10 Questions You Have Always Wanted To Ask

You may not have visited a periodontist lately but there may be burning questions you want to know the answers to. Here are 10 of the most common questions that Dr. Rice and her team get asked.

1.     Why is flossing important?

Flossing is critical in order to remove food particles from between the teeth. Without it, food builds up between the teeth, goes below the gum line, and can cause decay and periodontal disease.

2.     Are bleeding gums normal?

No, this is never normal and it can be an early sign of periodontal disease.

3.     Does Periodontal disease really cause heart disease?

Research shows there is a correlation between heart disease and periodontal disease.

4.     Do I really need to floss 2x a day?

                       

                       Flossing after consuming foods, especially carbohydrates, is important to keep your smile      

                       healthy. Flossing at least 1x a day can keep problems from arising, but more is better.

5.     Does a laser periodontal procedure hurt?

No, the laser goes below the gum line to clean out bacteria. There is no cutting or sutures for periodontal laser surgery or for laser curettage.

6.     Is a laser periodontal procedure safe?

Yes, it is very safe. The laser is a high precision laser that works to remove bacteria but does not damage healthy gum tissue.

For more information contact, Dr. Rice & her team!

Kathleen’s Journey – Part 1: Where It All Began

Kathleen’s first visit to our office was a step of trust and faith. She had not been to a dentist in years and was struggling due to her only having a few upper root tips. This first visit was almost two years ago. She began her journey by first utilizing the internet to search for a periodontist that was going to be able to meet her needs. We were lucky she chose us after reading several of our reviews. We have been so fortunate to work with amazing patients who have helped share our hard work, so that patients like Kathleen could benefit.

When she first entered our office, we could tell that her confidence had diminished, along with her smile, and her health was suffering.  Overall, she struggled with being anxious when visiting the dentist. We began by a simple full mouth x-ray in order to determine exactly what would need to be done. This was just the first step in the journey, but it helped us to come up with a plan so that Kathleen could rebuild her smile, her confidence and her life. 

We knew after reviewing the x-ray that this was going to be a long journey, but we also knew that with incremental steps, we would be able to rebuild a smile that would bring back her joy.

For more information on Kathleen’s story contact Dr. Rice and her team.

How Can I Have An Impeccable Smile

 

A perfect smile is an option for almost everyone. Here are a few tips from Periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice, to get your teeth picture perfect. 
1. Whiten your teeth: this allows you to remove the brownish, yellow stains that may be impacting your smile. 
2. Restore teeth impacted by decay as soon as possible. 
 3. Replace missing teeth. There are a variety of options available to replace any missing teeth and even if a few years ago you were not considered a candidate for implants, that may have changed as technology has advanced. 
4. Look at the frame around each tooth – your gum tissue. Tissue re-contouring might be exactly what is needed to enhance your smile. Dr. Rice can reshape your gums in order to make them more even. Or if there is significant recession, a tissue graft could possibly give you back what you have lost due to injury or aggressive brushing. 
5. Remove frenectomies that might be pulling tissue away from your teeth. Dr. Rice suggests “Frenectomies can be removed by using a laser in order to allow your lips to cover your teeth in the proper way.” While your frenectomy may not be influencing your ability to eat or drink, it can affect the way your smile looks. 
6. Brush, floss and see your dentist regularly. These are none negotiable to keep your smile healthy and bright.  

Young Patients with Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is the term given to the infection in the tissue surrounding the teeth. While the vast majority of adults have some form – it is generally estimated that more than 90% of adults have periodontal disease – it is generally seen in patients more frequently when they are 30 years old or older.  That being said, young people can also be affected by certain rare forms of the disease.

“In general bone loss in young people is uncommon, but the risk seems to increase between the ages of 12 and 17,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside, California Periodontal and Implant surgery center. “Too often we see young people with signs of disease and early bone loss. This is why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has recommended that young people beginning at age 12 should have regular periodontal evaluations to determine if there are any early signs of bone loss.”

Aggressive periodontal disease in young people means that bone loss occurs that much earlier and can result in tooth loss also at an earlier age.

“Most often the loss of attachment is seen in the molar areas first,” Dr. Rice adds.  “This means that as a parent, you should be asking your pediatric dentist or general dentist to evaluate your child for signs of the disease and certainly they should be evaluated before any orthodontic treatment begins.”

To help keep your child’s mouth healthy and happy, remember regular visits to the dentist are a must.

All on Four

“All on Four” is the name for a procedure where a denture is placed on four implants. This procedure not only provides stability for a denture, but allows a patient to be effectively restored to full dentition in a short amount of time.

“Many patients report that wearing dentures is not at all as they expected,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal and Implant Surgery practice. “They suffer from loose fitting dentures that move about creating embarrassing situations and/or speech difficulties.”

If you are someone who can identify with that statement, perhaps you are a candidate for “All on Four” implant supported dentures.

The first step in the process is sitting down with your dentist and/or periodontist to discuss treatment plan options.  Your dentist working in conjunction with a periodontist will put together a plan designed specifically for you. While most times four implants can be used to effectively support your new denture, your dentist will determine if that’s the case for you, then a denture will be created to fit to your newly placed implants.

 Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery

Why Do Gums Recede?

Why do gums recede is a question often asked at the Periodontal office of Dr. Denine Rice. 

Gum recession refers to the process where the edge of the tissue pulls or wears away exposing more of the tooth or the tooth's root. This process can be caused by gum disease, aggressive tooth brushing, grinding and clenching of the teeth, hereditary factors, crooked teeth, hormonal changes and habits, such as tobacco use. 

WebMD states,  it's not in your best interest to ignore gum recession. Especially since there are treatments that can both prevent more damage and repair existing recession. 

"When bacteria builds up below the gum line in the pockets around the teeth it can damage both the bone that supports the teeth and the tissue surrounding them. That's why its so important to have periodontal disease treated," says Dr. Rice from her Riverside, California dental practice. But a visit to your dentist could also provide you with the knowledge that your recession is due to clenching and grinding. "Many times a simple appliance that is worn at night can control this," adds Dr. Rice. "And your dentist can also make recommendations for the appropriate tooth brush and technique to help if the problem is because of aggressive brushing."

If you are seeing signs of recession, don't wait. Call your dentist today.