February Is The Month Of Love

Love comes in all shapes and sizes and it can be big gestures or small incremental changes. No matter where you are at this month, commit to making changes with your smile. Smiling is your greatest asset or your worst enemy. Dr. Rice suggests, “If you have spent time brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist and eating healthy, you may have a smile that has a wow factor.” But sometimes you may skip the flossing or only brush 1x a day. All of these decisions can be detrimental in the long run to the health of your smile.

This February show your gums you love them. If you brush only 1x a day, commit to brushing 2x a day. If you don’t floss, purchase floss you like, or a water pic and change your daily habit. If you’re struggling to visit the dentist regularly, schedule your appointment today and don’t wait. Each passing day can cause more problems to your smile and eventually impact your overall options and your pocketbook.

You only have one set of gums and everyone should be allowed to have them for a lifetime. “This year can be the year, you let your gums know how important they are to you,” says Dr. Denine Rice.

Dental Implants – Why Should I Consider Them?

While having a tooth missing in your smile may be unsightly, there are other very important reasons for you to consider an implant to replace missing teeth.

First, what is a dental implant? “A dental implant is a fixture that is placed into the jawbone, many times with only local anesthetic. This fixture acts like a tooth root. It maintains the level of bone and creates a stable foundation for a crown or bridge to be placed upon it,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Implant and Periodontal practice in Riverside, California.

The success rate for implants is impressive. “We’ve seen 99% of our dental patients do quite well with their implants,” adds Dr. Rice. “And with proper care, they can last a lifetime.”

And the advantages are numerous:

1.     Better health – the stability provided by dental implants means that patients can eat a normal and varied diet.

2.     Improved speech – when teeth are missing or when a poor-fitting denture is the only option, speech may suffer.

3.     Greater comfort – many patients, particularly, find that the wearing of dentures is uncomfortable.

4.     Improved appearance – because the implant can replace a single tooth or be used to replace an entire arch of teeth, a lovely smile can be achieved.

5.     Increased options for replacement – when an implant is used to replace a missing tooth, a dental bridge is no longer necessary. This is a positive as dental bridges rely on adjacent teeth for stability.

Contact your dentist today and see if you are a candidate for an implant to replace your missing teeth!