Dr. Robert Cain and the staff of Eastern Tennessee Periodontics welcome patients from many communities in the Hardin Valley. We serve surrounding communities like Knoxville and Oak Ridge, TN. A highly trained periodontist with over 25 years of experience, Dr. Cain offers comprehensive treatment for gum disease.
We also offer full services for the placement of all types of dental implants, cosmetic gum treatments, and routine dental cleanings to keep your smile healthy. We strive to offer personalized care for your smile so that you can enjoy your best quality of life.
Patient Resources
We want your visit with us to be efficient and pleasant and to provide the expected results. Dr. Cain and our staff take time with each patient to discuss your medical history, concerns, and personal goals. We use advanced diagnostics as necessary to evaluate your oral health and provide accurate treatment planning.
To learn more about East Tennessee Periodontics and our range of services, here are some quick links to pertinent information available on our dental website:
Our Services
We offer complete services to restore the health and comfort of your teeth and gums. Some of our services include:
- Gum Cleaning: We offer periodontal services, which are necessary for our patients who have been diagnosed with gum disease. To combat this progressive disease, Dr. Cain offers intensive cleanings known as scaling and root planing. These cleanings will remove the plaque and tartar below the gum line.
- Gum Surgery: If scaling and root planing do not work, Dr. Cain offers periodontal microsurgery, tissue regeneration, and the gingivectomy procedure. These treatments can address advanced gum concerns. Periodontal plastic surgery can address health and cosmetic issues with the gum tissue. Dr. Cain offers procedures to add or remove gum tissue and improve the appearance of the teeth and smile.
- Implant Dentistry: Dr. Cain to replace one or even all of your missing teeth with dental implants. A dental implant is a tiny metal post that is surgically placed into the jaw bone to replace the tooth root. Implants provide support to crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- Cosmetic Services: We offer a comprehensive team approach to your cosmetic needs. Dr. Cain can work with you to not only improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, but also your long-term oral health and wellness. Our office has solutions for a gummy smile. We can use dental lasers to gently contour the gum tissue. Lasers provide a quiet and comfortable alternative to surgical tools.
- Tooth extractions: Extractions are necessary when a patient has damaged teeth that cannot be saved. Dr. Cain can extract your teeth and place the implants in one surgery. He also offers the removal of the wisdom teeth, the last molars to emerge, which can sometimes increase the risk of infection or cause overcrowding. We provide comfortable tooth removal services.
Making Dental Visits Comfortable
Our office is designed to make you feel welcome and comfortable during your visit. We offer sedation dentistry for anyone who suffers from dental anxiety or who has a complex procedure. East Tennessee Periodontics is one of few local dentist offices certified to offer IV sedation.
We provide safe sedation for our patients. Before we administer IV sedation, we will assess your medical history and current health status. This will allow us to identify any potential risk factors that may affect the safety of sedation. During treatment, we are trained to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. We can detect any changes and reverse the effects of sedation if needed.
If you have dental anxiety, we welcome you to voice your concerns. We can also accommodate you for more routine treatments. You can bring noise-canceling headphones, use meditation, or distract yourself by listening to music or a podcast. You can also communicate with our team if you need a break during treatment.
What Happens During A Cleaning?
Dental cleanings help you achieve and maintain good oral health. We recommend that each patient receives teeth cleaning at least twice a year as a preventive measure. Cleanings will remove plaque on your teeth and gums where a toothbrush and floss cannot reach.
During your cleaning, we will use a small mirror to examine your teeth and soft tissues. Then, we use a scaler to remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth. We will use a gritty toothpaste and a high-powered toothbrush to clean your teeth. This will also polish the tooth enamel. Then, we will floss in between your teeth to remove leftover debris.
How Regular Cleanings Prevent Infection
During cleanings, we remove plaque and tartar from the mouth. Plaque is a mixture of saliva and food debris that can harden to form tartar. Tartar is harder to remove, which is why we recommend regular dental cleanings. At cleanings, we use stainless steel tools to remove bacteria from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
Our office can also provide tips at regular dental visits to help you prevent gum and tooth problems. Generally, we recommend that you brush or floss twice a day. We may also recommend antibacterial mouthwash to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
At regular cleanings, we provide exams and take X-rays as needed. If you have the beginning signs of problems like gum disease, we will recommend that you get scaling or root planing. These deep cleaning treatments will remove bacterial buildup from your mouth. We will also recommend techniques to help maintain your health at home. Poor dental hygiene can contribute to gum problems like gum disease.
If you already have gum disease, we will recommend one of our gum treatments. We will thoroughly examine your mouth to find the right treatment option for your needs.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
We welcome new patients and offer second opinions for gum services and dental implants. To contact us, call (865) 276-7173. You can also schedule an appointment online. Let us know if you have questions about treatment. We’re here to help.
