3 Options To Reduce Dental Sensitivity

Sensitivity can be the result of a variety of problems with your teeth. Some tooth sensitivity may mean nothing, for example, if the sensitivity is felt anytime you drink something cold, is felt all over the mouth and stops within a few seconds, it may be nothing more than general sensitivity. If you have this type of sensitivity, you may want to ask your dentist to recommend a different type of toothpaste, perhaps one that is specific for sensitive teeth.

 

Dental sensitivity can also be to hot foods or drinks, such as coffee or soup. If you are enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a tooth is sensitive, you should be seen immediately by your dentist. This type of sensitivity is generally related to nerve damage inside the tooth and will not get better on its own.

At the base of your teeth, you have gum tissue, when this tissue recedes it can then provide an exposed surface for bacteria to attach to. If your gums have receded, depending on how bad, you may need to have gum-grafting surgery to help rebuild the area. This surgery provides a new look to enhance your smile.

Tooth enamel is the hard outer surface that protects your teeth. Damage to the enamel can cause your teeth to be more sensitive. Depending on the reason will greatly depend on the recommended treatment. You may need a thorough cleaning, to change the foods you are consuming, or have laser treatment to reduce the effects of periodontal disease.

For more information on teeth sensitivity and your options talk to Dr. Denine Rice today.

Periodontist and Cosmetic Dentistry

While you may not think of cosmetic dentistry and a periodontist in the same sentence, both have the ability to save your smile after the negative effects of periodontal disease has impacted it, or to increase the beauty in a natural smile. There are multiple options to support your smile or get it back to normal.

 If your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, placing gum tissue into that area of the gums can help restore your smile to a beautiful radiant look. Many times, gum tissue can be grafted using excess tissue from your other teeth.  If there is not enough tissue, Dr. Rice may be able to use tissue from the roof of the mouth to help even out the gums in the front.

Bone loss can cause a smile you are not proud of. While you may have fixed the periodontal disease, you may now be left with missing teeth and bone loss. , To restore your natural look, a bone grafting procedure may be needed  prior to implant surgery. Once your implant restoration is completed, you’ll once again have the smile you’ve always loved.

Periodontist, Dr. Denine Rice can also help change your smile by completing depigmentation of the gums using a laser. This process can remove the color of the gums or to even out the color. By utilizing a laser, this safe and effective procedure that can give you the look you’ve always wanted.

If you are faced with any of these and are looking to restore your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team.

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. 

Gum recession – What Can Be Done?

Gum recession occurs when the tissue surrounding the teeth wears away, or pulls back exposing more of the tooth. This can happen due to hormonal changes, poor brushing techniques, hereditary issues or periodontal disease that has been left untreated.

For many, the process results in teeth that have the appearance of being way too long and an increase in sensitivity. “But your dentist can treat gum recession,” says Dr. Denine Rice, the Periodontist at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, California.

For mild gum recession your Periodontal Specialist or dentist may be able to treat the area through non-surgical methods. Rootplaning and scaling is many times the first step in treating this issue. During the process of root planing and scaling, plaque and tartar are removed from below the gumline of the teeth all the way to the roots. This is done under a general anesthetic and can many times result in a favorable outcome.

For those whose recession is more advanced and has led to bone loss, the pockets of tissue surrounding the teeth will be too deep and surgery may be required to repair the area. “When this is the situation, we still have options to help,” adds Dr. Rice. “We can reduce the pocket depth surgically by pulling back the tissue surround the teeth and remove the harmful bacteria or we can use a laser to enter the area and get rid of the bacteria that way.”

When the bone supporting the teeth has been destroyed, a regenerative procedure may be recommended. “We can add back bone and graft tissue,” Dr. Rice says. “Whatever you do, don’t let recession continue to go untreated!”

 

Denine Rice, DDS

Why Should I Treat My Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal or gum disease is when bacteria in the mouth forms plaque on the teeth. It is this bacteria that can cause redness, inflammation, bleeding, swollen or painful gums.

“But not everyone experiences the pain that is associated with Periodontal Disease, for some by the time they notice something is not right, they are well on their way to losing teeth,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Periodontal Practice in Riverside, California.

Early stages of the disease can be reversed and healed with proper oral hygiene, but when the disease has progressed you will need professional help to maintain and control. Around each tooth is a pocket, in a healthy mouth – one where brushing and flossing occurs on a daily basis – the pocket can be kept clean and healthy by keeping regular visits to your dentist in combination with continued homecare. When the pockets around the teeth exceed the normal limit though, brushing and flossing just can’t reach the bacteria. “And the bacteria must be disturbed and removed to prevent the disease from becoming more aggressive,” adds Dr. Rice.

 Why?

Left untreated periodontal disease can:

1.     Cause your gums to be inflamed, tender and/or red.

2.     Cause your gums to bleed and be swollen.

3.     Cause your teeth to shift and become loose.

4.     Cause a change to the way your teeth fit together when biting.

5.     Cause persistent bad breath.

6.     Cause your gum tissue to recede from your teeth.

If you are experiencing any of the signs of Periodontal Disease, don’t delay, call today and be evaluated.