One Stop Shop

A periodontist is not just a periodontist, they are a one-stop shop to restoring your gums back to their healthy state. Periodontal disease can impact your smile in dramatic ways. It can increase bleeding, tooth loss, and gum recession. But with a little help from your periodontist, all of that can be changed.

“Gum graft surgery allows for the gums to be evened out if needed,” says Dr. Denine Rice. Sometimes due to trauma, accidents or dental neglect, the gums in the front begin to recede. In order to apply the amount of gums to properly cover the teeth, a smooth piece of skin may be removed from the roof of the mouth, and placed at the gum area.

Missing teeth can be restored by dental implants. This procedure may take a few months to complete, due to the importance of getting a good fit, and the help that the jawbone may need, in order to support the new tooth. A periodontist is a great choice for this procedure, because of their expertise on the jawbone and gum tissue.  

Your smile deserves the love and care you provide to the rest of your body. Take time and find out your possible solutions for a restored smile.

Visit or call Dr.Rice today!

Don’t Lie-Just Floss

Thousands of adults each day climb into their dentist's chair and reportedly lie to them about flossing. While the lie is intended to prevent them from getting caught by dentists and periodontists for not taking care of their smile, this lie can be causing serious damage. So, Dr. Denine Rice suggests, “Instead of feeling a need to lie, incorporate healthy flossing habits and save your smile.”

Flossing can be painful and difficult at first, especially if you have gingivitis or the start of periodontal disease. Your gums may be very sensitive or bleed when you floss. Over time, if the gingivitis is not severe, you should be able to toughen up the gums and decrease their sensitivity.

The alternative option to flossing is losing your teeth. Flossing is the single act that can save your smile for a lifetime. There is no other way to remove food from in between the teeth. Once you have eaten, food that stays between the teeth converts to sugar, which can increase bacteria levels and cause decay. Periodontist Dr. Rice says, "the bacteria can go below the gum line, eat away at healthy bone, which then causes your gums to recede."

Flossing can be done when you wake up, in between meals and when you go to bed at night. Or you can floss one time a day, just pick a routine and stick to it. When you are first beginning to floss again, you’ll want to pick floss that you like and is comfortable and then establish your healthy routine.

Next time you are at the store, don’t forget the floss! Your gums will thank you.

My Gums Have Receded. Can I still Get Implants?

In order for implants to be successfully placed you have to have a certain length of bone below the gum tissue, and this bone has to be healthy. If you have gum disease or your gums have receded it may make it difficult for implants to be placed. Nevertheless don’t fret because you are not without options. Dr. Denine Rice and her team can assess your smile, bone loss, and gums to determine the best solution to fit your needs. Fixing your smile is not only a cosmetic choice, but it is also recommended to improve your overall health. 

You may need bone grafting or gum graft surgery in order to build up the area around your gums to improve the fit of your implant. The gums and bone allow your implants to be held in place and have a secure fit. If your bone level has receded, Dr. Rice will recommend replacing the bone with artificial bone, if your gums have receded, it can, then require you to have tissue removed from the palate of your mouth and placed around the teeth where your gums are at their lowest point. Without this secure fit, your implant will not have the longevity you would wish for. 

Gum recession and bone loss does not exclude you from the option of cosmetically enhancing a beautiful smile, but it will require a potential extra step.  

Frenectomy

A frenectomy is the process where a frenulum or a small piece of tissue is removed in the mouth. “There are many reasons a frenectomy may be recommended,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Dental Practice.

You might be considered a candidate for a frenectomy if you:

·      Wear dentures: Sometimes the fit of a denture can be enhanced with the removal of tissue.

·      Have recession: Removing the tissue that is attached to the upper lip can prevent recession.

·      Have a gap between your front teeth.

·      Ankyloglossia: Otherwise known as tongue-tie, Anklyoglossia is caused by a frenum that is connected to the underside of the tongue. This can cause challenges for infants who are breastfeeding.

·      Are considering Orthodontics.

The procedure is quite simple, especially now when lasers are used to remove the tissue requiring no sutures, little discomfort and causing less bleeding.

“If you would like to know more about dental frenectomies, please contact our office,” adds Dr. Rice. 

Why Did My Dentist Recommend Tissue Grafting?

Tissue grafting is the process where gum tissue is removed from an area of the mouth and placed in a position in need of additional help. “Generally your dentist will recommend tissue grafting when either the gum tissue around a tooth has been lost due to recession or if the area could be cosmetically enhanced.,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Implant and Periodontal Practice.

Gum recession often happens over time and so slowly you may not have noticed, but your dentist will. And if the recession reaches a certain point, you may begin to have sensitivity as the root of the tooth may become exposed or even find that your recession could lead to tooth loss.

The answer is to place new tissue, either removed from the roof of your mouth or the area adjacent to the tooth needing to be repaired. This allows your periodontist to repair the area and at the same time improve the appearance of your smile. 

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.