Quality Care at Every Stage of Life

Treatment varies according to the severity of the disease, with early stages (gingivitis) generally being corrected with regular routine dental cleanings. More advanced stages usually require numbing and involve scaling and root-planing, during which bacteria beneath the gumline is cleaned out. This helps the gums to adhere properly to the tooth roots, preventing further damage.

Root canal therapy is needed when a cavity has reached the pulp of a tooth, causing an infection of the nerve or when severe trauma has affected the tooth. It can be prevented with regular checkups and healthy oral care, but if the pulp does become infected, it must be treated to avoid further complications since it cannot heal by itself. For some patients, there may be signs that pulp is infected, but for others, no symptoms are obvious, and they are unaware that a problem even exists until they stop in for a dental exam. Some signs or symptoms may include sensitivity to hot or cold foods or liquids, pain, swelling, or even a bad taste in the mouth.

When endodontic therapy is performed, your dentist will clean out the infected pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth to remove any remaining bacteria. The tooth is then filled with a special, biocompatible material to prevent further infections and help heal the tooth. Occasionally, a core build-up, bonded post, and crown are necessary for restoring a tooth to function.

• Help restore your ability to eat and speak
• Prevent facial sagging
• Replace your missing teeth
• Improve the appearance of your smile

If you would like something more permanent and stable than an existing denture, consider connecting your denture to dental implants.

Replacing missing teeth is important because your teeth can shift and cause a variety of other dental problems if left with spaces. Dr. Kim has extensive experience in treatment planning and designing implant solutions that are custom tailored for each patient. After it is placed, the implant will bond and attach to your jaw. Once covered with a crown, it will look and function like a natural tooth.

Hopefully you never have a dental emergency, but if you do, we have you covered. Prompt treatment is often required to alleviate pain and ensure the patient’s oral and overall health. If you are dealing with an emergency, call us immediately at 419-663-4466, and we will schedule you for an appointment as soon as possible.

As often as she wants. The main thing with children is to use each tooth brushing (usually 2x/day) as a teaching session. When the child states that she is finished, help instruct her on how to reach difficult areas.

Toothaches are worse! If a badly damaged tooth is considered non-restorable (by the dentist) then, by all means, remove the tooth via extraction before the pain becomes unbearable. If you’re waiting for that to happen before you decide- give it time- because it will! All board certified dentists are highly trained to anesthetize your mouth prior to a surgical procedure. Trust their skill over your luck, any day!

Better home care. When your gums bleed easily, it’s your body’s way of telling you that your mouth is not at optimum health. Many people may think they should brush and floss- less due to this fact. But, you should actually do the opposite. You need to beef up your brushing (2x/day) and flossing (once a day) to compensate for poor oral health. And definitely increase your visits to the dentist (at least 2x/yr).

It happens often. The most common underlying reason for a filling to ‘fall out’ is due to a cavity. When decay threatens the normal health of a tooth, it can affect the pulp of the tooth or the nerve center. Keep in mind that decay doesn’t have to touch the nerve — it only needs to penetrate deeply enough to hurt the nerve. A deep filling often exposes this exact problem. It’s time to schedule your appointment!

Impaction. The wisdom teeth can often pose problems with swelling and pain even though they may not be visible in the mouth. The 3rd molars are located in the back of the mouth in all four corners and can be ‘trapped’ under the gums even if they are through the bone. Sometimes, they are sideways and will never come in, yet still cause pain to the back of the 2nd molars. Have an exam and x-ray taken to see – you can contact us to schedule your appointment to do so.

Companies that will not provide coverage to our office are Humana, Caresource, Buckeye, Paramount Advantage, Devoted, Medicare, and Medicaid.