How Do I Prevent Bone Loss?

Bone loss occurs when bacteria, over time, continue to attack the gum tissue and the pocket between your tooth and gums becomes deeper. The gums in a healthy mouth are like a tight sleeve that fit around your teeth.  “When you have advanced periodontal disease your gums pull away from the teeth,” says Dr. Denine Rice, the  periodontist at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery in Riverside, CA. “Once this occurs, your tissue will not fit tightly and you may begin to loose some of your teeth.”

Your jaw is a bone that’s growth is stimulated by chewing movement. According to one of Inland Empire’s top dentists, Dr. Rice, “Once you have lost some of the teeth the amount of stimulation that your jaw has also begins to decrease.” On average an individual loses more than one tooth at a time due to advanced periodontal disease, this causes even less stimulation for the jaw. This decreased stimulation leads to bone loss in the jaw, which not only means tooth loss, but may also impact you ability to comfortably wear dentures or be a candidate for implants.  

To prevent this from occurring begins with proper oral care. Brushing your teeth twice a day is critical to the prevention of bone loss. As bacteria build up on the teeth it hardens and becomes tarter. Tarter that stays on the teeth attacks the enamel. By brushing your teeth twice a day, food is removed from the surface of the teeth preventing this build-up.

Flossing is the second most important habit. While at first when you are flossing your gums may bleed, over time your gums will become tougher. As they toughen up and you fight early signs of gingivitis, they will stop bleeding and become healthy again.

Dr. Denine Rice says, “You want to make sure to keep your six-month cleaning appointments.” At these visits your dentist can check for more serious conditions however, they also are able to provide a more thorough cleaning to scrape off any tarter build-up you may have missed.

Prevention is the key to preventing bone loss~

Five Facts You Should Know Before You Have Periodontal Surgery:

It can be scary to learn you have advanced periodontal disease. Recently periodontal disease has been linked to heart concerns, and Alzheimer’s. You may also worry that you will become a product of judgment because of tooth loss. However, some of this nervousness can be resolved by knowing what to expect and knowing what information to ask your periodontist before treatment begins.

1. What method of periodontal surgery are they going to use?

With growing technology there are some dentists that are using LANAP. This is laser surgery that removes plaque and bacteria from below the gum line with a tiny laser. Dr.Denine Rice says, “There is little pain, no sutures, and very little bleeding.” Traditional surgery means  the periodontist must cut away the gum from the bone and scrap the bacteria out. Once this procedure is completed, your gums are reattached using sutures. The periodontist will many times complete this procedure in two to four visits. No matter which procedure your periodontist uses, you will want to be informed.

2. How long before I can return to work?

Depending on how advanced your periodontal disease is and the method that the periodontist uses will depend on your recovery time. LANAP laser surgery does not cause as much trauma to the gums. Therefore, your recovery time will be less than traditional periodontal surgery procedures.

3.  How much bleeding should I expect?

Again depending on the procedure that is used, will determine how much bleeding or pain to expect after the procedure. While traditional periodontal surgery can cause more discomfort and higher levels of bleeding, laser surgery does not require the gums to be cut therefore, you should have very little bleeding after the procedure.

4. Will my periodontal disease be gone after surgery?

Periodontal disease may never go away completely.  Dr. Denine Rice has seen amazing results with the laser for the reversal of gum disease. Her and her team will provide extensive care to you in order to get your gums back to a healthy state.

5. How much of my procedure will be covered by insurance?

While your private dental insurance may pay for some of your procedure, (dental insurance is a benefit that most individuals do not have) there is never a guarantee of payment. The team at Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery, as a courtesy, will work with your insurance to provide you with an estimate of what they believe your portion of cost will be. Generally speaking, your dental insurance may cover part of the procedure and some of the follow up visits.

To learn more, visit their website at www.RicePeriodontics.com