At the office of Smith Tano Dental Group, we believe the best way to protect your smile is to catch problems early and educate patients about long-term oral health. Regular oral exams give our team a chance to monitor changes, address minor issues before they escalate, and tailor preventive care to each person's needs. During these visits we combine careful clinical observation with up-to-date diagnostic tools so you leave with a clear understanding of your oral health and the steps to keep it strong.
Your first oral exam with us sets the foundation for informed, personalized care. We begin by discussing your medical history, medications, dental concerns, and any symptoms you may have noticed. That conversation helps us identify risk factors—such as a history of gum disease, medication-induced dry mouth, or habits like grinding—that can influence both prevention and treatment planning.
Next comes a hands-on clinical assessment. We inspect teeth, gums, tongue, and the supporting oral tissues looking for early signs of decay, inflammation, or unusual lesions. We also evaluate your bite and jaw function to detect strain or dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints, and we screen for indications of tooth wear that could point to bruxism or other habits.
When appropriate, we supplement the visual exam with diagnostic imaging to reveal what cannot be seen by eye. These images, combined with clinical findings, help us form a comprehensive picture of your oral health and recommend practical next steps. After the exam, we’ll walk you through your results and explain any suggested preventive measures or treatments in clear, straightforward terms.
Oral health is deeply connected to overall health. During an exam we not only look for cavities and gum disease, but we also note signs that could reflect systemic concerns—such as persistent oral lesions, unexplained bleeding, or chronic dry mouth. These findings can sometimes be early indicators of medical conditions that would benefit from further evaluation by a physician.
Research continues to show links between poor oral health and broader health issues. Chronic inflammation in the mouth can exacerbate systemic inflammation, which plays a role in conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. By keeping the oral environment healthy through regular exams and cleanings, we help reduce the bacterial burden that may contribute to these systemic effects.
Conversely, medications and systemic illnesses can manifest in the mouth, so observing oral changes gives clinicians valuable context for a patient’s overall health. When we see patterns that suggest an underlying medical concern, we communicate our observations and suggest appropriate next steps so you can pursue timely evaluation and care.
Because of these connections, oral exams are an important part of preventive healthcare for people of all ages. Early detection and consistent monitoring allow for simple, effective interventions that preserve both oral and general health.
Routine checkups are more than a quick look around the mouth — they are an opportunity to maintain stability and prevent disease. During a typical visit, a dental hygienist or clinician will remove plaque and tartar, polish teeth, and review your home-care routines. These visits also give us a chance to reinforce effective brushing and flossing techniques and recommend tools or products tailored to your needs.
Regular cleanings reduce the bacterial load that contributes to cavities and periodontal disease. Even patients with excellent daily habits benefit from professional care because instruments and techniques used by clinicians reach areas that are hard to access at home. This thorough maintenance helps keep small problems from becoming more complex treatments later on.
We encourage families to establish consistent checkups so children learn healthy habits and adults can maintain oral health across life stages. For growing patients we monitor dental and jaw development and note whether orthodontic assessment may be advisable. For adults, routine visits serve as checkpoints for restorative work, wear patterns, and risk factors related to medical history or medications.
Every visit also gives patients a chance to ask questions about prevention, cosmetic concerns, or changes they’ve observed. Our priority is to create a collaborative plan that matches each patient’s health goals and schedule, making long-term oral wellness achievable and sustainable.
While visual inspection is essential, diagnostic images reveal the deeper structures of the teeth, roots, bone, and surrounding facial anatomy. Digital radiography provides clear, detailed images quickly and with minimal radiation exposure, allowing clinicians to detect cavities between teeth, infections at the root tips, and early bone changes associated with periodontal disease.
Digital imaging brings practical advantages for both patients and clinicians. Images appear immediately on a monitor so we can review them together, point out areas of concern, and use the visuals to explain treatment needs. Since digital files are easily stored and shared, they also support coordinated care when consulting with specialists or tracking changes over time.
Beyond routine x-rays, three-dimensional imaging such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) gives a volumetric view that can be invaluable for complex cases—implant planning, surgical assessments, or evaluation of anatomical structures. We recommend advanced imaging only when it adds clear diagnostic value to a patient’s care plan.
Different imaging techniques serve different diagnostic purposes. Small periapical films show the full length of individual teeth and the surrounding bone, which helps detect root infections or monitor healing after treatment. Bitewing films focus on the crowns of the back teeth and are particularly useful for spotting early decay between teeth.
Full-mouth series combine bitewing and periapical views to provide a comprehensive overview of tooth and bone health, while panoramic films offer a broad two-dimensional view of the entire dental arch, helpful for tracking development, detecting impacted teeth, and evaluating jaw integrity. Cephalometric images provide profile views used frequently in orthodontic planning to assess skeletal relationships.
Periapical x-ray - Shows the complete tooth from crown to root and the surrounding bone.
Bitewing x-ray - Captures crowns of adjacent teeth to reveal interproximal decay and restorations.
Full mouth series - A collection of images providing a detailed view of all teeth and adjacent bone.
Panoramic film (panorex) - A wide, two-dimensional image showing all the teeth and jaw structure.
Cephalometric film - A profile view used primarily in orthodontic assessment and planning.
When three-dimensional detail is required, CBCT can reveal relationships and anatomy that are not visible on traditional films. We reserve advanced imaging for cases where it will meaningfully improve diagnosis, planning, or safety—such as implant placement or complex surgical procedures.
By combining careful clinical exams, routine professional cleanings, and targeted imaging, we maintain a proactive approach to oral health that emphasizes prevention and clear communication. If you have questions about what to expect during an oral exam or whether a particular imaging study is appropriate for you, please contact us to learn more.
Yes. We always welcome new patients and their families for care. Feel free to give us a call or reach out to us online to schedule a first visit or for any additional information on our office. We look forward to hearing from you!
Routine dental checkups and professional cleanings help ensure your smile remains in tip-top condition and that any developing problems receive the prompt care they require. While it's a good idea to schedule a checkup and cleaning twice a year, longer or shorter intervals between routine visits depend on your specific needs.
We understand that life gets complicated and busy, and for various reasons, you haven't been able to get to the dentist for care. Don't worry; it's always a good time to get back in touch with the health of your smile.
At Smith Tano Dental Group, we offer skilled and compassionate care to address a wide range of dental needs. Whether you need a simple checkup and cleaning, restorations, periodontal treatment, root canal therapy, or the replacement of missing teeth to get your smile back into shape, we provide precise, gentle, stress-free treatment to give you a smile that is as beautiful as it is healthy.
Give us a call today; we're happy to address all your questions and concerns about getting your smile back in tip-top condition.
For pregnant women, practicing good oral care and seeing the dentist to maintain a healthy smile is considered an important component of prenatal care. Researchers have found that pregnancy not only increases the risk of oral health problems, but these problems may also lead to pregnancy complications. At the office of Smith Tano Dental Group, we provide the skilled and compassionate care required to help expectant mothers keep their teeth and gums in tip-top condition. While certain procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, we provide the necessary care and take all the necessary precautions required.
Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, teeth that have been affected by a range of imperfections or that have sustained damage from trauma or dental decay can be restored to produce a naturally beautiful looking and functional smile.
As skilled and experienced providers of care, our office can effectively improve and enhance the appearance of teeth that are stained, discolored, misshapen, chipped, fractured, gapped, crowded, or broken down due to dental decay. At the office of Smith Tano Dental Group, we offer a comprehensive selection of the leading-edge cosmetic solutions from teeth whitening procedures, dental bonding, tooth-colored fillings, and veneers, to prosthetic solutions and dental implants to rebuild complete and beautiful smiles.
Contact our office to learn more about the many ways we can help you create the smile you've always wanted.
If you're visiting Smith Tano Dental Group for the first time, it is helpful that you contact your former dental office and have your records sent over to us. Make note of any problems you may have so that you can discuss them with your dentist.
To provide efficient service, we ask you to please bring your insurance card, an ID, plus any referral slips or diagnostic records given to you by another office. If you are taking medications, please note or make a list of what they are as you will need to provide that information.
Yes! We assure you that both you and your family will be in good hands at the office of Smith Tano Dental Group.
We do our best to make sure every patient who steps into our office for care is put at ease. We provide precise and gentle care and our skilled, compassionate team strives to make every visit stress-free. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands and that we are doing all we can to ensure your comfort throughout every procedure. While we always take the time to explain every step in care, feel free to ask us any questions about local anesthesia and methods of dental sedation.
At the office of Smith Tano Dental Group, we strive to provide the highest quality of care to address all your dental needs. Once we've had the opportunity to examine your smile, we can give you a clear picture of any dental issues that are present, along with a quote for what the cost of treatment will be. The cost of care all depends upon the extent and complexity of issues affecting the health or appearance of your smile and the types of procedures that are required. Our goal is to make dental care more affordable so that you can begin treatment without any additional stress or delay.
Keep in mind that with routine dental checkups and periodic care, we can help prevent dental disease while treating emerging problems early in their onset to avoid larger issues and more expensive care down the road.
Routine dental checkups and preventive care procedures may be covered under your dental insurance plan requiring little to no out-of-pocket expense. We invite you to check our financial information page or give us a call to find out if our office participates with your plan, and if you have any other questions about dental insurance, dental savings plans, forms of payment, or financing options. We welcome your inquiries and do our best to help you begin care without additional stress or delay.
If you've lost a tooth due to injury, decay, gum disease, or any other reason, we recommend dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants come the closest to replicating the look, feel, and function of your natural teeth.
Absolutely! Both flossing and brushing regularly are equally important to maintain your oral health. While brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, flossing cleans in between them. Flossing is important to prevent plaque buildup, which can cause gums to recede and lead to periodontal disease.
Even if you have dentures, it is still necessary to see a dentist! Dental checkups help ensure that your dentures are comfortable, fitting properly, and that there are no other problems. Beyond assessing your dentures, our dentist will also perform a thorough examination of the jawbone, and surrounding soft tissues both inside the mouth, the face, and neck, to confirm that you remain in good oral health.
Emergency dental care is a service we hope you'll never need- but if you do, the office of Smith Tano Dental Group is here for you!
Whether you're suffering from a chipped tooth, toothache, or any problem affecting your oral health, you can be sure to get the prompt attention and compassionate care you require at our office. Patient care and comfort are our top priorities, and we offer a comprehensive range of the most advanced services to address a broad spectrum of dental needs.
While the pain of a toothache is one of the more common reasons that patients come to our office for emergency dental care, we also promptly treat emergencies that are not necessarily painful like crowns that have been dislodged and broken dentures that leave embarrassing gaps in one's smile.
You can rest assured that your oral health is in the best of hands at our office. We'll quickly determine exactly what's wrong, explain your treatment options, and then provide the precise and gentle care you require to alleviate your discomfort and get you back on the path to oral health and wellness.
Your health and comfort are our top priorities. If your dental emergency is painful, if it affects the appearance of your smile, or if you suspect that an infection is present, our office will make every effort to see you as soon as possible for care.
At the office of Smith Tano Dental Group, we welcome patients of all ages for care and offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help every member of your family maintain a beautiful and healthy smile. Whether you or a loved one needs a routine checkup and cleaning, fillings, same-day crowns, a cosmetic smile makeover, the replacement of missing teeth or require the services of a skilled and compassionate emergency dentist, you can rely on our office for the highest quality care.
For more information on our office and the many services we provide, or to schedule an appointment for care, give us a call today.
