General Dentistry
Most people know that general dentistry in Calvert City, KY, includes teeth cleaning, X-rays, and visual inspections. People of all ages should have a dental checkup every six months, and babies should come to see us by age one. As a general dentist, Dr. Barry Wilson and Dr. Pool serves patients at all stages of life.
During your professional cleaning, a hygienist removes plaque and tartar from your teeth with a handheld instrument. No matter how well you brush and floss at home, you need a biannual cleaning to reach areas you cannot. You may also need extra assistance to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. If so, we will schedule you for another appointment where we perform scaling and root planning.
Services Provided by Your General Dentist
Scaling and root planing remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line. We typically recommend this process to patients with early to mid-stage gum disease. Our hygienists work on one-quarter of your mouth at a time.
Scaling involves removing plaque and tartar above the gum line, below the gum line, and between teeth. We also focus on removing buildup from the roots of your teeth. Root planing removes infected gum material, plaque, and tartar at the point where your bone and teeth meet. We remove cementum, which is the layer of your teeth that covers the roots, at this time as well. Some patients also require the removal of tooth enamel.
Extractions
People need teeth extracted for various reasons, such as infections or preparing to receive dentures or braces. When you need a tooth removed, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool injects anesthesia along the gumline of the tooth he will be extracting. Once the area feels completely numb, he uses dental instruments known as elevators and extraction forceps to loosen the tooth from its root and lift it out. He also removes the root attached to the tooth.
You should arrange to have replacement teeth installed as soon as possible after having your natural teeth extracted. Waiting too long weakens your jawbone and may cause the remaining teeth to shift and throw off your alignment.
Root canal therapy
When the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected due to dental disease, trauma, deep cavities, or fractures, you will need a root canal to preserve the tooth. You have pulp inside each tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Persistent pain, tooth sensitivity, gum swelling, and discoloration of a tooth or your gums are some of the most common indications that you need a root canal.
While performing a root canal, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool remove the inflamed pulp and clean the inside of your tooth. He then places a crown on the tooth to protect it against infection.
Sealants
Children at high risk of tooth decay should receive dental sealants to guard against cavities. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool paints the sealant material on the chewing surface of the molars to keep plaque and bacteria from invading it and causing tooth decay.
Please contact us with additional questions about general dentistry in Calvert City, KY, or to request an appointment.