

Dentures
In the past, a set of dentures was the go-to treatment for people who had missing teeth. This treatment allows individuals to go from having zero teeth to having a full set of prosthetics in a short amount of time. With the proper fit and adhesive, those who wear dentures can enjoy a successful treatment that improves their appearance and restores function. This treatment plan does come with drawbacks, however. Proper fit and adhesive can help, but they are not always so easy to achieve. Dentures may become ill fitting over time, and it may be a while before the wearer realizes that this has occurred. They may also slip around or fall out of your mouth without the proper adhesive.

Implants
Dental implants can effectively revitalize your teeth, gums, jaw, and even facial appearance. During this treatment, your dentist will place an implant in your jawbone with a post that protrudes through your gums. You will then receive a cap or dental crown to place on the end of the post. This procedure provides patients with effective prosthetic teeth that do not move around or lose their fit.

Implant-Supported Dentures
Those who cannot help but seek the best of both worlds may be interested in implant-supported dentures. Using just a few implants, your dentist can offer you a permanent denture that will stay perfectly still in your mouth. This means that you will not have trouble chewing your food or having a conversation with your friends and family. Your dentist will typically place the implants in the front of your jawbone, where there tends to be more mass.

If you have a fear or aversion of visiting the dentist, then dental sedation may be perfect for you. With sedation dentistry, medication is administered that will relax you and relieve you of your anxiety during the procedure. If you’re in need of a root canal, dental implant, dental crowns, or dental veneers, look into sedation dentistry in St. Louis . Read on to learn more, then contact Dr. Spalitto at West County Dental if you have additional questions about sedation dentistry.

Dental Sedation Will Relax You
Dental sedation will calm your fears and eliminate the anxiety that you may feel when visiting your dentist. If you tend to be anxious or on edge during dental procedures, dental sedation may be necessary to ensure that the dentist can safely perform the procedure without worrying that you will move or jerk away suddenly. Sleep dentistry can give you a sense of comfort and calm that you may not have experienced in other visits to the dentist. This can make your visits much less scary and overwhelming, and even encourage you to visit your dentist more often.

Dental Procedures Will Seem Faster and Easier
Sedation dentistry is often called sleep dentistry. This is due to the fact that although you do not actually fall asleep during the procedure, you do feel very calm and relaxed. This sleepy feeling you will experience can make a long dental procedure seem much faster and easier than it would if you were not sedated. The medication that your dentist administers will help you achieve a feeling similar to a trance, which may even cause you to forget most parts of your dental surgery.

Sedation Dentistry Encourages Dental Visits
Many people avoid regular visits to their family dentist because they assume they will experience pain and discomfort. A sedation dentist, such as Dr. Spalitto, can help you overcome this dental fear, as you become accustomed to the fact that your dental procedures will be performed while you are relaxed and calm. This will encourage you to visit your dentist more frequently, resulting in improved oral hygiene and dental health.

Dental sealants are offered by many dental offices, and can help prevent cavities and tooth decay in children. These sealants are created out of a non-toxic resin that is applied to the teeth which are the most susceptible to tooth decay. If you want to protect your children from cavities, and save yourself from paying for costly teeth fillings later on, visit a family dentist in St. Louis that offers dental sealants, such as West County Dental!

Watch this video from the American Dental Association to learn more about dental sealants and the benefits that they can provide to your children. The next time your children visit their family dentist for a dental exam or dental cleaning, ask for dental sealants as well. Dr. Spalitto at West County Dental can answer any questions you have about dental sealants or any other issue related to your family’s oral hygiene.

Visiting your dentist regularly is key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Regular dental exams and dental cleanings can help you avoid dangerous oral problems, such as periodontal disease, and will help you maintain good health and a confident smile.

During your first dental visit, Dr. Spalitto will first examine your mouth and gums for signs of tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. He may also check your jaw, face, and neck for signs of oral cancer or illness. Next, he will take dental X-rays to check the condition and health of your teeth and bones. Your dentist will also check your biting, chewing, and swallowing patterns to make sure that there are no problems.

A member of his team will perform your dental cleaning. She will remove the tartar and plaque from your teeth that can lead to periodontal disease. She will also clean your teeth with toothpaste, and then polish them to remove stains. If a serious problem has been identified, such as a cavity, missing crown, or a tooth that needs to be extracted, she will let you know. Dr. Spalitto is known for being able to do same day dental implants and same day crowns.

The Solea laser is a dental tool that is used in more advanced dental offices in St. Louis in place of a drill. The Solea laser can be used in the majority of dental procedures, including filling cavities. The carbon dioxide laser provides many unique benefits to both dentists and patients. Read on to learn more about the Solea laser, and then visit Dr. Spalitto and his team at West County Dental to see the laser in action.

Virtually Eliminates the Need for Anesthetics
The Solea laser has a numbing effect that eliminates the need for dental anesthetics or sedation dentistry. The majority of patients who have been treated with the Solea laser have not undergone anesthesia, and have reported no pain resulting from their dental procedures. A dental laser that reduces the need for anesthetics can help more people experience less numbness and feeling like they have a fat lip.

Procedures are Less Invasive and More Precise
The Solea laser seals your blood vessels and nerve endings as it works, meaning that the recovery process is basically instantaneous, causing no bleeding and requiring no stitches. This means that your healing time is significantly reduced, and you are less susceptible to infection. Additionally, the fact that the laser is silent and vibration-free can help patients feel calmer and more at ease at the dentist. The laser also cuts tissue more precisely and cleanly than any other dental laser in use.

You Spend Less Time at the Dentist Office
With the Solea laser, Dr. Spalitto is able to complete procedures in much less time than using traditional dentistry methods. The laser is so precise and easy to operate that he may be able to do multiple procedures in one visit! This will save you the time and stress of having to make multiple visits to the dentist office.

A lifetime of good oral health starts in childhood. Dr. Pete Spalitto understands this, which is why he works hard to create a dentist office near St. Louis that caters to children and their unique needs. Use the following tips to prepare your child for his or her next dental visit:

Talk Positively About the Dentist

The things you say have a big impact on your children. If you want them to feel positive about going to the dentist, you have to talk positively about going to the dentist. While you do not want to give away too much information about what happens at the dentist, you should make an effort to talk about the dental visit positively. Explain to your children how Dr. Spalitto can help them keep their teeth healthy and their smiles attractive.

Lead by Example

Your actions also play heavily on your children and their opinions. If you want your kids to care about their oral health, you have to do the same. Make brushing and flossing a family activity so your kids get excited about taking care of their teeth and gums. You should also visit the dentist regularly to show the children that they have nothing to worry about when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile.

Offer Incentives for Good Dental Visits

You can get your children excited about going to the dentist by offering them an incentive for every good report care they get from Dr. Spalitto. Whether you have a sticker book that you add to or bring the kids to the store for a new toy, these incentives help you encourage your children to focus on their oral care. If he finds a cavity during a visit he’ll make sure to use laser dentistry to treat it so no drill no pain for your child!

Bring Your Kids to Meet the Dentist

If you feel like your children are a little apprehensive about going to the dentist, you might want to set up a consultation with Dr. Spalitto. When they see how nice and welcoming the dentist is, it will make them feel much better about their own visit.

Dr. Spalitto uses the newest technology to offer all of his patients the best care. Laser dentistry helps this St. Louis dentist to make dental visits more effective and more comfortable and more effective than ever before. Keep reading to learn more about laser dentistry and how it can benefit you:

It Does Not Require Anesthesia

When Dr. Spalitto uses laser dentistry, he does not need to use anesthesia to prepare the patient for the procedure. Without the need for anesthesia, patients can drive themselves to and from their visits. They also do not have to take any extra time off of work to get the treatment that they need.

It Causes Very Little Bleeding

A lot of people feel apprehensive about getting dental treatments because they do not like the sight or the smell of blood. By using laser dentistry, Dr. Spalitto can significantly minimize the amount of blood that dental procedures cause. In fact, the Solea laser causes almost no bleeding.

It Has Faster Recovery Time

Since laser dentistry does not make a large incision, patients heal much faster than they did with traditional dental procedures. The procedures take much less time to perform and you can get back to feeling like yourself very shortly after the treatment is complete. If you need dental work but you do not want to wait through lengthy procedures or healing times, you should talk to Dr. Spalitto about laser dentistry and how it can help you.

It Provides Greater Precision

When using laser dentistry, Dr. Spalitto can have even more precision during treatments than ever before. This means that patients can enjoy better results that get them much closer to enjoying optimal oral health. Dr. Spalitto can use laser dentistry to reshape soft tissue, remove tumors, and do biopsies on tissues. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Spalitto to learn more about laser dentistry and how it can help you improve the look and feel of your smile.

Dr. Spalitto works hard to offer his patients the kind of services they need to maintain clean and healthy smiles. Keep reading to learn more about his IV sedation dentistry in St. Louis and how it can help you get best your dental fears to get the treatment you need:

If you opt for IV sedation, you will get a sedative injected directly into the vein to help you relax during your visit. The sedative does not keep you from communicating, but it does help you feel calm enough to get the procedures that will help you maintain your oral health.

The sedation helps you forget what happens during the visit. If you want to get IV sedation during your next visit, you should set up a consultation with Dr. Spalitto so you can talk about what to expect from the procedure. If dental fear or anxiety is keeping you from getting important dental treatments, IV sedation can help.

Dr. Spalitto and the rest of the team at our dentist office near St. Louis want to help you prevent oral health issues before they develop so you can maintain healthy teeth and gums. Keep reading to learn more about our preventative dentistry services and what they can do for you:

Regular dental exams are essential for preventing issues like tooth decay and periodontal disease. Dr. Spalitto and the team also thoroughly clean the mouth to get rid of plaque and tarter before they can lead to major issues in the mouth. The dentist will also examine your teeth and your gums to make sure there are no signs of any problems.

You will also get dental X-rays when you visit the dentist so Dr. Spalitto can take a closer look to see if there are any major problems in the mouth. With preventative tools like dental sealants and fluoride, our team is here to help you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible so you can always maintain a bright, beautiful smile.