Children's Smile Center

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Children's Smile Center

Children's Smile Center- Aurora

(417) 678-1174 | Get Directions

Children's Smile Center- Branson West

(417) 582-5439 | Get Directions

Children's Smile Center- Ozark

(417) 582-5439 | Get Directions

Children's Smile Center > Services > General Dentistry

Routine visits, exams and tooth maintenance is at the heart of excellent general dental health care.

We Are Your Partner In Good Dental Health Care

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General Dentistry

A healthy smile is essential for overall wellness, and your teeth and gums require regular maintenance to ensure they remain comfortable and disease-free.

We offer comprehensive general dentistry to our patients to help them enjoy optimal oral health and a smile that functions comfortably.

Preventive Dentistry

We strive to prevent dental conditions whenever possible. With regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays, we can often detect dental needs in their earliest stages before they pose a severe risk to your smile.

During a comprehensive dental exam, we evaluate the health of each tooth and look for signs of periodontal (gum) disease. We will let you know if we find anything that requires treatment.
Our dental cleanings help keep your teeth and your gums healthy and give you a smooth, fresh smile. Our hygienist removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and finishes with a polishing, so your teeth look and feel completely clean.
Dental x-rays help us diagnose conditions we cannot see with a visual exam alone. These include cavities, infections, bone loss, and certain cysts and tumors.

We typically recommend a dental exam and cleaning every six months unless you have a dental condition like gum disease that may require more frequent visits.

Restorative Dentistry

Whether you require a dental filling, crown, or dental bonding, we can repair your teeth to protect them and extend comfortable function.

Fillings — Fillings are used to repair a tooth after removing decay.
Crowns — Crowns protect and stabilize a cracked or deeply decayed tooth.
Bonding — Bonding fills in small chips and narrows gaps between teeth for cosmetic purposes or to prevent stains or decay.

When providing restorative dentistry, we ensure the results are comfortable and long-lasting.

Contact Us to Schedule a Dental Appointment

Give us a call to schedule your next dental appointment. We look forward to welcoming you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to keep my smile healthy?

Many people are more health conscious than ever and realize the value of maintaining good health instead of just waiting to treat problems as they arise. General dentistry provides most of the services that patients of all ages require to keep their teeth and gums free from disease.

For optimum oral health, we recommend the following steps:

Brush Your Teeth at Least Twice Daily

Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, brush your teeth for two full minutes using a small circular motion with the bristles gently angled toward your gumline. Using excessive force to brush will not clean your teeth more effectively and may damage delicate gum tissue.

Floss at Least Once Daily

Using two to three feet of floss, floss up and down each side of your teeth. Do not force the floss any further than it will comfortably go. Think of your floss as a squeegee that removes plaque. Don’t miss flossing behind your back teeth.

Dental Exams, Cleanings, and X-Rays

Every patient is different. Follow your dentist’s recommended recall schedule to maintain healthy teeth and gums. For most patients, this will require a visit every six months. However, for patients who suffer from gum disease, have some catching up to do, or who have reduced dexterity that makes home care difficult, we may recommend more frequent visits to maintain your oral health.

My child has a toothache. What can I do?

As your pediatric specialist, one of our primary goals is to partner with parents to help them understand how they can help their children with brushing, flossing, and protecting their oral health. Many choices you make each day affect your son or daughter's oral health, such as their nutrition and home care routine. Offering children healthy snacks, a balanced diet, and assistance in using proper techniques for brushing and flossing will help your child achieve and maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.

Good oral hygiene habits begin before your infant's teeth arrive. Use a warm washcloth to remove bacteria from their gums after feedings. When they get their first teeth, start brushing with a soft bristle brush designed for infants.

As they progress, you can begin to use a small smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush their teeth from ages one to three years, and a pea-sized amount when they reach between the ages of three and six. If you have concerns about using fluoride toothpaste before your son or daughter can spit it out, you can look for xylitol toothpaste instead.

Consistent checkups with your pediatric dentist will also be essential for maintaining your child's oral health. They should visit the dentist every six months for a routine cleaning and checkup starting at age one. Contact our office for more information.

How often should I visit your office?

For most patients, we recommend twice-yearly visits for cleanings and examinations. If you are currently being treated for a particular concern, we may recommend that you visit us more often.

How often should I brush my teeth?

We recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice daily using good technique. Our skilled dental hygienists will be happy to review your technique with you and give you pointers to help you improve to get the most out of your home-care routine.

Meet Our Doctors:

Brock Buzbee DDS
Dentist

Gary Dollens DDS
Dentist

Dr. Gary Dollens has over three decades of experience as a general dentist and has served patients with the Children's Smile Center since 2014. He earned his credentials from the ...

Matt Kufahl DDS
Dentist

Dr. Matthew Kufahl has been in dentistry since 2010 and has served patients at Children’s Smile Center for over a decade. He aims to provide comprehensive dental care and help ...

Anna Novario DMD
Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Anna Novario is a Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine graduate, earning her doctorate and then her pediatric certificate from New York University-Langone. As a pediatric dentist, she ...