4 Questions To Ask Your Periodontist

The more you know about your dental and gum health the better off you are. Don’t take chances with periodontal disease because in the end you run the risk of causing more problems, not only for your smile but your general health as well. A periodontist may be just the answer to help improve the overall health of your smile. But before you sit down in the dental chair, ask these questions.

1.     How long have they been a periodontist? While every periodontist has to start somewhere it is important you know and understand the level of experience the individual has prior to treating you.

2.     Do they utilize an FDA approved laser for surgery for periodontal disease? While there may be a time and a place for periodontal procedures without lasers, you’ll want to know if your periodontist uses and has access to a laser that can reduce your healing time and  improve your oral health.

3.     What type of options do they have for gums that have receded? There are options to even out the front of your gums once you have taken care of the periodontal disease but if you don’t ask, you won’t know the best procedure for you.

4.     Will I lose my teeth if I don’t have a periodontal surgery procedure done? While you may be impacted by periodontal disease, until you schedule an appointment you won’t know the true impact that your periodontal disease may have on your smile.

For more information on how to get your gums back on track, contact Dr. Rice & her team.

No Need To Wait, Get Help Today

New research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 79% of individuals are faced with gum disease today. Some factors that play a role in the overall impact of periodontal disease are economic status, ethnic minorities, tobacco users and individuals who do not have access to dental care. The number one way to prevent periodontal disease, if you fit into any of these categories, is to floss your teeth. Visiting the periodontist for treatment as soon as possible however, is the only way to get your periodontal disease under control.

The great thing about treatment today is that Dr. Rice and her team have access to an FDA approved periodontal laser that can help clean below the gum line and can decrease your risk of periodontal disease impacting your overall health. Lasers can go below the gum line and clean out the bacteria that is impacting your gum tissue and mean you can get your smile back on track.  Once the laser is used to clean around the infected gum tissue near the root, the laser then gets to work on taking care of the periodontal disease, getting it under control.

Periodontal laser surgery not only improves your dental and general health, but it results in less pain and zero sutures.

For more information on periodontal laser procedures contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team today.

5 Things To Expect When You Visit The Periodontist

It can be a bit scary and overwhelming when you have been referred to a periodontist. Your gums may be bleeding or you may have lost a tooth or two. A referral is usually made when your dentist is recommending you receive a laser periodontal evaluation or  perio therapy in order to get the periodontal disease under control. But there is no reason to be nervous, here are five things to expect from your visit.

The periodontist will review your health history. This is easy enough. They want to make sure you have not had any hospitalizations or are taking any medications they are not aware of. They may spend some time going over your medical history with you if there is anything you have marked.

Dr. Denine Rice and her team will review the x-rays that were sent over from your dentist. By evaluating the x-rays that already have been taken it will allow them to evaluate what your current needs are.

After this is done there will be an exam. An exam is simply a look at your gums in order for the periodontist to get a really good idea of what type of treatment you are going to need and whether you really need to have laser surgery or whether something else can be done instead.

Once your exam is over, there will be time for a consultation. During this time, the doctor will outline the plan for you. You’ll talk about whether you’re a candidate for laser surgery, what to expect if you have laser surgery and healing time after the procedure.

Finally, you’ll get an estimate of the cost and schedule your next appointment. Then you will be on your way and ready to get the healthy gums you deserve. For more information on laser periodontal procedures, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team today.

Don’t Leave Your Gums Behind!

If it’s a race to achieving a healthy smile, your gums are the backbone to a healthy smile. Without them your smile cannot live up to its finest potential. If your gums are bleeding, puffy and swollen, then your teeth and your smile are going to be unhealthy, which can add years to your face. Dr. Rice says, “Now days you read all about healthy living. How to cut out gluten from your diet to help reduce swelling, how you should exercise for you heart, well, it's time to brush for your teeth.” Your gums need love to, so don’t leave them behind. Increase your flossing regime to 1x a day and we promise your gums will thank you.

Gums are the soft forgotten tissue that helps protect your teeth. Without your gums there is nothing to hold your teeth in place. Your gums protect roots from being exposed, which can lead to sensitivity. Without your gums, your teeth will look uneven and unhealthy. Your gums are providing the sturdy mountain that holds your teeth together.

Millions of Americans every year lie to their dentist and periodontist about flossing. But there is no single action that protects your gums better and keeps them healthy then picking up that floss 1x a day. If you struggle to floss your teeth with regular floss, periodontist Dr. Denine Rice recommends finding a water pic or waxed floss to keep your gums healthy for a lifetime.

For more tips on flossing contact Dr. Rice & her team today!

Periodontal Disease & Pregnancy

Dr. Rice knows better than anyone about the importance of taking care of your smile during pregnancy. Just a few short weeks ago she gave birth to a healthy baby boy named, Samuel. She knew during pregnancy that her oral hygiene was at risk and so she encourages every pregnant and new mom to brush 2x a day, floss regularly and to visit the periodontist if you are having trouble.

When you’re pregnant you may experience sensitive gums, your gums may bleed, or be swollen. This is not normal and should not be occurring just because you are going to have a baby. Not only does periodontal disease impact your health, you also can pass the negative effects of gum disease on to your baby.

If you are struggling with your gum health, and you already brush, floss and visit the periodontist, you may need to increase your overall consumption of fruits and vegetables. This helps to remove any food from your teeth between brushing. The more water content the fruit and vegetable has the greater the benefit to your gums and smile. Dry mouth can be a breeding ground for excessive bacteria to grow, while water can help keep this problem to a minimum.

For more information, & tips on how to keep your gums healthy during pregnancy contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

10 Tips from Dr. Rice

Here are 10 tips from periodontist Dr. Rice that can help keep your smile and gums looking their best.  There is a ton of information out there and it can be difficult to wade through it all, we’ve compiled all this information to help you find the resources you need in one place.

1.     Don’t replace regular oral care products with cheaper products.

2.     Floss everyday, even if your teeth feel clean.

3.     Drink the recommended amount of water, because it helps to remove food from the surface of teeth.

4.     Consume fruits and vegetables they're great for your smile.

5.     Get chipped and broken teeth fixed, this can decrease further problems with your smile.

6.     Visit the periodontist if your gums bleed even a little bit when you brush or floss.

7.     Brush 2x a day to remove food from the surface of the teeth.

8.     Avoid brushing too hard, it can cause your gums to recede. Instead brush using a gentle circular motion.

9.     A soft bristled toothbrush is better for the gums and protects against receding.

10.  Love your gums, you only have one set.

For more information on how to protect your gums contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

Your Periodontist Can’t Do It All

Don’t wait until you go to the periodontist to improve your dental health. It’s the New Year and now is your time to improve your gum health. While you assume you’re going to the periodontist and they are going to be able to fix your smile, they cannot do the job by themselves.  “They cannot care about your smile more than you,” says Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice.  Here are four tasks you can do to help keep your smile in tip-top shape.

1.     Take care of periodontal disease right away. If you have periodontal disease talk to your periodontist and come up with a plan to get it under control. Laser surgery is an opportunity to easily get your periodontal health back on track.

2.     Once you have periodontal laser surgery or other periodontal procedures, follow the after care instructions to make sure you are taking care of your new smile. You can’t fall back into old habits and keep your new smile looking healthy.

3.     Eat healthy. Eating healthy can remove food from your teeth in between brushing. Any fruits or vegetables that have a high water concentration are better than foods that are dry or high in carbs.

4.     Smile more. The more you smile, and show off your new smile, the more likely you are to want to maintain that great new smile. Show it off to your loved ones.

“Your periodontist can work only as hard as you do,” says Dr. Denine Rice. While her and the team want your smile to be the best it can be, they can only guide you to help you make the best decisions. The rest is up to you.

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.

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

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 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.

Never To Late To Love You’re Gums

Your gums are a precious commodity to your mouth. Dr. Denine Rice suggests, "you have only one natural set of tissue and it is critical to keeping your smile in the best shape of its life." Don’t take advantage of your gums because you believe they will always be there for you. If you continue to not brush, floss or visit the dentist, you’ll soon find that your mouth is riddled with problems that create twice the challenges and cost many more dollars to fix.

Recommit to loving your gums by picking up the floss and using it. Hundreds of adults lie to their dentist about whether they floss and how often.  But there is no reason to lie, because one look at your gums tells the whole story.  As you continue, day after day, to not floss, the pocket in between your gums and teeth will begin to expand. “Once this process begins,” Dr. Rice says, “it is more difficult to heal and many times requires periodontal treatment.

Flossing is the perfect thing to your dental routine, but brushing and visiting the dentist are just as important. Brushing can help remove any food that remains on your teeth. The longer food stays on and in between your teeth the sooner decay begins to set in.

If your gums bleed or are swollen and red, visit a periodontist for a cleaning and a plan in order to decrease the opportunity for your gums to be negatively impacted.

Oral Cancer - What You Should Know

 

 Oral cancer is a serious situation that can impact your life quickly. The sooner you get diagnosed the sooner you are on your way to treatment. Your periodontist is able to assess your gums and complete an extensive oral cancer exam to ensure you do not have any suspicious spots. In the event you have been diagnosed, here are four tips from periodontist Dr. Denine Rice.

1.     Stop smoking or using tobacco

           Smoking increases your chances of having oral cancer but once you have been diagnosed it is just as important you quit.  The tobacco and other chemicals in cigarettes decrease your chance of successfully healing after cancer surgery.  

 

2.     Add veggies and fruits to your diet

           Vegetables and fruits help keep your body strong while you are fighting this disease. You want to be as healthy as possible. Fruits and vegetables can give your body the nutrients depleted during chemotherapy and other cancer fighting treatments.

3.     Drink plenty of fluids

           Water is essential to keeping you as healthy as possible. There are multiple negative effects of dehydration, and during a time when your body is being depleted, you want to make sure you stay hydrated.

4.     Continue to see your dentist annually for an oral cancer exam - even if you have no teeth

           Visiting your dentist on a regular basis can make sure the cancer is not spreading to other parts of your mouth.

If you have any spots you are not sure about, or if you haven’t had an exam in the last six months contact Dr. Denine Rice today for an appointment.

What Does A Periodontist Do?

Your periodontist does more than just scrape the bacteria from your gums. She not only restores the health of your gums, but also increases the overall health of your body. And that’s not all. Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, can provide bone grafting if necessary to place implants.   Have you found lesions in your mouth? She can evaluate the lesions and complete an extensive oral health exam to make sure your mouth is free of cancerous cells

Dr. Denine Rice is an expert in extreme gum problems.  While your general dentist is able to provide a general cleaning to help reduce the inflammation in the gums, periodontists are trained to use the latest technology in order to get your gum tissue back to a normal and healthy color with reduced inflammation.  

A periodontist is also able to evaluate your options if you have loose teeth due to gum disease. When your gums begin to recede due to gum disease, Inland Empire’s  Top Dentist,Dr. Rice is able to assess all of your options in order to save any teeth if possible. Earlier detection of gum disease can allow for more treatments to save teeth.

Unfortunately, there are times when the tooth decay is extreme or you have loose teeth that cannot be saved. Or perhaps you are missing teeth. Dr. Rice will work with you to evaluate your options for replacing missing teeth. For example, she might recommend bone-grafting surgery that allows her to rebuild the foundation to place implants and restore your beautiful smile.

Oral Cancer & What It Means For You

A periodontist not only completes root scaling and planning, or other surgeries to decrease dental gum disease, Dr. Denine Rice suggests that when you visit to have an oral health care screening done. While the health of your mouth is important and the team at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery wants to decrease your overall negative results of periodontal disease they also want to make sure that you do not have any potential signs of cancer

An oral health screening can be completed in the office and takes just a few minutes. An evaluation will be completed looking for any lesions in the mouth or white spots. Any spots that have changed color or grown in size may be suspicious. This procedure takes just a few extra minutes and the earlier that oral cancer is diagnosed the earlier treatment can begin.

An individual that smokes or uses smokeless tobacco is at a greater risk of cancer.  Although, any lesions today may be noncancerous, continuing to smoke and chew increases your risk everyday.

If Dr. Rice finds cancer after your screening she will contact you for options. In some cases she may suggest a follow-up screening to determine if the lesions have changed at all or she may recommend completing a biopsy to determine the right course of action.

Dr. Rice & her team work to provide excellent oral care for all patients which is why she is named one of Inland Empire’s Top Dentists.

                                                                        

DentalVibe & You

Dr. Denine Rice is not just a periodontist she’s one of Inland Empire’s top rated dentists. A periodontist supports patients who have severe gum disease, and she is an expert in oral inflammation and placement of dental implants. However, that is not all. Dr. Denine Rice works to provide the best care for patients using the latest dental technology in order to provide you with exceptional care. 

  

One of the technologies that Dr. Rice and her team use is called DentalVibe. This miraculous tool allows patients a better dental visit by providing little impulses to an injection site before the shot is given. Patients report that DentalVibe creates a less painful injection.

DentalVibe takes visiting the periodontist to a whole new level. You can leave that anxiety about shots at the door and enter a world where you’re being provided a better dental experience.  This specially designed tool has been reviewed across multiple dental offices and with hundreds of thousands of patients. Dr. Denine Rice believes in only using the best tools for her patients. 

Now the deal is even sweeter because when you use DentalVibe at Dr. Rice’s office you can review your experience online and be entered to win an IPAD mini and a final grand prize.  Ask Dr. Rice and her team today for details and enjoy your next visit with painless shots.

Tongue Tied – Can Your Dentist Help?

Tongue-tie is a medical condition otherwise known as ankyloglossia. It occurs when the tissue (frenulum) that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth is too short or tight. It is many times congenital and hereditary, which can produce a challenge to the breastfeeding infant.

“Sometimes the frenulum will recede on it’s own, but in some that is not the case and it can cause other challenges long term,” says Dr.Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal and Implant practice. “When the tongue is unable to move freely, there is the possibility it could cause lisping.”

A lisp is a speech impediment where a person has difficulty pronouncing certain sibilants, such as ‘th’, ‘s’, ‘d’, ‘l’ and ‘t’. A lisp is not the only challenge that can come from being tongue-tied. A tongue-tie might also prevent a person from being able to play certain wind instruments or it could cause a gap between the lower front teeth, which might mean an orthodontic referral.   

The good news is the treatment for tongue-tie is easy. “Previously, many dentists would treat tongue-tie by clipping the tissue and freeing the tongue. Now we can do it using the laser, which means little discomfort, less bleeding and immediate results,” adds Dr. Rice. 

Denine Rice, DDS