Preventive Care
Periodontal Therapy
Don't Wait Until It Hurts!

Periodontal disease is painless. It affects 75% of the population and often victims are unaware.

It may also affect your overall health. There are warning signs and the American Dental Association and our staff want you to be aware:

• Are your gums red, swollen, or tender?

• Are your gums pulling away from your teeth?

• Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or toothpick between them?

• Do you have bad breath?

If the answer is yes to any of the above questions, bring it to the attention of your dentist or hygienist.

Act now and keep your teeth for a lifetime!
Call 689-7556 for more details!

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Non-surgical therapy removes plaque and calculus by controlling the growth of harmful bacteria and by treating conditions that encourage gum disease. This type of treatment may be all that's needed, especially when periodontal disease is caught early. You may also need to have certain procedures, such as replacing worn fillings or crowns with overhanging margins that can accumulate plaque, taken care of before periodontal therapy can begin.

Scaling and Root Planing:

Scaling is a type of cleaning that removes plaque and calculus from the teeth at and slightly below the gumline. Root planing smoothes root surfaces, so the supportive tissues can better reattach to the tooth surface. Often, this will be done with local anesthesia so you can relax and feel nothing as we rehabilitate your gums.

Antibiotics:

Periodontal disease is a bacterial disease and the key to controlling or eliminating it is the effective reduction or elimination of the harmful bacteria. An adjunctive option to scaling and root planing may be provided in either pill form or applied directly to the infected area (gum pocket) in the form of antibiotic powder. An antibacterial mouth rinse also may be prescribed to help control the harmful effects of and reduce bacterial plaque.

Occlusal Adjustment:

An improper bite or a traumatic occlusion may increase bone destruction attached to such offending teeth. We may either choose to adjust your bite so that your teeth meet properly and function better or construct a custom bite guard or splint- a removable device that fits over upper or lower teeth - to protect teeth surfaces and relax tense jaw muscles.
Root Planning and Scaling
Root scaling and planning is a non-surgical procedure for removing plaque and dental calculus from the mouth. These substances adhere to the teeth as sticky or hardened residues and are the result of bacterial colonies under the gums. If these plaques and bacteria are not removed frequently they can produce acids which promote tooth decay and gingivitis. Root scaling and planing is a most effective way to treat gum disease before it becomes severe and chronic. It is also a usual first step in treating more advanced periodontal disease.

Root scaling and planing provides a much deeper effort than a standard teeth cleaning. Root scaling and root planning employ slightly different techniques and are usually used in combination. Both are of great value in combating periodontal disease from gingivitis to advanced periodontal disease.
Sealants and Fluoride Treatments
Dental sealants are a dental treatment consisting of applying a plastic material to one or more teeth, for the intended purpose of preventing dental caries (cavities) or other forms of tooth decay. The idea behind brushing teeth is that dental plaque that has accumulated on a tooth's surface is scrubbed off. Some teeth however, related to aspects associated with their anatomy, are harder to clean than others.

The narrow grooves in teeth can trap plaque. Some back teeth, especially molars, can be difficult for a person to clean because the grooves found on their chewing surface are deep and narrow. Even though the person brushes their teeth not all of the dental plaque that is present is cleansed off because the individual bristles of their toothbrush are simply too large to gain access into the depths of the tooth's grooves. Because some plaque has not been cleaned away, the tooth is at risk for the formation of decay.

By bonding plastic resin (the dental sealant) into the grooves of a tooth a dentist can create a tooth surface that is smoother. There are no longer any locations on the chewing surface of the tooth that the bristles of a toothbrush can't access and clean. Since dental plaque can be removed more easily and effectively, there is much less of a chance that tooth decay will form.

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It also reverses early decay.

Mouthguards, Sportsguards, Nightguards
Teeth grinding could disrupt a good night's sleep, not just yours but your sleeping companions as well. There are different methods on how to treat teeth grinding. But the easiest and perhaps the most effective way is to use night mouth guards.

Custom-fit night mouth guards are available at our practice. To make them we measure the size and check the contours of your mouth. Then we mold a night mouth guard that especially fits your teeth, gums, and the space between your dentures.

Sports mouthguards (also referred to as football protectors or sports mouthpieces) are resilient plastic appliances that have been designed in a fashion where they cover over and encase an athlete's teeth and the gums and bone that support them. The idea is that when a guard is worn it helps to provide protection for the hard (teeth and jaw) and soft (lips, cheeks, gums) tissues of the mouth by way of absorbing and redistributing the forces generated by traumatic blows.

Custom mouthguards are typically regarded as the most protective and best type of sports mouthpiece.
All Smiles Family Dental, General Family Dentistry - Focusing on Cosmetic Dentistry for the Whole Family.
Dentistry that is high quality, high tech, and delivered with a level of comfort.
Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Felton are premier providers of Lumineers®, painless, fast cosmetic dentistry!
Call our office for more information: (865) 689-7556 • 512 Merchant Drive • Knoxville TN 37912
Dentist Serving East Tennessee:
Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Clinton, Powell, Fountain City, Cedar Bluff, Halls Crossroads,
Maynardville, Karns, Homberg, Bearden.