Dr. Richard Leo Despres

Richard L Despres DDS   616-534-8133
5102 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519
Currently Accepting New Patients
Dr. Richard L Despres DDS has served the dental needs of the greater grand rapids area since 1986.
He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and the Unversity of Michigan School of Dentistry, licensed with the State of Michigan, and continues to his education yearly to keep on top of all the latest in dental advancements and procedures.
Please feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment for any of your general dentistry needs.
We specialize in making sure all of our patients are treated with respect, and provided a comfortable, pain free dental experience.
Our new office is conveniently located 2 miles North off of the M-6 and Byron Center exit, easily accessible from all parts of Grand Rapids MI.
Dentists Grand Rapids Michigan: Personal Dental Care
Even if you brush properly, rinse regularly, and floss daily, taking care of your teeth so that they will …last you a lifetime will still require the services of a dental professional from time to time.
It’s a good idea to remember that you should go and visit your Grand Rapids Dentist at least twice a year. We understand that going to the Dentists’ office isn’t most people’s idea of fun, but if you really want to achieve the best in personal dental care for your teeth, regular visits to the Dentist are a must.
Dentists Grand Rapids Michigan: What Happens At a Typical Visit to the Dentist?
Going to see the Dentist every six months is a great way to prevent against cavities, plaque build-up and other teeth and mouth-related health problems that can lead to other health issues, or cause discomfort while eating. The goal of all Dentists in Grand Rapids MI is to prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental disorders that may put the health of your teeth and mouth in jeopardy.
Dentists Grand Rapids Michigan: A Casual Consultation with a Dentist
A consultation with your Dentist will usually consist of three parts: asking about your medical and dental history (this is where the dentist will ask questions about any known issues with your dental or medical health that may be causing you distress and review your past dental records).
An oral dental examination will then be performed; the Dentist will examine your gums, teeth and other tissue areas surrounding the mouth. The joints of the jaws may also be included in the examination to check for the over-all health of an individual’s mouth. Then, a professional teeth cleaning will be done (oral prophylaxis), most often by a Dental Hygienist.
The Dentist will usually use a probe and mirror to check the crown (the visible part) of each tooth for evidence of looseness, decay or plaque. The dentist may also check the quality of your bite and the way your teeth fit together. After checking the teeth, the dentist will usually proceed to examine the general condition of the gums. Healthy gums are pink and firm – not swollen, soft or inflamed.
If the Dentists in Grand Rapids Michigan can find any deep depressions (or pockets), he or she might suspect that an individual has gum disease. When the Dentist is finished examining the visible parts of the mouth and teeth, the dentist will then take X-rays that could possibly reveal abscesses, tooth decay, or impacted wisdom teeth, that are not easily detected with a visual inspection.
Abscesses should really be treated right away because they involve the collection of pus surrounded by tissues that are inflamed. If you don’t get this treated right away, it could lead to further complications that may extend beyond your mouth region and lead to other health issues.
Dentists Grand Rapids Michigan: Why Professional Cleaning Is Better
A Dental Hygienist professional cleaning will remove hard to brush food deposits with the use of a scraping instrument named a scaler. Food particles stuck between your teeth, and sometimes within the crevices of your teeth, tend to be a major source of halitosis (Bad Breath).
Aside from a scaler, an ultrasonic machine may al