"Simply put, I restore smiles," says Clinton Belk, D.M.D. of the Carolina Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Spartanburg, S.C. Dr. Belk is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who specializes in disorders of the mouth, teeth, jaws and facial structures. His practice includes treatment of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems, impacted wisdom teeth, facial trauma, dental implants and orthognathic
surgery (to correct jawbone alignment and to give a more aesthetic appearance).
A South Carolina native, Dr. Belk has been helping improve smiles for over 19 years. Active in the medical community, he is a past president of the South Carolina Society of Oral & Maxillofacial
Surgeons and is a fellow of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Most recently, he has been named as one of the facial trauma surgeons for the Greenville Growl hockey team and the Carolina Rhinos arena football team. Being a sports enthusiast, Dr. Belk is honored to provide his service to these professional athletes.
This article will briefly focus on three areas of Dr. Belk's expertise. Further information may be obtained at www.clintonbelkdmd.com or by consulting his office.
Dental Implants
Over 300,000 people each year turn to dental implants as an effective alternative to traditional' dentures and bridges. In a dental implant procedure, special alloy anchors are placed beneath the gums. "The most commonly used implants are placed into the jawbone with stems that project above the gum line," says Dr. Belk. "Replacement teeth can then be attached to these sturdy posts. This is a fairly simple procedure for the patient and it is performed in our office under local anesthesia with or without sedation. Patients are delighted at how well implants enhance their ability to once again chew and enjoy their food. Dental implants not only restore an attractive smile, they perform and feel like natural teeth."
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Dr. Belk and his staff go the extra smile for their patients.
Orthognathic Surgery
Many difficulties may result when a person's jaw fails to grow properly. A misaligned jaw can interfere with proper chewing, swallowing and speech, and may cause chronic pain. Orthognathic surgery restores the jaw's proper function and gives the patient a more cosmetically appealing profile.
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Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth definitely have an impact. They cause pain and crowd other teeth as they attempt to erupt through the gums. Wisdom teeth can cause inflammation or infection of surrounding gum tissue. Also, they may disrupt thousands of dollars worth of orthodontic treatment if left alone. "We empathize with our wisdom teeth patients and strive to make the procedure as hassle and pain free as possible," says Dr. Belk. "Afterwards, most patients are surprised to wake up and find that their surgery has already been performed.
"I'm proud of the care we provide," says Dr. Belk. "Our compassionate, dedicated staff goes the extra mile to ensure quality patient care and satisfaction. All patients appreciate a hand to hold and a smiling face."
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