Cavities and Tooth Decay in Grand Rapids

Why See a Dentist Every 6 Months?

We know how busy your schedule is. Six months can fly by in the blink of an eye, making it easy to put off your teeth cleaning and exam—but a lot can change in six months. The ecosystem of your teeth, gums, and oral tissues can change rapidly. These changes don’t only impact your oral health, they provide clues to your whole-body health. Our team of oral experts helps you take a proactive approach and address issues as early as possible.

Brushing and flossing alone isn’t enough to effectively remove plaque and tartar buildup. If not regularly removed from the teeth and gumline, bacteria will grow. This increases your risk of cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and other oral health concerns. It takes more time to treat these issues than it does to prioritize regular dental care. Feel free to schedule your entire family at the same time!

Common Signs of Cavities and Tooth Decay

If you stay up to date with your exams, you’re far less likely to experience the symptoms below:

• Bad breath
• Toothache
• Constant or shooting pain
• Pain when eating
• Sensitivity to heat
• Sensitivity to cold
• Discomfort when brushing
• Discomfort when flossing
• Red and inflamed gums
• Visible holes in your teeth
• Black or brown discoloration
• Any changes to your oral health

If you aren’t experiencing the symptoms above but it’s been more than 6 months since your last teeth cleaning and exam—it’s time to schedule an appointment!  

Routine Dental Care in Grand Rapids

Addressing the symptoms above begins with a comprehensive dental exam. Our dental hygienist will clean your teeth and meticulously remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline. We’ll also take X-rays so that Dr. Szymanski can assess what is occurring inside your teeth and below the gumline.

Be sure to inform us of any changes in oral health, even if they seem insignificant. For example, if you’re experiencing dry mouth. It might seem inconsequential, but reduced saliva increases your odds of tooth decay and gum disease. We also want to identify the cause of your dry mouth.

Once per year, we perform a VELscope oral cancer screening to detect abnormalities early, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

Treating Cavities and Tooth Decay in Grand Rapids

Once Dr. Szymanski identifies the cause of your pain or sensitivity, she’ll provide you with your options. Your treatment plan will be personalized to your individual needs and whole-body health. To preserve your smile, we restore your teeth with matching porcelain fillings and cutting-edge caps, crowns, veneers, and implants.

We empower you to take an active role in keeping your teeth healthy and your smile bright. During your visit, we’ll discuss how to fortify your teeth against further cavities and decay by providing personalized oral health suggestions. A few small changes to your at-home oral hygiene routine can make a world of difference.