Category: Preventative Dentistry

What’s on your wish list? Having one helps when it’s your birthday, during the holidays, or when planning your New Year goals.

Some items are perpetual. Yet health related ones – especially missing teeth replacement – should be prioritized.

We’ve talked about alternatives for tooth loss. Bridges and dentures come to mind along with dental implants.

It’s time to think long-term

Keep your long-term thinking simple for the moment. Let’s consider the next 12 months.

You could begin to transform your oral health care in a shorter time span. For instance, use the New Year as a springboard basic dental hygiene habits (consistent brushing, flossing, and exams and check-ups every six months).

There’s still the issue of your missing or damaged teeth. This takes a longer view of things. But don’t fret.

There are no “quick” fixes. Especially those that deliver cost effective, lifelong benefits.

Starting now, explore dental implant treatment as the most viable option for missing teeth replacement. You can begin to experience noticeable results in a few months.

Damage “control”

Out-sight-out-of-mind is a common mindset. But it’s not healthy when you have missing or damaged teeth.

What you can’t see could be “hurting” you. The issue is the void left by a missing tooth.

You teeth can shift. This causes a number of dental issues.

One common problem is malocclusion. Your teeth can become misaligned.

Misalignment can cause your teeth to become crowded or crooked. Malocclusion is treatable with orthodontic braces.

It’s important to deal with your missing teeth sooner rather than later. A dental implant provides cost effective, long term damage control.

Look good

Gaps and voids caused by missing teeth are treatable. That said it’s easy to grow accustomed to the damage done.

You’ve discovered that doing so can lead to more significant tooth problems. Besides it’s healthy for your body and your esteem to replace your missing tooth or teeth.

Dental implants provide an attractive tooth replacement solution . Implant treatment restores your smile.

Implants are designed to look like your natural teeth. And they’re a healthier alternative because they actually help restore your jaw’s bone health.

Feel good

Health should improve your confidence. Oral health conditions like tooth loss or tooth damage can lead to reduced confidence.

Increase your self-esteem with a proven treatment for missing teeth. Dental implants restore your oral health and with it your sense of well-being.

The treatment process reveals the benefit of good oral health too. And it affirms the value of taking personal responsibility for it.

Decide now that this will be the year you take control. Fill the gaps caused by your missing teeth.

Introduce yourself to a renewed appearance and sense of well-being. Dental implant treatment is a good, long-term investment in a new you.

Question: What health related goals do you have for the next 12 months? Comment.

 

 

Attention to detail works both ways. Let me explain.

Precision craftsmanship often defines your purchase decisions. You look for attention to detail in how something is made. And once you make an investment you give equal attention to detail in how you care for it (assuming you understand its value).

Dental implants fit the category of precision craftsmanship. Each detail is uniquely designed to fill the gap created by your missing tooth.

Your dental implant is a premium product.  And your investment requires detailed care to assure it lasts and functions effectively.

How to Protect Your Dental Implant Investment

1-Eat cautiously

A dental implant is strong. But everyday eating habits can cause unnecessary damage.

Bite cautiously into solid food selections – especially those containing bones. And avoid using your teeth to open packages.

2-Cool-it with extra hot drinks

Remember what you learned in science class. Metal conducts heat.

Your dental implant contains metal. Drinking a hot beverage will quickly remind you of this.

Tip: if the cup or beverage is “hot” to the touch – allow it to cool a bit before drinking.

3-Wait to have your ice-cream

What you tell your children or grandchildren applies here. Let your meal settle before you eat dessert – especially following a hot item with a cold one.

The crown (top/visible) portion of your dental implant is crafted of porcelain. It expands – like glass does – with heat and contracts with cold.

Eat or drink something hot but be sure to pause before chasing it with something cold. And vice-versa.

Monitor your tooth sensitivity following dental implant treatment. Reactions to food and drink temps may vary.

4-Watch the vibrations

Your dental implant is complex. It contains a crown (the visible, top portion), a screw (what attaches to the crown and upper post/abutment), the post (secures the implant top to bottom).

Vibrations from a vibrating toothbrush can loosen your implant’s internal screw. This can cause your crown to become loose.

Brush effectively. And avoid a vibrating tooth brush as an option.

5-Watch your floss

Understand that your dental implant is not a tooth. Teeth connect to gums by strong ligaments.

Flossing is good for your teeth because it cleans the pockets of the gums surrounding them. The ligaments are sensitive and warn you when you’re flossing too aggressively.

Your dental implant lacks this natural supportive ligament. An implant is supported by a seal and lacks adequate nerves.

Aggressive flossing can break this seal. Bacteria can invade the pocket and penetrate the bone.

Bone damage can then occur around your dental implant. And the loss of bone can cause the loss of your implant.

Use a Water-Pick or similar device to clean around your implant. A water stream can effectively clean the pockets surrounding it.

6-Communicate with your dental hygienist

Your hygienist should be aware of which teeth are dental implants. Confirm your implant treatment history prior to a teeth cleaning.

The dental hygienist will use different instruments to clean around your implant. This helps prevent damage to your implant and surrounding tissue.

7-Stay current with dental check-ups

Have your dental implants checked at least once per year. And stay current with your teeth cleanings and exams every six months.

Attention to detail will preserve your dental implant. Consider it an investment of your time that assures you’re protecting your oral health in the process.

Question: What maintenance issues cause you concern with dental implant treatment? Any changes you’ll need to make? Comment.

There’s more to your oral health than brushing and flossing. Consistent personal oral health care combined with dental checkups help assure that you’re covering all your bases.

Prevention is worth it. Once you require treatment you’ll understand the value of preventative dentistry.

Make it personal

Dental care starts at home. Protect your teeth and gums with consistent dental hygiene.

Realize that what you’re protecting is more than your oral health. Your mouth reveals much about the current and ongoing health of your entire body.

• Watch your mouth. Lesions or other oral issues could reveal symptoms of deeper problems within your body.

This is why keeping tabs on your oral health starts at home regardless of your age. You’re never too young or too old to view your teeth as a barometer for your overall health.

• Brush and floss your teeth daily. And when you do, be aware of any sensitivity in a particular tooth or area of your gums.

Flossing cleans the area between your teeth and into your gum line. If you’re new to flossing, some bleeding is natural but ongoing gum bleeding or sensitivity could indicate the beginning of gum disease.

Pay attention when practicing your daily oral hygiene. If something gets your attention take action.

Call a professional

The ADA (American Dental Association) says,  “100 million Americans fail to see the dentist each year.” This statistic is astounding since regular dental examinations and visits to a dental hygienist can help prevent dental disease.

Pain is a common motivator for a dental appointment. But waiting until your mouth pain is unbearable puts you at risk for more serious health problems and could lead to more costly dental treatment.

Your dentist and dental hygienist are an unbeatable team for helping prevent more serious oral health problems. They are trained to help you…

• Maintain healthy teeth and gums

• Provide a  treatment plan when necessary

• Save you from further costly health issues – starting with your mouth.

Make an appointment

Schedule your teeth cleaning and dental examination  with a dental hygienist every six months. This habit and frequency will keep your oral health current and help prevent the need for dental treatment.

Your role is to cover the basics: brushing, flossing, and scheduling your teeth cleanings and dental exams. Our role – as your dental professional: assist your best efforts, spot potential or current oral health issues, prescribe a treatment plan, and provide dental treatment when necessary.

Working together as a team creates wins for your overall health. And remember: good health starts in your mouth.

Question: What helps you stay consistent with daily oral health care? Share with us.

There’s a cause and effect for most occurrences in your life. The same applies to potential indicators of periodontal disease.

Standard wisdom says that regular brushing and flossing protects against many dental issues. And generally that’s the case.

In the process, you must spot and eliminate a common culprit. Unless you do it’s open season on your gum and bone tissue.

Periodontal disease sounds serious…and it is

Consistent and correct brushing and flossing is a start. These oral health habits are your first line of defense.

You leave yourself vulnerable to the many causes of periodontal disease if you don’t practice good oral hygiene. One cause, in particular, is its breeding-ground so to speak.

You hear a lot about dental plaque…but it’s what you may not have heard that leads to periodontal disease.

Dental plaque is the common build up on your tooth surface. It’s also where bacteria thrive and join forces.

Research reveals that there are currently over 600 species of bacteria known to exist in the mouth alone. Only 400 of those bacterial species are currently identified.

When enough bacteria team up your gums become the target. Expanding bacterial colonies find pockets deep in your gum and bone tissue.

Inside those pockets is where bacteria do damage. The impact zone between gum and bone tissue can result in periodontal disease.

Control dental plaque to reduce your risk of periodontal disease.

A dental hygienist is your ally in preventing periodontal disease. Regular dental check-ups and teeth cleanings provide advance warning about plaque build-up.

Where there’s plaque there’s bacteria. Your hygienist will remove plaque from your teeth and check and clean the pockets between your teeth and gums where bacteria thrive.

Avoid the risk factors of periodontal disease with dental check-ups and cleanings every 6 months. More frequent appointments may be necessary if periodontal issues are present.

Control the causes and you reduce the risk of periodontal disease. Practice good oral health habits and stay current with in-office dental check-ups and teeth cleanings.

What new understanding do you have about periodontal disease?

Think of It as Your Mouth’s Eco-system – Periodontal treatment keeps your oral health in balance

Ecologists talk about the balance of nature. They have in mind the interdependent eco-system that exists between plants, trees, and their environment.

Think of your oral health as an eco-system. Periodontal treatment keeps your mouth’s ecology in balance.

Your teeth are the most visible feature of your dental environment. It makes sense to give them the most attention.

Brushing and flossing are, of course, the primary focus of maintaining good oral health. And flossing – commonly overlooked – is actually the most effective periodontal treatment you can do outside of a dental office appointment.

There’s more to your mouth than teeth.

Your mouth’s supportive elements are of equal and sometimes greater concern. Those elements include your gum tissue, tooth roots, and bone.

Periodontal treatment focuses there. Daily brushing and flossing help prevent most periodontal issues but regular checkups with a dental hygienist gives you advance protection.

Healthy gums promote a healthy mouth.

Your gums provide clues about the condition of your oral health. If your gums bleed consistently when brushing or flossing this could be an early sign of periodontal issues.

Communicate with your dental hygienist if bleeding occurs regularly. Your hygienist will check (or chart) the pockets around your teeth to determine the existence and severity of tissue and bone damage.

A periodontal treatment to help avoid periodontal disease

Early treatment of the periodontal areas of your mouth can prevent periodontal disease. And early treatment is the least invasive and most cost-effective.

Scaling and root planing carefully clean your tooth root surfaces. Removing plaque and tartar from the deeper pockets targets the bacteria and promotes periodontal health.

You may require ongoing periodontal maintenance to assure gum and tooth health. Scaling and root planing can help you avoid more comprehensive and costly periodontal treatment too.

Your teeth and gums are vital to your overall health. Keep your mouth’s eco-system in harmony with periodontal check-ups and treatment.

What’s your biggest challenge to maintaining healthy oral hygiene habits?

Product warranties take into consideration the long term value of a product. You must factor in usage and the ever present possibility of damage.Unfortunately, your teeth don’t come with a warranty. But you can restore years of neglect or sudden damage with restorative dental treatment.

Life is hard on your teeth.

Monitor your lifestyle for a few days. Certain habits will reveal whether you could potentially face the need for a full or partial dental restoration. Soft drinks and highly acidic foods can slowly damage your teeth. Inconsistent dental hygiene can also lead to a breakdown in your tooth strength.

Teeth are designed to last a lifetime.

Your habits can erode the original strength of your teeth. Most damage to your tooth structure is unintentional but nonetheless costly. Ongoing erosion causes damage to your gums, tooth roots, the surface enamel of your teeth, and overall tooth alignment.  Symptoms will appear and regular dental checkups are an effective way to monitor your needs.

The next best thing to a tooth warranty

The best warranty for your teeth is proper dental hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and a healthy diet and lifestyle. But you aren’t always consistent. Lack of consistency over time can lead to the need for restorative dental treatment.

Restoration can involve dental crowns or dental implants on one or more teeth. Or you may benefit from a fullmouth restoration.

A full mouth dental restoration is more comprehensive and can involve…

• Treating teeth with crowns,veneers, inlays, on lays, bridges, and dental implants.

• Periodontal (gum) tissues treated with scaling, root planing, bone and tissue grafts.

• Bite and alignment issues treated with orthodontics (braces and aligners) and night guards.

• Aesthetics that improve and repair the appearance of your teeth.

Your teeth are valuable assets. Treat them properly or be prepared to utilize the closest thing to a tooth warranty – restorative dental treatment.

What current tooth issues are you experiencing?

An alarming study that we just published indicates that 50% of Americans above the age of 30 have some peridontal disease. This is terrible news because periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, has been implicated as a risk factor in cardiac (heart) disease, and raises blood sugar levels (effecting diabetes). Constant screening, frequent cleanings and check-ups, great home care, and proper nutrition are the best defense to this problem. Read the study below for more information.

Half of U.S. adults have periodontal disease By Kathy Kincade, Editor in Chief August 30, 2012 — One out of every two American adults age 30 or older has periodontal disease, according to a new study published in the Journal of Dental Research. The findings were collected as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the U.S. The data indicate that 47.2%, or 64.7 million American adults, have some form of periodontal disease. In adults older than age 65, prevalence rates increase to 70.1%. The 2009-2010 survey included, for the first time, a full-mouth periodontal examination. Previous NHANES estimates of periodontal disease relied on partial mouth periodontal examination (PMPE) protocols that collected measurements from two randomly selected quadrants of the mouth and assessed probing depth and attachment loss at two sites per tooth. More comprehensive assessment Because periodontal disease is not evenly distributed in the mouth, prevalence estimates from surveys using PMPE protocols may have underestimated the severity of the disease within the U.S. population by as much as 50%, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) noted in a press release. The 2009-2010 NHANES survey collected measurements from six sites per tooth for all teeth (except third molars) in U.S. adults. The AAP has been working closely with the CDC since 2003 to determine the extent, severity, and prevalence of periodontal disease in the U.S. “This is the most accurate picture of periodontal disease in the U.S. adult population we have ever had.” — Pamela McClain, DDS, president, American Academy of Periodontology “We know that periodontal disease can be very site-specific, so unless you look at the entire mouth and assess each tooth, you could miss severe disease,” Pamela McClain, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and a practicing periodontist in Aurora, CO, told DrBicuspid.com. “Unless you are doing a comprehensive exam where you are probing at least six sites on every tooth, you are not getting an accurate picture of that patient’s periodontal health.” The AAP collaborated with the CDC to help the agency develop a more accurate assessment of periodontal disease, she added. “We now have a precise measure of the prevalence of periodontal disease and can better understand the true severity and extent of periodontal disease in our country,” Dr. McClain said. “This is the most accurate picture of periodontal disease in the U.S. adult population we have ever had.” Disparities among certain populations The data in the JDR study indicate prevalence disparities among certain segments of the U.S. population. Periodontal disease is higher in men than women (56.4% versus 38.4%) and is highest in Mexican-Americans (66.7%) compared with other races. Other segments with high prevalence rates include current smokers (64.2%); those living below the federal poverty level (65.4%); and those with less than a high school education (66.9%). “We have demonstrated a high burden of periodontal disease in the adult U.S. population, especially among adults 65 and older,” said lead study author Paul Eke, MPH, PhD, a CDC epidemiologist, in an AAP press release. “Periodontal disease is associated with age, and as Americans live longer and retain more of their natural teeth, periodontal disease may take on more prominence in the oral health of the U.S adult population.” Co-author Robert Genco, DDS, PhD, a distinguished professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo and past president of the American Association for Dental Research and the International Association for Dental Research, believes these findings elevate periodontal disease as a public health concern. “We now know that periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent noncommunicable chronic diseases in our population, similar to cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” he said. The 2009-2010 NHANES periodontal disease data support the need for comprehensive periodontal evaluations performed annually by a member of the dental team, including a dentist, dental hygienist, or periodontist, Dr. McClain added. This includes examining every tooth and measuring both attachment loss and probing depth to get the most accurate assessment of periodontal disease. “Many of our patients have periodontal disease and do not know it,” she stated. “As dental professionals, it is more important than ever that we provide patients with a comprehensive periodontal evaluation annually to determine their disease status.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very true when we recommend fluoride. My goal, as your dentist, is to keep your teeth healthy and strong into very old age. Fluoride, because of its many benefits, can help us in achieving our goal.

What is fluoride? Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally occurring in drinking water in many areas. In these areas, a drastic reduction in dental disease was noted. That is how fluoride, as a treatment  modality, was born.

Adult fluoride is also called topical fluoride. Topical fluoride (fluoride that is applied directly to your teeth) works directly on the tooth surfaces most at risk of decay. Adults with gum recession, tooth sensitivity,  and existing dental restorations can greatly benefit from this treatment.

Areas on the tooth where the gums have receded is soft, susceptible to decay and can be sensitive. Fluoride incorporates into the outer layer of the tooth and helps to insulate and strengthen the tooth, making it more resistant to decay and much less sensitive. The junction of the tooth and a filling is another area where fluoride incorporates. This junction is the weakest part of the restoration and the place most susceptible to fracture and more decay. Fluoride helps to reinforce those areas and helps prevent decay from sneaking under the filling. This reduces the need for larger fillings, crowns, and root canals.

Adult fluoride is applied as a thin varnish. It is best placed after the teeth have been professionally cleaned. It is NOT like the large trays used during childhood. As an adjunct, a fluoride rinse after brushing at home is also helpful. Fluoride is the easiest and most cost effective preventive measure we have in dentistry and provides many benefits for adults.

There is a lot of great information available about the benefits of fluoride and I would be happy to discuss it at your next visit!

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm

http://www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v7/n3/abs/6400422a.html

 

Here are the products that Dr. Spina is recommending for most adults as a supplement to professional fluoride varnish and regular 6 month check-ups.

 

ACT Fluoride Rinse –     http://www.actfluoride.com/

 

Listerine Rinse –             http://www.jjdentalprofessional.com/

 

We are using Dental Lasers and Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy (LAPT) to help more and more patients. Recently, we used our laser to treat periodontal disease around a dental implant.

 A patient was referred to our practice to evaluate a  dental implant that he was told needed to be replace. Dental implants can develop periodontal disease (a gum/bone infection), a condition know as peri-implantits. This type of infection around a dental implant significantly decreases the lifespan of the implant and can cause it to ultimately fail. Using the dental laser, we were able to  remove the harmful bacteria (decontaminate) from the bone and gums around the failing implant. This, in combination with antiseptic rinses, treated the infection. This allowed the gums to re-attach to the implant and increase the life of the implant. Most importantly, we were able to give the patient a viable option besides removing the implant and replacing it with a new one.

 This type of treatment is really exciting for both the patient and myself. It is just an extension of the developing field of LAPT.