Get Your Smile Back

When you were younger you may have had strong enamel and a pearly white smile. Over time that may have changed and now you have swollen or bleeding gums, and missing or cracked teeth. You may hide your smile behind your lips and hope that no one notices. Unfortunately, research shows otherwise. People notice a smile before they notice other features and upon interviewing you, it can lead to the potential of losing a job. There is no reason to not have the smile you love with LANAP laser surgery, it can be the start of healthy gums. Once this is taken care of Dr. Rice and her team can evaluate the rest of your smile to determine what other cosmetic procedures may be done in order to give you back your smile.

 

Do not live with a smile that stares back at you and shows off the decisions you made in your twenties. Once you have the benefit of a LANAP laser procedure with Dr. Denine Rice and her team, you will see the health of your gums restored. Once a firm foundation is in place you may now have the ability to consider other treatment options such as implants or veneers.  

For more information on LANAP and other procedures to improve your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

LANAP Can Save Your Smile

LANAP periodontal procedure is a fantastic way to treat your periodontal disease. Your dental benefits start over as of the first of the year, and so these benefits have rolled over and are now available for use. LANAP laser treatment is the only scientifically, research-proven methodology that allows people to have new bone growth and gum tissue reattachment. LANAP targets gum inflammation without causing any damage to healthy tissue.

LANAP is a fine laser that goes below the gum line in order to remove bacteria. The procedure is done in the periodontal office and does not require cutting or sutures. Some of the benefits of LANAP is reduced swelling, no bleeding and healthy gums. Healthy gums decrease the risk of losing any teeth.

LANAP is a faster procedure then traditional periodontal surgery and allows for each of the quadrants to be completed in one day. Usually patients go back to work the same or next day. The time it takes to heal is also faster than traditional periodontal therapies. You can have your healthy smile for a lifetime.

For more information on LANAP and other periodontal procedures, Dr. Denine Rice and her team can help.

Never Underestimate the Power of a Smile

Your smile is important and it can mean the difference between a ‘job’ and a career you love. Your smile is important and this summer is the perfect time to restore your smile back to the one you love. Fixing broken or cracked teeth can make you look younger, while gum graft surgery can even out your smile line.

If your gums bleed or are receding due to periodontal disease a LANAP laser procedure can easily remove plaque from below the gum line. It is not normal for your gums to bleed, even a little. Puffy, bleeding and swollen gums not only decrease the health of your smile, but can cause you to hide behind tight lips during family photos and special events.  LANAP removes the need for cutting the gum tissue or the need for sutures.  To make it even better, the entire mouth can be done in a day instead of needing to split up the procedure across a few days.

More than 70% of people 65 and over have periodontal disease. But now there is no reason to wait. For more information on LANAP laser procedures, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

3 Reasons LANAP Is State Of The Art

                                                                                  

 

State of the art isn't just a catchy phrase... it's an investment we've made to bring you the highest quality care!

1.     Dr. Rice and her team are pleased to bring you the latest dental innovations including LANAP, a laser based technique for the treatment of periodontal disease.  This tiny laser is able to complete periodontal surgery faster and with less time in the chair.

2.     With LANAP treatment can be accomplished quickly so you can return quickly to a more comfortable life! While the tiny laser is below the gum removing bacteria, you are able to sit back and relax and know that you are in capable hands. LANAP laser is able to clean each quadrant quickly instead of requiring you to visit multiple times.

3.     Using a tiny fiber the width of three human hairs, this laser gently removes diseased tissue in between the tooth and gums so the body can heal. By removing the disease tissue, your organs can begin to get back to health. Dr. Rice utilizes LANAP instead of traditional periodontal surgery because it allows her to effectively clean the area, remove all of the disease tissue, and doesn’t require sutures or cutting of the gum tissue.

Ask a Rice Laser Periodontics & Implant Surgery team member about the benefits of LANAP laser therapy 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.  

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

Periodontal Laser Surgery After Care

Periodontal laser surgery can reduce the impact of periodontal disease by removing the bacteria from below the gum line without having to cut or suture the gums. Laser surgery allows for faster recovery, and following these four tips will help your gums heal.

1.     Stay on a liquid diet for at least two days and a soft diet for seven to ten days after that. There are blood clots that are formed at the treatment spots. These clots help healing. "Eating hard food can potentially dislodge the clots causing your healing to become derailed,” says Dr. Rice.

2.     Don’t brush and floss until directed to do so. You’ll want to rinse with water, or perioguard, if approved by your periodontist, in order to remove soft foods from the teeth. 

3.     Avoid smoking. If you smoke, you’ll want to quit during the healing process. If you need help on quitting smoking, Dr. DenineRice and her team can suggest smoking cessation products. 

4.     Avoid using a straw. The sucking motion that is used when drinking out of a straw can dislodge the clots at the healing site. Avoid drinking through a straw to cause any problems during the healing process. 

Periodontal laser surgery can help to get your smile back on track. Follow these simple tips to achieve greater dental health.

Laser Surgery Can Restore Your Smile

Laser surgery is an amazing addition to restoring your smile. Not only does the laser beams go below the gum line to clean out bacteria, it can reduce pocket size, and decrease the effects of periodontal disease.  Each laser has different wavelengths and power based on the level of treatment you need. Dr. Denine Rice uses lasers not only for periodontal disease but to also enhance the color of your gums if desired.

During laser periodontal procedures, the laser is used to clean out bacteria that is below the gum line which, will allow for a reduction in the pocket depth. Utilizing a laser decreases down time and increases success rates. Another benefit to using a laser for periodontal surgery is the amount of time it takes to heal. While traditional periodontal surgery usually required at least a few days of down time to heal, laser surgery can have you back up on your feet in just minutes.

Cosmetic dentistry is a great way to get your smile back in the shape you want. If you are unhappy with the color of your gums, she can reduce the pigment in order to even out the look of your smile.   This procedure can be completed in a short amount of time and does not require days for healing.

Lasers have opened up the door to the periodontal field and allows Dr. Denine Rice and her team to complete treatments that couldn’t be done prior.

Tips To Healing After Laser Surgery

Laser surgery can help restore balance to your smile and to your mouth.  Not only does healing take less time then traditional periodontal surgery, it is not as painful. Traditional periodontal surgery requires the periodontist to cut back the gums and scrape out the bacteria from between the gum tissue and the teeth. Each quadrant (divide the mouth into four equal parts) is done a section at a time and then the healing begins. But when you use a laser for the surgery, the healing process begins almost immediately.

Fine hairs on the laser allow the laser to penetrate between the gum and the teeth.

There are no sutures and no cutting is necessary. All of the cleaning and healing can be done without the required down time. While you want to be careful about brushing right after surgery, after it heals you’ll want to go back to a regular brushing and flossing routine. “For a few weeks after surgery,” Dr. Rice recommends, “use a very soft-bristled toothbrush.” You should brush in gentle strokes around the gums until they are clean.

Establish healthy routines after LANAP laser surgery. It is easy to go back to our old ways. But if you want to keep that winning and healthy smile, your brushing and flossing routine needs to be completed on a regular basis. The only way to keep decay from coming back and attacking your body again is utilizing a soft-bristled brush to remove the food from the surface of your teeth and floss to remove food from between the teeth.

If you struggle with periodontal disease contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Your Smile Is Worth It!

You only have one set of gums and teeth, and while you may believe you can replace them, it comes with a cost. Take care of the ones you have is the best advice you can receive.

Dr. Rice states, "periodontal disease is the leading cause of gum recession and missing teeth." It attacks your gums first until they bleed and are swollen. As the disease continues to attack your healthy gums, they pull away from your teeth, which eventually leads to bone loss.  Traditional surgery usually takes several sessions each lasting potentially several hours with recovery time needed after.

LANAP laser surgery can stop periodontal disease in its tracks and help restore your beautiful smile much more easily. This new innovative choice can allow you to return to work usually the same day with minimal damage to your gums. The thin laser goes beneath the gumline in order to get rid of any bacteria, and instead of cleaning one quadrant of your mouth at a time, the LANAP procedure allows the periodontist the option of treating multiple areas in the mouth at one time.  “This procedure usually takes two, two hour sessions,” says periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, “and results in a faster healing time!”

If you have a referral to the periodontist, sit down and listen to the options presented and remember, while keeping your teeth is an investment, it’s an investment into your health.

Don’t wait for your beautiful smile!

What Is Depigmentation?

Pigmentation is the color of the skin, and depigmentation is a procedure which allows for the skin's color to be changed. Some people may not be happy with the color of their gum tissue and want it lightened. This can often be the case when a person has an amalgam tattoo, but can also be true for others.  Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice is able to treat this condition by using a specialized laser.   

 

 Depigmentation allows for lightening the skin's color in the mouth.  An amalgam tattoo is a coloring of the skin or gum tissue where you may have a filling. It can be grey, blue or black and can look like you have a tattoo in your mouth. "It can be embarrassing when you open your mouth and there is a spot in your that looks like decay,"Dr. Denine Rice.

This is a unique procedure and you may find it is difficult to find someone with experience. As with any procedure, you will want to ask your dentist for photos of other patients they have conducted this procedure with.

Five Things To Ask Your Periodontist On Your Visit

It can be scary if you have never been referred to a periodontist before. You may not know what to expect and it can seem very overwhelming. So, what should you know before you’re in the chair and a periodontal exam is being completed?

1. Ask how severe your periodontal disease is:

You may think you’re only going to visit once or twice and then you’ll be back on your way to a healthy smile. However, depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, it may take longer to heal your mouth. You may also need more advanced treatments in order to get your smile back to the health you desire.

2. Know approximately how many visits they are recommending:

It is unlikely you have been referred to a periodontist if you only have minor periodontal disease. But you’ll want to know how many visits your periodontist is recommending in order for you to plan ahead financially. 

You’ll also want to be able to make a plan for taking off of work or planning around your busy schedule. Periodontal disease cannot be healed unless you complete all of your treatments and it’s important to do so in the recommended time period as well.

3. Ask what type of technology or procedure they are recommending. There have been several advancements in technology today that can help increase the comfort and healing of your gums. For example, Dr. Rice and

 her team use DentalVibe. It is a technology that assists in numbing the area to be treated by using short vibrating impulses. This allows for a less painful injection. Her team also uses LANAP laser surgery for removing plaque and tartar from the gums. These treatments make a huge difference on the length of healing time and your overall results.

4. Ask about after care instructions:

It is also important to plan ahead for eating and drinking after a periodontal procedure. Periodontal treatment takes time and is a commitment. You don’t want to undo the effects of the procedure by consuming food and drinks right after the procedure that can prevent healing. While your periodontist should cover all of this with you before you leave the office, make sure you have all after care instructions.

5. Know how much it is going to cost:

Your dental insurance may cover some of the cost or none of the cost of your procedure. “Dental insurance is there to help you,” says Dr. Denine Rice,  “but keep in mind most people have no dental insurance benefits at all.” Also ask questions regarding what options are available to help you with your out of pocket portion. Some periodontists have financial plans they can recommend to help you.

Then relax. Your periodontist is there to help restore you to health.

Treatment For Periodontal Disease

There are a few different treatment options that may be suggested when you first visit a periodontist. Periodontal disease is when bacteria build up below the gum line. If your general dentist has recommended you see a periodontist you have what is referred to as periodontal disease. This is an advanced bacteria disease where the pocket depths are deep and the general dentist or hygienist is no longer able to assess the health of your teeth.   As the disease worsens the depth of the pocket also increases. 

            Your periodontist may recommend a non-surgical procedure called root scaling and planning or they may advise you to have periodontal surgery. Periodontal surgery is when the periodontist cuts open the gum tissue, pulls it back and scrapes the bacteria and tarter that is below the gum line. When they are finished they will put the gum back in place and suture the gum. This procedure can be very painful, require sutures and results in bleeding, along with many times, down time from work.  After you have periodontal surgery your periodontist will give you instructions to take care of your gums while they are healing. Remember you will need to go back to the periodontist in order for them to finish the other quadrants.

            An alternative method to traditional surgery is called LANAP laser surgery. Dr.Rice and her team have yielded very positive results from this type of therapy. To learn more, call them today.