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Our Services
Prevention
of Disease
One of the most important aspects of good dental
care is the prevention of disease. So many times, dentists and
patients only repair problems when they arise, and do nothing
to prevent the recurrence of disease again. The foundation of
our practice is prevention. We teach every patient the proper
way to take care of their teeth, and encourage them to do so.
That way, any dental work that needs to be done will last longer,
and ultimately, the patients will need to see us less. We also
ensure that you receive the best diagnostic services possible,
including periodontal charting once a year, and routine x-rays.
All of our prevention services are tailored to the individual
needs of the patient. When we achieve true health in your mouth,
you will only need to see us once a year for your recare visit
and exam. This is the ultimate goal that we set for each of our
patients. Other patients need to be seen on a more frequent basis,
in six, four and three month intervals.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth
loss in adults older than 40. It is also the most preventable
disease known to man. It starts innocently as Gingivitis, or a
swelling of the gums. This is common in teenagers and young adults.
As patients reach their 30’s, it can progress to moderate Periodontitis.
If left untreated, it can become advanced in the 40’s, and severe
in the 50’s and above. It is caused by bacteria that live below
the gum line, and between the teeth, where a toothbrush cannot
reach. The bacteria release toxins, which cause the body to send
chemicals to the sight to defend itself, called inflammation.
Unfortunately, chronic inflammation destroys the ligaments and
bone that support the teeth. The bone loss is irreversible. The
bone reacts to inflammation much like a patient who has arthritis.
In advanced and severe periodontal disease, the teeth loosen or
get infected, and are lost. Most patients who have dentures lost
their teeth to periodontal disease that was not treated or controlled.
There are other factors that can cause the disease to progress
more rapidly. These include individual immune responses, patients
with diabetes, poor nutrition, immuno-compromised patients and
smoking. We screen for periodontal disease at least once a year
on all of our patients, and recommend the appropriate treatment
when necessary.
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Healthy |
Gingivitis |
Moderate Bone Loss |
Severe Bone Loss |
We always offer non-surgical treatments first,
which can be very effective on Gingivitis, moderate and advanced
Periodontitis. We start with a Soft Tissue Management program
which removes all the offending bacteria and tarter above and
below the gum line, which are the cause of the disease. Our office
uses the best ultrasonic scalers possible, which release medicines
under the gum line as well. This removes bacteria and disinfects
the tissues. This is a very comfortable process. Along with active
treatment, patients are taught the best way to remove the bacteria
on a daily basis, which will allow the mouth to heal and prevent
future disease. There are then follow-up procedures after active
treatment to assess the success of treatment. If there are any
remaining areas of disease, we use locally delivered antibiotics
called Arestin.
Some patients with more severe disease are placed on a long-term
low dose of tetracycline called Periostat.
This actually does not act as an antibiotic, but is prevents the
harmful affects of the inflammation response to the bacteria,
which causes destruction of the ligaments and bones.
There are instances in advanced to severe periodontal
disease that need surgical treatment. We only recommend this when
necessary, and try to prevent this from ever needing to be done.
Periodontal disease has been linked to other diseases in the body
besides the mouth. Due to the inflammation chemicals that are
chronically release, other areas of the body can react as well.
These include the liver, kidneys, arthritis and especially the
risk of coronary heart disease. The importance of prevention and
proper home care can not be overstated.
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Healthy |
Bone Loss |
Healthy |
Bone Loss |
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