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.

When you bring your child in for the first visit at Dr. Spalitto’s dentist office near St. Louis , you can expect a visit that jumpstarts a lifetime of good dental hygiene. Focusing on dental visits while your child is still young leads to a happy and healthy mouth. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect from this first dental visit:

You Talk About Your Child’s Medical History

Before Dr. Spalitto starts the exam, he will sit down to talk to you about your child’s medical history. The more information you can give about your child’s health, the more effective the visit will be. You should also list any medications that your child takes so Dr. Spalitto knows how to proceed with the exam.

Dr. Spalitto Examines Your Child’s Mouth

The purpose of this dental visit is for Dr. Spalitto to thoroughly examine your child’s mouth to determine the current condition of his or her teeth and gums. This exam gives the dentist information about future growth and development. It also allows Dr. Spalitto to check out the child’s oral hygiene to determine if there is a risk of tooth decay or if there is already evidence of cavities.

Dr. Spalitto Cleans the Teeth

This first visit also gives Dr. Spalitto the opportunity to clean your child’s teeth and gums to remove any plaque or tartar that you might have missed with at-home brushing or flossing. During the cleaning, Dr. Spalitto can also give you some tips about the proper way to care for your child’s teeth and gums at home.

You Learn More About Pediatric Dental Care

Take advantage of this first dental visit by asking Dr. Spalitto any question you have about your child’s developing mouth. You and the dentist can discuss habits like using a pacifier or sucking the thumb. With your discussion about dental treatments, you can figure out exactly what you need to do to help your child grow up with a healthy, beautiful smile.

Dr. Spalitto only uses the best dental resources to offer you the most comprehensive care for your oral health needs. The Solea dental laser is a high-tech dental tool that provides a pain-free way to get the oral care you need. This laser and one of the top dentists in St. Louis can completely change the way you care for your teeth and gums. The Laser allows for patients to have no numbing in 95% procedures that it can used on. This is only the second Laser of its kind in St. Louis. This Laser is Revolutionary for Dentistry and will change the way people feel about Dentistry as a whole. No pain, no anesthesia, no drill and less time in the chair. Keep reading to find out how:

The First of Its Kind

Solea is the first CO2 laser system that has earned FDA approval for both hard and soft tissue ablation. Using this impressive technology, Dr. Spalitto can now offer more precise treatment than ever before. The Solea dental laser is quick and quiet, which helps you get the care you need without dental anxiety affecting the way you feel during your visit. Patients who have had Solea treatments love the way the laser offers quick and efficient treatments.

No Anesthesia and No Blood

The Solea dental laser is so revolutionary because it allows dentists like Dr. Spalitto to perform important procedures without the need for anesthesia. Since the laser does all the cutting, patients do not bleed while they get their laser treatment. This saves you and Dr. Spalitto a lot of time. The laser allows the dentist to be as efficient as possible so you can get the treatment you need and get back to your busy day.

Complete Control

The Solea dental laser allows Dr. Spalitto to perfect his already impressive skills by giving him complete control as he performs various dental procedures. The laser comes with a Computer Aided Preparation (CAP) system that includes a hand piece, a foot pedal, and a touch screen to give Dr. Spalitto complete control over the procedure from start to finish. If you are in need of dental treatment, schedule a visit with Dr. Spalitto to find out how the Solea dental laser can work for you.

This Laser offers patients an entire new experience at the Dentist. Dr. Spalitto knows it is important to have the most cutting edge technology to offer his patients and with the Solea Laser he does it again.

If you feel pain or discomfort in your tooth, it’s important that you visit West County Dental in St. Louis as soon as possible. Dr. Spalitto will examine your teeth, and if he finds tooth decay, he will recommend fillings or even a root canal. If you forgo treatment, your teeth may become so damaged that they require extraction. To avoid unwanted dental issues, you must practice consistent prevention methods.

Though important, daily brushing and flossing are only part of good oral hygiene. Your oral health has a lot to do with what you eat, drink, and chew. The bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and create plaque, which attacks tooth enamel. By restricting your consumption of sugary foods and beverages—including candy and soft drinks—you can reduce the formation of plaque. Even if you have a healthy diet, you must still clean your teeth each day to keep them free of decay. Dr. Spalitto also recommends avoiding the habitual chewing of ice, pen caps, and other objects that can crack teeth or wear down enamel.

Practicing good oral hygiene will help you avoid dental problems for a lifetime. Brushing, flossing, and making regular visits to West County Dental of St. Louis can prevent gum disease and tooth decay. However, good hygiene practices may not mean as much if you don’t eat a mouth-healthy diet. The foods and beverages you consume greatly impact the health of your teeth and gums. To keep your smile strong, keep these diet suggestions in mind:

Focus on Fresh Produce

Dr. Spalitto of West County Dental stresses the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, and other foods that are beneficial for healthy teeth and gums. Many fruits and vegetables are fibrous, which helps with the natural cleaning of oral contaminants. Vegetables typically have low sugar content as well, which limits the ability of bacteria to create plaque. In addition, produce is dense in nutrients, and can provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals that fortify tooth and gum health.

Include Calcium-Rich Products

The bone that supports your teeth is made largely of calcium. This substance helps teeth retain a strong and rigid structure, which is necessary for chewing and eating. Consuming plenty of calcium-rich products—including low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese—can provide ample amounts of calcium to support your oral health.

Restrict Sweet Beverages

Many people know that residual food particles can get stuck between teeth, hastening the development of plaque and gum disease. As a result, they might wash down their meals with a large cup of cola, fruit juice, or sweetened tea in the hopes of dislodging food remnants and lowering the risk of cavities. Unfortunately, sugary beverages only heighten the danger of tooth decay. If you normally drink soda, juice, or another sugar-laden drink, that could be the reason for your dental issues. Instead, make water your beverage of choice. This single change to your diet could dramatically reduce tooth decay and improve your general wellbeing.