Your dentist understands how
important regular checkups are and if you have not seen your Dentist in
Goodlettsville for some time, it is probably a good idea to schedule an appointment
with Dr. Barkley. With over thirty years of experience Dr. Barkley will
thoroughly examine your teeth and gums looking for tooth decay, gingivitis and
other dental issues.
If periodontal disease has been detected, he will recommend that you schedule a deep cleaning, otherwise
known as scaling and planing. Deep cleaning is the first step that needs to be
taken in order to get rid of your periodontal disease.
According to Web MD, Scaling and planing is the
most effective way to heal your teeth and gums. When your Dentist in
Goodlettsville scales and plans your teeth, he may use a local anesthetic in
order to make the procedure more comfortable.
Your dental hygenist will use a small
dental instrument called a scaler or an ultrasonic cleaner that will remove the
tarter and plaque between your teeth and gums. Depending on the extent of your
periodontal disease, or the less severe gingivitis, your Dentist in
Goodlettsville may schedule your cleanings in quadrants in order to make the
treatment less invasive. Dr. Barkley will carefully remove the plaque and
tartar by scaling down to the bottom of each pocket.
Once the scaling is completed, the surfaces of the roots of your teeth will be smoothed in order to heal the tissue and cause your periodontal pockets to shrink. Planing also
makes it harder for the plaque and tartar to re-accumulate along the root
surfaces.
If your periodontal disease is advanced, antibiotic fibers may be used that will be placed between
your gums and teeth. The antibiotics will help speed up the healing process and
prevent further infection. Your Dentist in Goodlettsville will remove the
pockets at a second appointment when he checks on your healing.
