Periodontal Maintenance

In its most advanced stages, gum disease can lead to gum recession, and even tooth loss.  Garrison Family Dentistry wants to make sure it never gets to that point for you and your family!  When plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup, which only leads to more gum recession.  A scaling and root planing procedure is used to treat this buildup and prevent the later stages of gum disease.

Scaling and root planning are two parts of a deep cleaning procedure your dentist can perform to help reverse the progress of gum disease.  The procedure beings with scaling, which is the process of the dentist removing plaque from the surface of the teeth, all the way down to the gums. Root planing is the term for any minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  When plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that have pulled away will have a clean, smooth surface to reattach to as they heal.

To learn more about deep periodontal cleaning and all the other treatments provided at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Periodontitis Prevention

If you’ve been told you have gingivitis, you better get to brushing to avoid periodontitis. Periodontitis is what develops if gingivitis is left untreated and unlike gingivitis, periodontitis is not reversible. This is because while gingivitis refers to gum inflammation, periodontitis refers to the destruction of gum tissue and bone. For optimal periodontal health, you should be visiting our doctors at Garrison Family Dentistry for routine cleanings to prevent any forms of gum disease.

Untreated periodontitis can usually result in tooth loss, so prevention is critical to your periodontal health. Periodontitis causes the gum tissue and bone to pull away from the teeth, leaving behind large pockets that collect bacteria. These pockets can lead to infection and not only put your smile at risk, but your overall health as well. If you notice that your gums are bright red or tender to touch, visit us to discuss treatment options.

If you have symptoms of periodontitis, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Garrison Family Dentistry here in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Dental Implants

Patients who have missing teeth are at risk for more than just aesthetic issues. Their adjacent teeth may start shifting, they can experience rapid bone loss, and if multiple teeth are missing, it might cause their cheeks to look shrunken in.

 

To mitigate these risks, here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we offer dental implants for patients who want to replace their teeth permanently. While there are other options in dentures and fixed bridges, dental implants are the most permanent option available.

 

There are many reasons a tooth might have been lost or needs to be extracted. Tooth decay, congenital defects, trauma, injury, or advanced gum disease may all play a role in the causal factors of missing teeth. But with dental implants, our patients have the opportunity for a stable, secure and natural-looking alternative. The implant includes a titanium metal post implanted into the jawbone, where the bone gradually heals and grows around the post. This holds it in place and is healed in about three months. Then, the abutment and crown are placed over the top, which look just like a natural tooth.

Intraoral Camera

Correct patient diagnosis and treatment is the most important function of an effective, state-of-the-art dental practice. The intraoral camera is the latest in a long line of technologically advanced equipment that has been introduced to the dental field in recent years. It delivers incredibly sharp, clear images that enhance our dentist’s ability to properly diagnose and treat patients.

 

The innovative imaging software that accompanies the intraoral camera is perfect for viewing the nooks and crannies missed by X-rays. While the camera snaps crystal-clear images throughout the mouth, the software allows the doctors to manipulate the image to see different angles and zoom in on an otherwise static image. The camera also takes videos that can be streamed to a bedside monitor. Patients are able to view their procedure in real-time. Our dentists here at Garrison Family Dentistry are able to clearly explain what the problem is and how they can best treat it together.

 

When our team utilizes the intraoral camera, they are able to reach places that an X-ray cannot. While X-rays are extremely effective for locating cavities and decay, the doctors are able to see things they would never be able to see through the use of the intraoral camera. Although a traditional visual inspection of the teeth may have sufficed in the past, technology has made it possible for dentists and patients to reap many more benefits from each health exam.

 

For more information on the intraoral camera or any of our services, please call Garrison Family Dentistry at 816-532-8706 or visitwww.garrisondentistry.com.

Periodontal Health

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and at our office, Dr. Matthew Garrison provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO to receive periodontal cleanings and treatment. It is easier to prevent gum disease or treat it early on than to reverse the effects of periodontis. Call (816) 532-8778 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit www.garrisondentistry.com.

Dental Hygiene

Proper dental hygiene is imperative on many levels. It prevents bad breath, reduces your risk of developing gum disease, and helps you save money on dental work by not needing procedures like root canals, extractions, or restorative care as often.

 

Dental hygiene is not just about personal oral health, though that is very important, but regular visits to the dentist as well. Twice-yearly visits are ideal for optimal dental health.

 

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry, we encourage our patients to take good care of their teeth, and schedule regular visits to our clinic. At home, we advise them to brush their teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and use mouthwash with fluoride on a regular basis. This keeps their mouth clean, removing debris and bacteria, and preventing plaque and decay. It also helps patients achieve better smelling breath. With regular dental visits, we can examine the patient’s mouth and teeth, look for signs of gum disease, take x-rays, and provide a professional dental cleaning.

 

To improve your dental hygiene and periodontal health, visit our dentist Dr. Matthew Garrison in Smithville, MO.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation

Here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we keep our patients’ needs in mind when deciding what treatments and dental services we provide. This includes full mouth rehabilitation, as many of our patients have not one, but multiple problems with their dental health and smiles.

 

With full mouth reconstruction, patients choose from a variety of procedures performed in succession — ranging from dentures or implants to crowns and inlays — to give them a brand new smile.

Some of the common procedures our patients choose for their full mouth reconstruction include:

 

1. Dental fillings

2. Inlays and onlays

3. Dental bridges

4. Dental crowns

5. Dental implants

6. Dentures and partials

7. Root canals

8. Treatment for gum disease

9. Treatment for TMJ disorders

 

There are many reasons someone might choose a full mouth reconstruction. Examples include having had a trauma that caused loss or damage to several teeth, having severe decay or gum disease, or experiencing loss of tooth structure from extensive clenching and grinding of the teeth.

 

After consultation with our dentist Dr. Matthew Garrison, patients choose what procedures to receive for full mouth rehabilitation and reconstruction. Call Dr. Matthew Garrison at 816-532-8706 to learn more about your full mouth rehabilitation options.