Electric Versus Manual Toothbrushes

Which brush is best? The answer to that question is: “The one you will use best,” says Dr. Denine Rice of RicePeriodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, California.

For some patients the manual toothbrush works well. When looking for a brush be sure you choose one with soft bristles and a handle that is comfortable. Brushing should be done using a circular motion that removes food particles from the teeth and also gently stimulates the gum tissue surrounding each tooth.

“Most often I recommend an electric toothbrush when a patient has dexterity challenges,” Dr. Rice adds. “An electric toothbrush allows for ease of use, especially for those who’ve had a stroke or who for other reasons have difficulty moving the brush a certain way.”

Even the best of brushers need to remember to floss. “The adage of floss the ones you wish to keep is true,” says Dr. Rice. Flossing disrupts bacteria between the teeth in areas that are inaccessible to your brush.

And don’t forget your routine visit to the hygienist. “Brushing and flossing is important, but only your dental professional can remove disease from pockets that surround your teeth.” Be sure to keep your recommended frequency as your dentist is working to keep your gums and bone, as well as your teeth in tip-top shape.

To learn more visit us at RicePeriodontics.com

Implants & Bone Grafting. Why They Should Go Hand In Hand.

For many, the idea of replacing a missing tooth comes at the same time as the decision to remove a tooth that is infected or diseased. “When a patient decides right away on an implant, it’s actually a great thing,” says Dr. Denine Rice, one of the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists as voted by her peers and patients. “When we know the direction the patient wishes to go, we can act to achieve an even better result.”

When a tooth is infected or diseased, many times the bone is also impacted.  This may mean once the tooth is extracted a larger than normal hole will be left behind. “There is an opportunity here,” Dr. Rice adds. “We can immediately place artificial bone into the socket site and preserve the site for future treatment or even place the bone and the implant at the same time. Stabilizing remaining bone is a very important part of caring long term for patients. “When bone is lost it can have a devastating effect on remaining teeth and also on future treatment options. Even wearing a traditional denture can be enhanced by the use of bone placed in a socket site.”

Since the bone is what goes unseen by patients, often they are unaware of exactly how important it is. “The roots of the teeth are stabilized by bone and once teeth are removed the bone gradually erodes. This can create a challenge for adjacent teeth. You may notice a divot or area where the bone sinks in a bit,” Dr. Rice adds. “In the past, if you’d lost teeth a while ago, this meant you would not be a candidate for an implant. Now though, with bone grafting, we can often times recreate the bone and provide the implant with enough stability to give the patient a long lasting result.”

To learn more visit us at RicePeriodontics.com

Implants – Your Periodontal Surgeon and Dentist Working Together

As implant success rates soar, and more and more patients are finding the benefits of replacing teeth, or even a single tooth, with this titanium technology, it is becoming even more important to understand how you can achieve the best result.

“The first thing to consider is the number of implants that your dentist has surgically placed,” advises Dr. Denine Rice, one of the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists. “With experience comes expertise.”

Peridontists are a specialty that focuses on gum tissue, and while the implant will be placed in the bone, it is important to have someone who is well knowledgeable about how to prevent tissue from “sloughing” or having other tissue damage. “Your gum tissue is the frame for your smile,” adds Dr. Rice, it is important to make sure that what can be seen is beautiful, while what is unseen, the implant, is structurally sound.” Having a 99% success rate is what draws patients to Dr. Rice.

While your peridontist may be the best person to surgically place your implant, it is your general dentist who has the expertise to place the final restoration. “Working together has many benefits. One is that the patient has two professionals both working to make sure the end result is stable and esthetic. Another is that the patient will be benefiting from the expertise of each individual,” says Dr. Rice.

Implants – a long term solution

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, more than 30 million Americans are missing all of their teeth in one or both jaws. This news is staggering as many of those people may be eating a diet that is compromising to their health.

“The reason dentists get concerned about missing teeth is that natural teeth provide the ability to eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables, along with other nutrient rich foods. When teeth are missing, especially those in an entire upper or lower arch, the ability to chew effectively may be lost and suddenly an unhealthy diet is the result,” says Dr. Denine Rice, a Periodontal specialist in Riverside, California.

            Implants can provide a long-term solution to those missing teeth. “With proper placement and maintenance, we see a 99% success rate of implants over a five year period,” adds Dr. Rice. “And the first five years after treatment are generally when most implants will fail. Often, we see patients that have had their implants for more than 20 years.”

            To learn more about dental implants or to see if you are a candidate, schedule anappointment today.

Dry Mouth

“Xerostomia or dry mouth is a condition that affects many, especially those who are on certain medications or who breath through the mouth,” explains Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, California.

Saliva is a necessity as it helps the mouth stay clean while digesting food. Without saliva the bacteria found in the food deposits is not washed away, but instead clings to the tooth. The bacteria are what causes decay and disease.

Xerostomia is generally the challenge when you notice any of the following conditions:

a.     A dry or sticky feeling of your oral tissues.

b.     Feeling thirsty

c.      A dry or red tongue

d.     A sore throat that feels dry

e.     Difficulty speaking, tasting, or swallowing

f.      Cracked lips

The good news is that there is help for those with dry mouths.  “There are many products on the market that can assist with producing more saliva. Also you can find gum and candies that contain xylitol,” adds Dr. Rice. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that prevents decay.  Remember as we head into the summer season to drink plenty of water.

If you feel you may be one of those who suffers from xerostomia the best course of action may be to see your dentist. They can make additional specific recommendations that will help you keep your smile bright and healthy.

All on 4

“Dentures in a Day” or the “All on 4” technique. What is it? Now there is a way to stabilize dentures and you can receive the benefits right away.

If you are one of the many who, in years past inquired about implants and decided against treatment, there have been some new developments.

One is that many who may have not been considered candidates for implants, with new technology and types of implants available, may actually now benefit from the surgery to place titanium in the jaw bone to stabilize a denture or to replace a tooth.

Another challenge many faced was the expense, which has come down considerably over the years so now it’s more affordable than ever.

“Finally, with advanced techniques, it is now possible to not only create stability for your denture, but to do the treatment in a day,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal Practice. As one of the Inland Empire’s Top Dentists, Dr. Rice understands how difficult it is for patients to lose their dentition. “It can become very emotional. Our smile is what people notice first about us,” she adds. “That’s why I’m so pleased that the All on 4, Teeth in a Day concept is available to my patients.”

While the process takes a bit more than a day, impressions are taken and lab created dentures are created, the surgery itself to place the implants and then the placing of the denture on the implants all occurs in one day.

“It is such a wonderful treatment option for patients,” Dr. Rice says. “Call us today and learn more about how your periodontist and your general dentist can work together to achieve the smile you deserve!”

Results of LANAP

The results are in: “Patients love LANAPLaser Periodontal Therapy,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Implant and Periodontal practice.  For many patients the threat of losing natural teeth draws them to consider periodontal surgery. “With more than 80% of the population affected and more than 50% of those losing teeth to periodontal problems, periodontal surgery is generally the recommended treatment.

Periodontal disease begins as plaque that hardens into tartar or calculus. Bacteria thrive on calculus and cause infection. During the early stages the patient will notice redness of the gum tissue, but as the disease progresses, bone is lost and teeth may become loose and breath, bad. As a patient, you will be informed that you have pockets around your teeth that have been formed by bacteria.  “Early treatment,” adds Dr. Rice, one of your Inland Empire Top Dentists, “allows your periodontist to better control the disease. That is why we love to get involved at the beginning.” When periodontal disease is left unchecked, too often the disease progresses to the point that surgery is the only option.

The only way to repair the damage done by bacteria at a certain point is through surgery. In the past, the only option available was to use a scalpel to open the pocket, remove the bacteria and diseased tissue and then suture the area. “Since the FDA has approved the LANAP protocol though, we have another way to help patients,” says Dr. Rice. “LANAP is not just a laser treatment though, and there is some misunderstanding about that. Only LANAP Periodontal Treatment has been approved to treat periodontal disease.”

No cutting, no sewing or suturing and an FDA approved procedure has patients very excited. “They love the fact that the treatment is state-of-the-art, but more important it is a minimally-invasive, patient-friendly procedure.

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease it is important to see your dentist on the recommended maintenance schedule and then when and if the time comes for treatment, check your options before you proceed.  

Whole Health and Dentistry

More and more dentists are focusing on the whole health of their patients. “We are frequently the practitioner who sees a patient more often than their MD,” says Dr. Denine Rice, one of your Top Dentists in the Inland Empire. This means that often you will find your dentist checking your blood pressure and making recommendations based on their findings. This also means that your dentist will be well versed in how to live a whole life.

a.     Diet: “Eating fresh vegetables and fruit, and maintaining balance is the key,” says Dr. Rice from her Riverside PeriodontalPractice. “Eating foods as close to their natural form is best.”

b.     Exercise: “Find the exercise that you can maintain and enjoy over a lifetime, whether that be walking or swimming. Exercise is an important element of whole body health,” adds Dr. Rice. 

c.      Stress reduction: “Meditation is a great stress reducer, as are breathing exercises. No one appreciates stress in their lives, but there are ways to control the impact it has on your body.” 

d.     See your dentist: “Seeing your dentist on a routine basis is good for your overall health, as the mouth is a window into what is occurring elsewhere in your body,” says Dr. Rice. According to WebMD (link is: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection) a patient with serious gum disease often has a more chronic condition as well. “These days more and more physicians and dentists are working together to fight disease and help give patients whole health.”

If it has been a while since your dentist has seen you, now is the time to call and schedule an appointment.

ICAT Versus Regular Radiograph Consult

The ICAT is a dental scan technology that provides your dentist with a 3D image of the bone in your mouth.

“It gives us a view that we just can’t get from traditional x-rays,” says Dr. Denine Rice of Rice Periodontics and ImplantSurgery in Riverside, California.

The scan typically takes less than 20 seconds and is done in an open-air environment. The benefit is it provides so much information that assists in determining the appropriate placement of your dental implants, and at the same time exposes you, the patient, to less radiation than a traditional CT scan.

Your dentist, with this 3D image will be able to better plan and place your dental implant. “We are very proud of our dental implant success rate,” says Dr. Denine Rice, “and the ICAT is part of what makes our success rate possible.”

The ICAT scan is also helpful for diagnosing TMJ problems or to determine the exact location of impacted wisdom teeth. “But it is critical in getting placement right for implants,” says Dr. Rice. “When considering an implant, ask for an ICAT to be done.”