Dentistry Blog

Time for Winter Dental Cleanings Winter is coming to Keller, Texas and Pickett Family Dental wants to make sure that you get your dental cleaning in before Christmas. With the winter season, we don't have much time before Christmas is here and everyone will be too busy enjoying time with family to worry about their dental cleaning. If you need to schedule a dental cleaning before or after Christmastime then please do so as soon as possible to get the day and time that best fits your schedule. Get in to see Dr. Tyson Pickett for a dental cleaning and exam to ensure your teeth and gums are ready for the bombardment of amazingly tasty meals in the upcoming [...]

Pericoronitis is the inflammation, swelling and infection of the gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth, which are located as the third and final set of molars that usually appear in your late teens or early 20s. It is most commonly found around the lower wisdom teeth. What causes pericoronitis? The primary cause for pericoronitis is accumulation of bacteria in and surrounding the gum tissue. Usually, the tooth is only partially exposed (soft tissue impaction) and has excess gum tissue that overlaps the tooth. Bacteria and food debris get trapped in the space between the tooth and the overlapping gingiva. Does pericoronitis go away on its own? Unfortunately, pericoronitis won't go away on its own. [...]

Here in the United States, less than half of all adults have all of their natural permanent teeth. Once you reach the age range of 40 to 64, that number drops to under one-third. Nearly one in five adults over the age of 65 are edentulous or missing all of their natural teeth. The most common reason for this is tooth decay and dental carries. Losing even one tooth can make you feel self-conscious and affect your jaw, facial structure, eating, and even speaking clearly. Thankfully, there are several tooth replacement options to fit your personal need. The main teeth replacment options are: Dental implants Same-day dental crowns and bridges Implant-supported dentures Partial dentures Complete [...]

What is an impacted wisdom tooth? Impacted wisdom teeth are the third molars located in the posterior area of the mouth and are the last teeth to emerge and due to the lack of space, they can't develop normally in most people. Without enough space, wisdom teeth can tilt forward and push or become impacted by leaning into the second molars. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they're hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are. Pain and discomfort from impacted wisdom teeth [...]

Benefits of CO2 Laser Dentistry Thanks to the advancement in the field of dentistry, we've been able to help patients for years now using CO2 Laser Dentistry by offering more precise and efficient treatments with only minimal risk of complications. The CO2 laser has allowed Dr. Tyson Pickett at Pickett Family Dental in Keller, TX to provide advanced laser dentistry to treat soft tissue of the gums, inner cheeks, and tongue as well as hard tissues such as teeth and bones. At our Keller, TX dental office, we use laser dentistry to improve the effectiveness of procedures such as root planing, gum contouring, canker sores, and cold sores. Dental laser being used to sculpt the gums for [...]

A dental bone graft is a dental procedure performed by your dentist to increase the amount of bone in a part of the jaw where bone has been lost or where additional support is needed. Bone is typically taken from another part of the body or created synthetically and then fused into existing bone in the jaw. When do you need a Dental Bone Graft? A dental bone graft is sometimes needed if further procedures, such as dental implants, are necessary or if bone loss is affecting the health of nearby gums and teeth. We'll cover how dental bone grafts work, how the procedure is done, and what results you can expect from this procedure. [...]

Time for Fall Dental Cleanings Fall or Autumn is finally arriving and the weather is going to begin changing for the colder and wetter here in North Texas. School is back in session and many of our patients are getting back into the normal routines before the seasonal holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Get in to see Dr. Tyson Pickett for a dental cleaning and exam to ensure your teeth and gums are ready for the bombardment of amazingly tasty meals in the upcoming months. Why is it important to visit the dentist before the upcoming holiday meals? At each dental cleaning we always check to see that your entire oral health is doing [...]

Dental Implants are long-lasting, man-made replacements for the root of a tooth. If a patient has broken a tooth, or has a missing tooth due to an injury or tooth decay, a dental implant is typically the best replacement method for a single tooth or even several teeth. At Pickett Family Dental, we provide new patients with dental implants for a variety of reasons, but many patients come to us with questions about getting dental implants. We've put together the top questions we get about dental implants and the most accurate answers we can provide via text on our website. If you have questions about your broken or missing teeth and whether dental implants are the right answer for [...]

For those over the age of 20, it's extremely common to have ugly old fillings that tarnish the beauty of what should look like natural teeth. We see many patients who want to have their old fillings replaced with more natural looking fillings. Sometimes our patients aren't even aware of why their fillings look black. Why Do My Old Silver Fillings Look Black? The silver (amalgam) fillings that were used for many years contained a mixture of metal alloy containing, silver, tin, copper and mercury. As with many metals that are exposed to a wet environment they will begin to break down and oxidize, often times turning black. Why Replace [...]

A gummy smile usually comes from either an overgrowth of gum tissue or that some teeth are shorter making the other teeth show more gum tissue. Either way, many people feel uncomfortable with their gummy smile. Dr. Pickett, our cosmetic dentist in Keller, TX can augment your smile to reduce the gummy appearance when you smile and help boost that confidence. Take a look at what Dr. Pickett can do to fix your gummy smile and then visit with our very own cosmetic dentist in Keller, TX. Gum Lift – Show More of Your Teeth Gum disease is one of the top causes of gum overgrowth and inflammation, which can make teeth appear shorter [...]