Do You Have Great Oral Health?

Research has found that good oral health habits contribute to overall health. Periodontal disease is linked to heart disease, problems with liver, depression and overall decreased health and vitality.  “The health of your smile can open up opportunities and keep you moving forward in your career,” says Dr. Rice. Employers report they assess the look of a person’s smile in seven seconds or less to determine if the person is the right person for the job.

Take this short quiz to determine if you have good oral health.

1.    Do you brush 2x a day?
2.    Do you floss at least one time a day?
3.    Do your gums bleed when you floss?
4.    Do you drink 64 oz. of water a day?
5.    Are your gums pink?

If you answered yes to all but number three, Dr. Denine Rice says, “You are in good shape.” While a comprehensive oral exam can ensure that there are no underlining problems with your gums or smile, these five habits can keep you moving in the right direction with a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

Pick Your Gums This Year For Your New Year’s Resolution

People talk about New Year’s resolutions and how they want to eat healthier, make new friends or regularly complete a hobby. These are all important, but this year make a commitment to restoring the health of your gums and your by smile by making a New Year’s resolution to floss your teeth daily.

Dr. Rice says, “There is no other single activity that removes plaque and decay from between your teeth.” While brushing is awesome and needed as well, food can easily get stuck between the teeth, where it stays and mixes with bacteria already in the mouth. The bacteria can eventually lead to decay, periodontal disease and other problems. Flossing helps to decrease these problems.

With the New Year right around the corner flossing is a great way to recommit to the health of your gums and put healthy habits in place. Not only will your teeth be happy but a healthy mouth equals a healthy body as well.  Periodontal disease has been linked to problems with a person’s heart, liver, and overall feelings of fatigue.

When the ball drops, and you are wondering what you should accomplish this year, give back to your gums. For more information on the impact of gum disease, contact Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice & her team today.

Holiday Restorative Procedures To Cosmetically Improve Your Smile

People think of the holidays as a time to take care of other people. To give loved ones a gift they have been wanting or to enjoy a meal with family. This year, give yourself the gift of restoring your smile back to its natural and beautiful self. While the holidays are happening it is a great time to take a little time away from it all and ensure your smile is holiday photo ready. Some cosmetic procedures that restore your smile can drastically change the look of your smile in a day.

“Periodontal laser surgery helps to decrease the visible signs of gum disease by eliminating the bacteria that may be causing your gums to be swollen and bleed,” says Dr. Denine Rice.  The fine laser goes beneath the gum line but does not require the gums be cut away from the teeth, as with traditional periodontal surgery. Most patients are in and back to their lives in a day.

When you smile if gums cover your teeth causing them to look short and uneven, a procedure can be completed that helps even out the length of your gums. This procedure may take a little more time to heal, but Dr. Rice, says it’s a great way to improve the cosmetic look of your smile, and to restore your self-confidence.

     For more information on how to improve your smile contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Is Laser Surgery Safe For Women Who Are Pregnant?

Periodontal disease is an infection that is prevalent in the body. Research suggests that women who are pregnant and have periodontal disease are more likely to have smaller babies and babies who are premature. Dr. Rice states, "anyone who is expecting and has an infection should have a checkup by a periodontist in order to create a plan on how to best support gum health during pregnancy." The great news is, that if you are a candidate for laser surgery, it is safe for women who are pregnant. 

Some individuals may not recommend periodontal surgery for women who are pregnant due to the necessity of local anesthetic. There is good news; most of the time laser periodontal surgery can be done without the need for any anesthetic. 

The laser goes below the gum line, in order to remove bacteria that is below the gum line and causing periodontal disease. This means it can be done without having to cut the gums away from the teeth. This revolutionary breakthrough provides patients with an opportunity to have less pain, less healing time and less of a need for pain medication afterwards. 

Prior to getting laser surgery, talk to your doctor and Dr. Denine Rice to determine if you are a candidate for laser periodontal surgery prior to delivering your baby.  

Love Your Gums with Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic dentistry may be something you have been considering for a long time. Are you unsure how your cosmetic periodontist can help? Here are three tips that Dr. Rice recommends for patients who are unhappy with their smile. 

1. Evaluate the overall health of your gums. Do they bleed when you floss or brush? Are there signs of decay? Are gums uneven when you smile? Do they appear puffy, swollen and/or have lost their healthy pink color? These are all signs that you may have periodontal disease. Prior to any other cosmetic procedures, it is important to get your gum health back to normal.
2. Are you missing any teeth? This can be embarrassing when you go for a job interview. You may have become accustomed to lip smiling, however employers report that a smile is one of the first things they evaluate when interviewing a new employee. If you have missing or broken teeth, there are a variety of options to replace the missing teeth.
3. A gum graft procedure is a fantastic cosmetic procedure that can even out the appearance of your gums. If they are uneven in the front due to trauma or periodontal disease, using the skin from the roof of your mouth can allow your smile to be beautiful again.

Your smile is important, don’t wait for cosmetic dentistry to regain the health and beauty of your smile. 

3 Reasons To Get A Periodontal Cosmetic Procedure

There is still time for you to get the healthy gums you want. While the countdown to the Holidays is occurring, and you may be in the full swing of shopping, don't forget to give yourself the gift of a healthy smile. Dr. Denine Rice says, "it can be easy when you're shopping for everyone around you to forget to take care of you." Don't put off your dental needs any longer. As the year comes to a close you could lose out on dental insurance benefits you have already paid for. This is the perfect time to get the smile you have always wanted. 

During this season, you can take advantage of laser surgery to decrease symptoms of periodontal disease. The longer you put off this necessary procedure the worse the long-term impact can be. While disease starts in your gums, left on its own it can enter your blood stream and impact your heart, liver and overall health.
 

Current research suggests that only 13.5% of people get help with their periodontal disease, (Perio.org). Now there is no reason to wait because once the new year begins dental insurance benefits you've already paid for are gone. Today you can take charge and make the choice to love your gums & achieve a lifetime of smiles. Millions of Americans are negatively impacted by gingivitis and periodontal disease. You don't have to be one of the millions.  

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

3 Reasons To Get A Periodontal Cosmetic Procedure

The health and length of your gums can be impacted by a variety of things. How well you brush and floss, the amount of dental decay you are impacted by, or an accident where you have had damage to your mouth. This procedure, while it may sound scary, is completed often and can allow for an individual to have a cosmetically, beautiful smile.  Here are three common reasons why you may want to consider gum graft surgery:

1.     Periodontal disease can impact the length of your gums and cause your teeth to become loose as the disease becomes worse. Once you have healthier gums, gum graft surgery can provide a more even look when you smile.

2.     Reduce tooth sensitivity. Root exposure can cause increased sensitivity when eating hot and cold items or when air touches the root. Gum graft surgery can cover up the roots by utilizing tissue from the roof of your mouth to allow you to enjoy eating without worrying about pain.

3.     Can reduce further bone loss and recession of gums. Once healthy tissue is in place and is healing, it can help to decrease gum loss.

For more information on how gum graft surgery works contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

National Flossing Day

Did you miss National flossing day? Well don’t worry, your gums don’t mind when you make the commitment to them, just that you make the commitment to floss. Flossing may have once been seen as something extra you do to keep your smile healthy. Now days we know better. Periodontal disease can lead to heart and liver problems. If you are pregnant, research shows that you are more likely to be exposed to negative consequences of periodontal disease.

You and your gums are together for a lifetime treat them right. It is important to remove any food left over from meals. Flossing is the only way to take care of this. The longer food is stuck on your teeth the more likely it is that decay sets in. As food continues to be on the teeth, plaque and decay can move below the gum line, causing your gums to separate from your teeth.

Your gums are soft tissue that will soften and bleed when not taken care of. “There should never be a time.” says, Dr. Rice, “that your gums bleed when you are flossing.” If you are faced with bleeding, puffy or swollen gums you may want to schedule an appointment with your periodontist in order to get your gum health back on track.

Contact Dr. DenineRice & her team today.

What Would You Rather Do?

Periodontal research found that more than a third of Americans would rather do a chore they hate, than brush their teeth, (Perio.org).  But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are 3 Tips from Dr. Rice on how to increase the fun of flossing and decrease your risk of periodontal problems.

1.     Floss with vigor and pizazz.  Don’t just let your floss do the work, have fun with it. Put on music and dance while you floss or put your favorite movie on. Do whatever you have to do to lighten up the mood and remove the stress you feel surrounding flossing.

2.     Floss everyday at the same time. “If you floss at the same time says,” Dr. Denine Rice, “it will help it become less of a problem and more of a routine.” The more routine the more likely you are to miss the opportunity to floss your teeth and keep your smile healthy.

3.     Change your mantra. We love to do things we find fun and that we love. But if you begin the negative talk as soon as you pick up the floss, it can make two minutes of flossing seem like forever.

For more information on flossing techniques contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

3 Ways Water Improves Gum Health

Your doctor, the radio, and your trainer all may be encouraging you to consume more water and now your periodontist is continuing to report this important message of consuming 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Dr. Rice says, “Consuming this amount of water each day not only improves the overall health of your body but it can help improve your gum health as well.”

Food that stays stuck to the teeth and gums increases the likelihood of gum disease especially if you have a high carb diet. Drinking water helps wash food away from the teeth and gums and reduces the opportunity of bacteria to cause problems for your gums.

Water helps decrease sugar cravings. Most individuals believe they are hungry and reach for the sugary foods to snack on in between meals instead of realizing they are probably dehydrated. Drinking water helps you to feel full longer and reduces snacking.

“Water consumption can decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth,” states Dr. Denine Rice. A dry mouth increases the opportunity of bacteria, the more bacteria the higher opportunity for the bacteria to hide behind tarter and plague. Consuming water ensures that you have plenty of saliva to remove food from the teeth and keep the amount of tarter and plaque low.

For more information on how to improve your smile, contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Laser Surgery Can Save Your Smile

When you hear the word laser surgery, you may be concerned about the price, or the damage that a laser may cause to your gums. It may sound new age, and you may be wondering how a tiny laser can remove bacteria from your gums and improve your dental health. But lasers have been improved and are now getting you the most out of your money when it comes to improving the overall health of your gums.

Having unhealthy gums can cost you more than you think.  If you do not get treatment for periodontal disease, it can lead to major problems and not just tooth loss. Dr. Rice states, “You can begin to lose teeth and bone as your gums begin to pull away from the teeth. Decay and bacteria can also spread through the body causing medical problems as well. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease and liver problems.

Laser periodontal surgery allows a fine laser to go below the gum line and clean out the bacteria without having to cut the gums. This allows for faster recovery time, less time off of work, and more time spending the holidays with family and friends. Laser surgery only requires usually two main appointments as opposed to traditional laser surgery. This also reduces the amount of money to be spent overall on surgery.

Once laser surgery is completed you usually can resume normal activity, and after a few days you can resume normal eating. In order to set up your consultation today for a better smile tomorrow, contact Dr. DenineRice & her team.  

3 Reasons Why You Should Have A CPE!

A comprehensive periodontal evaluation helps the periodontist determine how healthy your gums and smile are. There is more to the health of your mouth then just whether your gums bleed or not. This comprehensive exam provides your periodontist with a way to see the entire mouth and evaluate how to best provide for your treatment. This exam will consist of looking at six different areas. Prior to your insurance benefits running out, it is important to look at how healthy your mouth really is.

A comprehensive periodontal exam can let the periodontist know exactly what type of treatment you need in order to improve your smile. You may have gingivitis, periodontal disease or plaque that has built up. This exam will help determine the best course of action and what you need in order to get your smile back on track.

Bone can impact the way your smile works as well as the ability to hold teeth. It is important to keep this in mind, especially if you have missing teeth due to periodontal disease. Dr. Rice and her team recommend a comprehensive exam to help evaluate the bone structure and whether you are a candidate for an implant. 

Contact Periodontist Dr. Rice and her team today in order to set up your comprehensive periodontal exam to

Say, “I Do!”

This insurance year, say “I do to your smile,” and complete a thirty-day flossing challenge to enhance your smile,” recommends Dr. Rice. Periodontal disease in most Americans is caused by not flossing. The only way to reduce your chance of periodontal disease is to floss your teeth and remove the food that builds up on the sides of your teeth. This season, before your insurance runs out get in to your periodontal specialist if you are out of care and then agree to floss everyday for thirty-days and see if this makes a difference in the overall health of your smile.

While you are changing and committing to have a healthier you, it is important to get any recommended periodontal procedure done to remove bacteria from your gums that is causing your periodontal disease to be worse. You only have one set of gums, it is important to keep them in healthy, working condition. Prior to your insurance benefits running out for the year take advantage of this awesome opportunity to improve your gum health.

There is no reason to wait until you lose a tooth or until your periodontal disease impacts your smile before committing to gum health. Not only does decay impact your smile when left untreated, but it can impact your entire body as well.

This year take advantage of your dental benefits and say yes to your smile.

For more information contact, Dr. Denine Rice & her team today.

3 Ways To Improve Your Smile & Your Gum Health

Some people may look in the mirror and think it is impossible to improve their smile. They may brush and floss regularly, but still may find their gums bleed or that they are swollen and puffy. Unless the underlining problem is corrected, they will continue to be plagued with an unhealthy smile.

By brushing 2x a day you can automatically improve your gum health. You need to remove food from the surface of the teeth in order to reduce bacteria in the mouth. Brushing is the only way to accomplish this task.

Floss one time a day at least. Food gets stuck between the teeth and stays there. The bristles of the toothbrush can do a fantastic job, but they cannot do the entire job. Flossing will remove any food particles that are hanging on and creating a problem for the health of your gums.

Take care of the underlining problem of periodontal disease or gingivitis is critical to making sure you have a healthy smile. Without getting rid of the bacteria, through periodontal laser surgery, your gums will continue to bleed or be swollen. And the constant bacteria running through your body can cause problems for your oral health, as well as your general health.

For more information contact Dr. Rice & her team!

It’s Not Too Late

While the holidays are fast approaching it is not too late to visit periodontist Dr. Denine Rice and her team to get the right periodontal care you need. Do you have missing? Research shows that once you lose one tooth it is likely you are going to lose another. Don’t let your smile be hidden, in another holiday family photo, because you are embarrassed.

When the holidays end, many times so do your insurance benefits for the year, but there are procedures that can be completed to give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

 

Implants look and act like real teeth. They are placed into the jawbone in order to provide stability to the tooth. It is important, if you receive implants, to brush and floss daily in order to keep from developing problems again in the future.

A fixed bridge is an alternative option as long as the teeth, jawbone and gum tissue on either side of the missing tooth are strong enough to hold the bridge. Since this does require that the gums are healthy – you wouldn’t want to build a house on a poor foundaton – it is in your best interest to visit your periodontist and determine if your gums are healthy and the bone strong enough to support your bridge..

It is important to have a consultation in order to determine which option is the best option for you to replace your missing teeth, and either way, it’s a good idea to speak to a specialist. While there are several options available due to the health of your gums and other teeth, one option may work better than other.

Contact Dr. DenineRice & her team today for options.

Laser Surgery Can Do More Than Save Your Gums

Have you been looking in the mirror and wondering if a laser can change your smile? Are you unhappy with the color of your gums? Or want to improve the overall health of your gums back to their natural, healthy pink color? Laser surgery can improve the overall look and health of your smile.

Periodontal disease used to have to be controlled using in a painful process of scrapping and cutting the gums in order to get deep below the gum line. This procedure allowed bacteria that caused periodontal disease to be taken care of and to get your gum health back on track. Now there is no reason to go through this process because lasers can do the job and without the need to cut or sew.

The tiny lasers on the LANAP laser are also able to impact the color of the gums. If you are unhappy for any reason with the pigment color, in a few short sessions, Periodontist Dr. Rice, can help you achieve the result you are happy with. Ensuring confidence and pride in your smile.

Periodontal disease, trauma or smoking can cause damage to the gums. They may bleed, be swollen or change color, and laser surgery, can help remove the bacteria below the gum line. Once the bacteria are gone, your gums can begin the process of healing and reattaching correctly to the teeth. Healthy, pink gums help hold your teeth in the right place and ensure your smile is the smile you want to enjoy for a lifetime.

For more information, contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team toda

3 Positives To Your Dental Insurance Calendar Year Running Out

The dental year is quickly winding down. You may have insurance benefits you have not used. Whether you were holding onto them because you didn’t want to waste them in the event of a dental emergency, or you just haven’t thought about the fantastic benefit of having dental insurance lately, “You have now come upon a great opportunity,” says Periodontist Dr.Rice.

During this time, you may now be able to take advantage of getting laser surgery for periodontal disease and the insurance benefits can be spread out over two insurance years. Periodontal disease can impact not only your gums and teeth, but it can also negatively impact your entire body.

Dental insurance can also be used to fix and restore your smile. If your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, gum-contouring procedures can many times reshape your gums to allow your teeth to be more even and to enhance your smile. While this procedure may sound cosmetic in nature, lower gums can increase the risk of teeth becoming loose and it may eventually lead to tooth loss.

Fixing missing teeth can improve the overall look of your smile and make a huge difference in the first impression you present. While periodontists work with your gums Dr. Denine Rice is able to also help improve your smile by working on improving the strength of your jawbone to ensure it can hold any dental implants needed to fix missing teeth.

For more information on procedures to improve your smile, contact Dr. Rice & her team today!

Hypertension & The Link To Poor Oral Hygiene

A research study out of Korea, perio.org, has recently found a link between poor oral hygiene and high blood pressure. The study focused on people who reportedly did not brush or floss their teeth on a regular basis as well as their use of mouthwash.  Periodontal disease is linked to inflammation, which enters the blood stream. The article suggests that further research needs to be conducted in order determine a direct link, but for now they have found that individuals who have excellent oral hygiene habits and do not have periodontal disease are less likely to have high blood pressure than not.

 

To prevent periodontal disease brushing two times a day is critical to keep your gums healthy. Brushing help removes food from the teeth that will decrease the risk of dental decay and cavities. It also helps to decrease the buildup of plaque on the surface of the teeth.

Flossing one time a day is the single most important oral hygiene habit in order to remove food from between the teeth. There is not other single activity that can improve the strength of the gums and decrease the risk of periodontal disease. It also is the only way to remove food from being stuck between the teeth. The longer food is on the gums,” says Dr. DenineRice, “the more likely the risk of periodontal disease.”

While there may not be a current direct link of high blood pressure and periodontal disease, it is critical to keep your mouth and smile healthy by brushing & flossing. “Why take the risk of high blood pressure when you can prevent it,” says Dr. Rice.

3 Ways To Use Your Dental Insurance

At the end of every year your dental insurance amount starts over. If you have dental money left and do not use it, the money will be gone. Don’t hold off any longer for that periodontal procedure you’ve been waiting for.

Gum contouring can help to rebuild the health of your smile as well as improve the cosmetic look of your smile. Gum recession can make your teeth look bigger than they are and can increase your chances of decay and eventually tooth loss. Dr. Denine Rice recommends, “Utilize your insurance benefits to keep your smile healthy.”

Laser surgery for periodontal disease can improve the health of your smile. Long-term periodontal disease can impact your body as well as your smile. Once you lose one tooth, due to periodontal disease, you are more likely to lose more.

Crown lengthening is an in-depth procedure utilized to improve the length of the tooth. This procedure is designed to improve the overall shape and look of your smile. Sometimes, due to damage, periodontal disease or trauma, the length of the tooth can become uneven looking. Dr. Rice suggests this procedure for patients who are looking to restore the health and look of their smile.

Your insurance benefits are yours to use. Contact Dr. Rice & her team today for more information.