Lexington Dentists
Lexington Dentists | Lexington dentists provide a wide range of dental services and procedures, ranging from the elaborate to the simple. Here are a few of the more common types of general dental procedures, what they are used to treat, and how the procedures are performed.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Teeth can become stained due to things like:
- Consumption of dark-colored beverages like coffee and tea
- Tooth decay
- Smoking tobacco
- The use of certain medications
You can have your teeth whitened at home with custom-made trays, or have a whitening procedure while you sit in the Lexington dentists chair.
An in-office whitening treatment involves the application of a whitening gel that contains some type of peroxide. Although over-the-counter peroxide whitening treatments are available, their active ingredient is of a far lower concentration than what is available from your dentist.
A special light may be used to magnify the effects of a professional whitening treatment.
Unlike over-the-counter whitening treatments, you will have professional supervision throughout your procedure to ensure that it is safe and effective.
Root Canal Procedure
Root canal therapy is more common than many people realize. And it is not a painful treatment; in fact, it relieves pain caused by an inflamed or infected dental pulp.
After numbing your tooth, your Lexington dentists will drill down into it to clean out all decay. The resulting empty space is then filled, normally with a material known as gutta-percha. Finally, a dental crown would be placed over the treated tooth to add additional strength to it.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions are an extremely common type of general dental procedure that may become necessary if a patient has impacted or problematic wisdom teeth, a severe tooth abscess, or severe periodontal disease.
After numbing the tooth that the dentist will remove, the Lexington dentists will grasp it with forceps and rock it back and forth to loosen the ligament attaching it to your jawbone.
One exception to this normal procedure is if the patient has had their tooth break off beneath the gum line, leaving nothing for the forceps to grasp onto. This type of extraction would require a minor surgical procedure to remove the tooth.
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are about as basic a treatment as you can get. They become necessary whenever a tooth has tooth decay. Their purpose is to remove all tooth decay and prevent further infection or damage to the treated tooth.
Today’s dental fillings are available in tooth-colored materials that match the color of surrounding teeth.
In some cases, such as when a very large filling is required, a dental filling procedure is followed up with the placement of a dental crown.
Your Dental Procedure
Our Lexington dentists have the knowledge and experience to keep your oral health in tip top shape. Contact us (781) 861-7645 or schedule your consultation online.