Start the New Year off Right With a Goodlettsville Dentist

Too much good food and drink can be just as dangerous to your waistline as your teeth, and if you are trying to stick to your New Year,’s resolution, why not add another must to your list and pay a visit to your dentist.   

Remember, regular check-ups are the best way to keep tooth decay from ruining your smile. If you are not true to your teeth today, they will be false to you tomorrow.

Seeing Dr. Rick Barkley is a pleasant experience and because he believes in preventive education and care, you can feel confident knowing that your mouth is safe.

During your appointment, the two of you will sit down and discuss your medical history in order to determine if anything could be affecting your overall oral health. After a thorough examination of your teeth and gums checking for early signs of gum disease and tooth decay, x-rays may be necessary.

Preventive dental care is more than just check-ups. Regular cleanings, flossing, sealants and fluoride treatments are all part of a regular routine and if adhered to will help keep you from having unnecessary fillings, root canals and more invasive dental procedures.

Of course, if you do need a thorough cleaning, your dentist will perform a scaling and planing treatment in order to prevent further gum disease. If gingivitis is not taken care of right away your gums will not heal on their own. Without scaling and planing gingivitis will quickly get worse. If allowed to progress gingivitis will become periodontal disease. If your dentist discovers that plaque and tartar have formed below the gum line he will begin the healing process with a deep cleaning. A follow up appointment will be made to check on the progress of your teeth and gums.  

Improve your smile, add another item to your New Years checklist, and schedule an appointment with your dental professional today.

Don’t Let Periodontal Disease Happen To You

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.

Bleeding after brushing and flossing, persistent bad breath and gums that have pulled away from your teeth are warning signs and if you experience any of these symptoms, it is vital that you schedule an examination. Periodontal disease can happen to anyone and if left untreated can cause serious consequences.