Sometimes people have a very gummy smile and I use it to get rid of that gum. We have to look at where your bone level around your teeth are and see how much room we have. A lot of times though when you have a gummy smile, it’s just a little too much gum that’s stayed there from when they erupted, and it’s a trim with the laser. Yeah, you have to be a little numb with it. We’re really good at getting you numb without any stress. You’ve been stressed out or worried or anything, we work up our plan and we take off what we need to do. A lot of times it’s just contouring the gum like we contour teeth to get what’s off and you already have enamel there and, you know, giving you that beautiful smile without veneers and just by trimming your gingiva to a great smile level and giving you the look that was always there, you just had a little too much tissue. The laser, the use of the lasers we use them for a lot of procedures I do, and the hygienists use them with hygiene. It gives us options and where we used to, years and years ago, use electrosurge the tissue stays where we leave it. We don’t have tissue moving so we have our plan and diagram to where we’re going to go to and we take it to there and weeks later it’s still there where we wanted it to be. It holds position.
What Your Dental Visit Reveals
- Catch Problems Early: Many dental issues start without any pain or obvious signs. During your visit, Dr. Hay looks closely for early signs of decay, gum disease, or other concerns so they can be treated while they are still simple and manageable.
- Remove What Daily Brushing Misses: Even with good brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up in hard to reach areas. A professional cleaning removes this buildup so your teeth and gums stay healthy and feel fresh again.
- Protect Your Long-Term Oral Health: Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. We check your gum health carefully to catch inflammation or early gum disease and help prevent long term damage.
Here is what you can expect during your visit:
- A gentle cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup
- A detailed gum health evaluation to check for inflammation or early gum disease
- A full examination of each tooth for decay or damage
- Digital imaging when needed for a deeper look
- A review of oral tissues to screen for early warning signs of more serious conditions
- A clear explanation of your current oral health and any recommended next steps
Ready for Your Next Checkup
A dental exam and cleaning is one of the simplest ways to protect your long term oral health. It keeps your smile clean, helps prevent future problems, and gives you a clear understanding of your dental health at every stage. If it is time for your visit, Dr. Hay and our team are here to make it easy to get started.
Call 270-554-0121 About UsMost patients benefit from a visit every six months. Some patients may need more frequent care depending on gum health or risk for decay.
Cleanings are generally comfortable. If your gums are sensitive or inflamed, you may feel slight tenderness, but the process is done gently and with care.
A dental exam includes a full check of your teeth, gums, and oral tissues. We also look for early signs of decay, gum disease, and other oral health concerns.
Many dental problems do not cause pain at first. Exams help detect issues early so treatment can be simpler and less invasive.
Not always. X rays are taken when needed to get a clearer view of areas that cannot be seen during a visual exam.