How Does The Pinhole Grafting Procedure Work?

You may have been one of the lucky ones who heard that Dr. Rice & her team are trained in the Pinhole Grafting Technique. Dr. DenineRice and her team can help you build up healthy gum tissue and change your smile. So, how does this procedure work?

Once Dr. Rice and her team have determined you are a candidate for this procedure. You will schedule an appointment. At your first visit, Dr. Rice will utilize a special tool that creates tiny pinholes in the gums around the tooth that has recession. Then Dr. Rice will move surrounding tissue into place. This will cover the root of the tooth. After this is completed the healing will begin.

 

Most patients say there is little discomfort or pain during the procedure. They are not put under and do not usually require even light sedation during surgery. This means you can get back to the things that are important in your life without waiting for your gum graft procedure to heal.  A very small amount of patients do experience swelling, infection or tenderness, but the risk of this is reduced because this procedure allows for the area to heal faster.

For more information on this procedure, contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team today!

5 Tips To Flossing

Flossing is the key dental habit you need in order to prevent periodontal disease. There is no other alternative or option for removing food from between the teeth.  While you can brush the front and back of your teeth, bristles of a toothbrush do not effectively remove food.   Here are five tips from Dr. Rice on how to floss.

1.     Utilize floss you like. Don’t waste time and money on floss that is not comfortable for you to use or you do not like. Find one that works for you and try different kinds until you find one that motivates you to floss.

2.     Set a particular time everyday when you are going to floss. Setting up the routine is the key to creating a habit.

3.     Dr.Denine Rice, suggests, “Listen to music or sports while flossing.”  Pairing flossing with something you do like can shift your brain to think positively about an experience you don’t necessarily enjoy.

4.     Put the floss in multiple locations in your house. If you have floss in a bathroom downstairs, put it upstairs as well. Or place floss in the kitchen drawer if helps to remind you to brush.

5.     Floss everyday. The more consistently you floss the less likely you are to have problems from not flossing. Non-flossing can cause bleeding gums, swollen or puffy gums. Once you have those early signs of disease, flossing can cause pain or uncomfortable feelings. This can decrease your desire to floss resulting in more damage and potential tooth loss.

Contact Dr. Rice and her team today for more information.

5 Ways Periodontal Treatment Can Enhance Your Smile!

A healthy white smile can enhance your life and fill it with opportunities. You want to have the best smile you can, and treating periodontal concerns can improve your odds of landing the job of your dreams, but that’s not the only benefit. Here are 5 tips from Periodontist Denine Rice on how your smile can improve with periodontal treatment.  

1. Improved gum tissue color and health

If your gums are red and inflamed, periodontal treatment can reduce the puffiness and improve the look to a more natural-looking color.  

2. Gum shaping can even out a smile

Laser treatment for periodontal disease can do more than just clean out the bacteria impacting your gums, it can also be used to reshape your tissue so that it is more even. This creates a cosmetically improved smile. 

3. Gum grafting can even out a smile that has receded. 

Have your gums receded due to periodontal disease or excessive brushing? "Gum grafting is a great option that can restore the look of your smile," states Dr. Rice. 

4. Dental Implants can replace missing teeth 

Missing and cracked teeth take away from your intended message when you are talking to people. Employers report you only have seven seconds to make a first impression. You don’t want your lasting impression to be one of a missing tooth. 

5. Remove stubborn stains 

Stains can be caused by the foods we eat and the drinks we enjoy. Some stains are hard to remove with brushing and flossing. Periodontal treatments are designed to remove the deep plaque that is stuck on our teeth. A residual benefit, when all of that other stuff is removed from the surface of your teeth, it can also eliminate some of the staining.