End of Year

The end of the insurance year is fast approaching, so Dr. DenineRice suggests taking advantage. Has Dr. Rice recommended a treatment that you haven't taken care of yet? Or have you been dragging your feet on laser periodontal surgery? Now is the perfect time to get these things done, now before your dental insurance benefits are lost.

 

Insurance companies award you a certain amount of money each year. If you do not use the money you loose the amount.  Once the year is over any money not used for dental treatment goes back to the insurance company. However, you already paid for this money by paying your monthly premium.  And while you may believe that your dental insurance will cover you when you get around to that appointment, putting treatment off not only decreases the overall health of your smile, but you may be lose money and options if your dental insurance benefits change the following year for some reason out of your control.

Waiting to complete recommended procedures can cause more damage. If you have a periodontal infection the only way to treat is to remove the bacteria in the mouth. Otherwise, the infection can spread not only to other teeth but around your body, causing damage to other body parts.  In the end,  waiting for a treatment can end up costing you a significant amount of money, time and your overall health.

Every month you and perhaps your employer pay for these benefits. Dr. Rice suggests you take advantage of this special opportunity to increase the health of your gums. 

Halloween Warning

While your kids are running around the neighborhood you maybe trailing behind, waiting for the moment where you can steal your favorite piece or two. You may want to stop yourself. In a fun size package of M & M’s there are ninety-three calories and ten grams of sugar. “While you’re savoring the chocolate yumminess, your teeth are holding on to the sugar, and your hips, the calories,” says Dr. Denine Rice.  If you think you’re going to eat just one, you may be lying to yourself because on average, adults will consume around 24 pounds of candy during Halloween.  

One or two pieces of candy are not going to cause harm. However, if you do not brush your teeth right away the sugar will begin to turn into bacteria and acid that eats at the enamel of your teeth.   Some recent research suggests that you should wait at least thirty minutes before brushing after eating. However, waiting until late into the evening or not brushing at all gives the acid in food the fuel it needs to attack the enamel.

To help protect your teeth from sugar brush your teeth before you plan to eat. This will remove any bacteria that are currently on your teeth and brush soon after you consume sugar to remove the acid from your teeth. While keeping candy in a large bag may seem easier, if you are prone to grabbing one or two pieces of candy each time you enter the kitchen, place a few pieces in different locations. For example, place some in the refrigerator, a small amount in the freezer and some in the cupboard. 

Types of Oral Pathology Problems

 

Our mouths are constantly changing and while brushing your teeth you may have noticed something different. These changes should not be ignored and you should visit your regular provider if you see changes in the pathology of your mouth.

Types of pathologies could be white lesions in the mouth. If you are a smoker or chew smokeless tobacco you are at a higher risk for oral cancer. The earlier this is treated, the higher rate of success.  These white lesions are usually in a small patch on the cheek or inner lip. There are multiple types of tobacco cessation programs that Periodontist, Dr. Rice can recommend.  

A fluid filled sac on your tongue is called a Median Palatal Cyst. It usually is in the middle of your tongue and can be very sensitive.  If cysts are found it may be recommended to remove them. By removing them, it can reduce pain, breathing trouble and improve your overall speech.

 

Hairy tongue is a condition where there is abnormal hair growth on your tongue. More serious conditions of this are generally caused by drug use or HIV, however, individuals that are on antibiotics for a long time, have poor oral health care, or are undergoing radiation treatment can also experience this.  The tongue may appear black in color. The recommended treatment for this is very dependent upon the cause.

These types of pathologies should never be taken lightly. If you notice any of these oral concerns contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team for an extensive exam.

Oral Health Exam

An oral health exam should be conducted on a routine basis in order to make sure there are no abnormal growths in the mouth, neck, or jaw.  The exam should be completed every year.  This procedure is painless and does not take long, however this simple procedure could save your life.

Oral cancer is best treated when caught in the early stages. Your dentist may use a laser light, which allows them to see any changes in the mouth, throat or tongue that they are unable to see with the naked eye.  They will also check the inside of your lips, cheeks and tongue.

Your dentist will generally run their hands down your neck and the jaw, feeling the nodes for any changes.  Next, they will have you move your tongue from side to side and lift it up to determine if there is any discoloration or swelling.

During the exam the dentist is looking to see if there are any white lesions on the soft pink part in your mouth or any abnormal growths, such as cysts. While you may think that you would see these warning signs, you may not.

This exam can be completed at your yearly dental check-up. If anything is suspicious, treatment options will be further discussed with your provider based on the type and size of the abnormality and if appropriate, the stage. Eighty percent of individuals that have been diagnosed early with oral cancer have successful results. Don’t wait, if you haven’t seen your dentist in the last year, call Dr. Rice today.

Xenograft

A bone graft is a procedure completed when a patient lacks the necessary bone structure to place an implant due to bone loss. Bone loss can occur due to extreme cases of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease attacks the gums and creates pockets. Once the pocket is deep, the secure fit that holds your teeth in place is gone and it can cause you to lose a tooth. This means it may be more difficult for an implant to be placed in the mouth.

“A Xenograft is the implantation of bovine (cow) bone,” says Dr. Denine Rice.  It is a xenograft because one graft of a species is being taken and implanted into a different species. A xenograft is perfectly safe and has been used successfully for many years.  Ample bone can be obtained and no secondary donor site is necessary.  The use of this type of graft has increased over the years due to the amount of tissue that is available compared to live tissue from others.  Anyone that is completing this type of procedure should be aware of the risk factors that are involved.  However, when done correctly by Dr. Rice, the risks decrease.  

Once the graft has been placed the healing time is usually four to six weeks. One of Inland Empire’s top dentists, Dr. Denine Rice will walk you through the procedure before it has been completed. She and her team can also discuss with you any questions regarding what to do after your surgery.

Types of Bone Graft Surgery

There are different types of bone grafts that may be recommended if you having missing teeth and are going to have implants. A bone graft allows for bone to be added to the jawbone to produce a more stable structure for the implant to be attached to. An autogenous bone graft is where bone is removed from another part of the body and is harvested. Once the bone is harvested it is then placed in the correct location. The other two types of bone grafts that may be recommended are allograft and xenograft.

            Bone grafts that are taken from a bank are screened for diseases. When using bone from one of these banks they are incredibly careful and adhere to the same guidelines as tissue banks.

            Periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice says, “An allograft bone graft is when bone is either created in a laboratory and is considered man-made or synthetic when it is taken from a bone bank and placed in the mouth.  These two procedures have been done for over thirty years according to the, Oral Health Infectious Control center and are very safe when done with a trained periodontist.   Once the bone is ready to go, the procedure is relatively quick. A small area is cut where the bone needs to be placed, the bone is placed in the correct location and a barrier may be placed to protect the bone from the inside of the mouth while it is healing.

            After the procedure is completed Dr. Rice and her team will provide you with after-care instructions. While there is a short healing period, once you are healed, the implant will be able to be placed with a secure fit.

Bone Grafting Can Save Your Smile

Bone Grafting Can Save Your Smile

Unfortunately, if your periodontal disease runs away and get’s the best of your mouth, you may have some missing teeth. No need to be discouraged though, because there is a way to restore your smile. Having a full, set of pearly white teeth is important for a variety of reasons and your periodontist may recommend dental implants to replace any missing teeth you may have.

In order to replace your missing teeth with implants they have to be firmly placed to the jawbone. “Implants are the preferred method to replacing teeth,” according to periodontist Dr. Rice, “because they provide full function of your mouth. And to get the best results many times it means a bone graft will be recommended.”

There are a variety of different types of bone grafts and each one works a little differently. The most common type of bone graft is an Autogenous bone graft. This type of graft utilizes bone from another location in the body and will be implanted in your mouth. The bone maybe removed from the iliac section of the pelvis, the chin or the posterior third molar areas of the jaw. The bone will be harvested, but once this has occurred the procedure is very simple.

If the procedure is done a small slit in the area where the bone is going to be placed. It will be secured using one or two screws. A barrier may be placed in order to protect the site, then the site is securely closed and you are on your way to healing. This process does take a little while to heal before an implant can be placed. However, over time the bone will regenerate and provide the base you need for an implant to be securely placed in your mouth.

               

Dental Vibe, An Alternative To A Painful Shot

Visiting the periodontist does not have to be a painful experience. You can visit Dr. Rice and her team and enjoy procedures with a new type of technology that reduces the discomfort you may feel. Dr. Denine Rice and her team knew as soon as Dental Vibe was available that it was something they wanted in their office.  Many patients are scared of having periodontal procedures. In fact, many may have felt inhibited from visiting the dentist for years. No longer do you need to wait to get the healthy mouth you deserve.

So, what is it?

Dental Vibe is a safe, easy to use technology that provides vibration at the injection site before anesthetic is administered. This handheld dental tool simply provides a tickling sensation to the area before the injection is given. When your procedure is done, you are ready to leave the office.

And this month if you visit Dr. Rice and they use Dental Vibe you can reap the benefits. Simply review Dental Vibe at their website and they’ll enter your name to win a free IPAD mini.

LANAP-A Step Above The Rest

 

Lasers are used for a multitude of needs these days. For example, you may have had your vision corrected with laser surgery or a tattoo removed. Lasers are used in doctor’s office for a variety of needs. Now periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice is able to use periodontal lasers in order to enhance the health of your mouth.

LANAP uses a thin laser with hairs that can go below the gum-line to remove bacteria. While this procedure may cause some bleeding it results in a lot less than traditional methods of treatment. One of the biggest set backs to getting periodontal disease is that once you have it you always have it. However, patients in Dr. Denine Rice’s office have seen tremendous results and some have been lucky enough to see their gums reattach to the teeth. This means they can have a healthier smile for years to come.

After you have laser surgery your can return to work if you desire. There should be very little bleeding, pain and downtime. Remember, your gums will never be healthy unless the bacteria is removed from the below the gum-line. LANAP allows for this option no matter what your gums looked like before. Then all you have to remember is to be gentle when you are brushing your gums and teeth. Vigorous brushing is never encouraged no matter the health of your gums!