Generations of families trust Vestavia Hills dentists Dr. Diana Wood, Dr. Melanie Spooner and Dr. Lindsey Mills with their oral health.
Your smile is the very first thing that people notice about you - your first impression. A smile, however, is much more than just part of your appearance - unlike your hairstyle or sense of fashion, keeping your smile healthy is also important to your overall health.
Don't underestimate your regular dental cleaning! During your routine dental hygiene visits, our family dentists will perform a thorough exam of your teeth and gums to look for signs of oral cancer, dental decay, oral infection and periodontal (gum) disease.
As part of your complete dental examination, your dentist may recommend digital dental x-rays to look for cavities and to assess the health of the bone and gum support between the teeth. Early detection helps minimize treatment and avoid emergencies.
Ongoing research continues to point to bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infections as linked to complications for patients with diabetes and heart disease, and a factor in strokes and pre-term or low birth weight babies.
…Did You Know?
Periodontal Disease is a progressive disease that begins when harmful oral bacteria cause an infection in the gums. As the infection spreads, gum tissue and eventually bone become damaged. If left untreated, periodontal disease can break down enough bone and gum tissue to cause teeth in the affected area to become loose and eventually fall out.
At your dental checkup, our dentists and dental hygienists will measure the space between your teeth and gums. Combined with diagnostic dental x-rays, this process will help reveal any abnormal ‘pockets’ which are an indication of areas of gum disease in need of treatment.
If periodontal disease is present, we may perform non-surgical gum therapy in our office, or, refer you to a Periodontist (gum specialist) for your care.
During my recent visit to the dentist, my hygienist noticed some swollen tissue in an area of my gums. After discussing this with Dr. Spooner, they informed me that this condition could be caused by one of my blood pressure medications and advised me to follow up with my Doctor to see if changing medicines would be appropriate. This started a series of events that led to the discovery of 3 arterial blockages and triple bypass heart surgery. I just want to thank all of you at the office of Dr. Wood and Spooner for your concern for more than just my teeth but my total healthcare. You helped prevent me from having a heart attack.
Frank Q.
I've been a patient since Dr. Wood opened her practice. In the 35 plus years I've been a patient, including bringing my children when they were little, the entire time waiting for an appointment would total less than 15 minutes! This practice runs like a well-oiled machine. In addition, every employee has always been cheerful, knowledgeable, competent and professional. Over the years, I've seen both Dr. Wood and Dr. Spooner. Each keeps up with the latest in dental medicine and care. They treat every patient with the utmost skill and attentiveness. Frankly, I can't say enough good about this dental practice and highly recommend it to anyone!
Marianne B.
If you are looking for a dentist near you that provides outstanding service and comprehensive care for children and adults, Wood, Spooner & Mills Dentistry would be honored to be your new family dentist!