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.

Gum Disease & You

Women’s bodies are different at different points throughout their life, and some of these very important points in their life can create different gum problems. For example, young teens going through puberty are more susceptible to gum disease as hormones increase blood to the gums, which increases the gum’s sensitivity.

 

Menstruation can also be another time when your gums are susceptible to problems with gum disease. You may experience red, swollen gums during this time of the month. If you are feeling an increase in sensitivity, and have swollen gums, you may want to brush and floss more often than normal. If you experience sensitivity beyond menstruation then it’s probably time to visit the dentist. There are also mouthwashes that may help with increasing the health of your gums. 

Pregnancy is another joyous occasion where you look forward to the beauty of having a child, but it can come with an increased opportunity for gum disease and gingivitis due to increased hormones.  “If you are a women experiencing problems with your gums during this time make sure to discuss the issue with your dentist,” suggests Dr. Denine Rice.

Menopause and post-menopause cause changes in the body and in the mouth as well. These chances can lead to increased sensitivity in the mouth, bleeding and swollen gums. You may also experience dry mouth, which increases the risk of bacteria staying in the mouth and attacking the teeth.

If you’re experiencing any of these, increased mouth sensitivity or trouble, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Protect Your Teeth

As we age not only do our body’s needs change, but our mouth changes as well. You may need to take care of your teeth differently as you get older. Here are three tips to create a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime and keeps you looking younger.

1.     Take care of any dental problems early on. While bleeding gums or one cracked tooth may not seem like a big deal, it can cause a bigger problem for you later on. Depending on your overall health, decay in the mouth can spread and impact you differently than when you were younger. Keeping up on any problems can stop them from getting worse. Minor problems not taken care of create larger more expensive problems eventually.

2.     Decrease the carbs and sugar. “Sugar causes the enamel on the teeth to erode,” says periodontist Dr. Denine Rice. By cutting down on carbs and sugar you decrease the availability of these foods sticking to your teeth and causing major dental problems.

3.     Increase water consumption. Not only is water great for your overall health, it also is better for your smile. It can increase saliva production and wash excess food from on and in between your teeth.

6 Tips That Can Prevent A Dental Nightmare

Dental decay can occur very quickly if food and sugar is left to sit on the enamel of the teeth. These six tips can help prevent decay or correct any problems before they become a major dental headache.

1.     You’ve heard it time and time again, but this tried and true practice never gets old for your teeth: brush twice a day to remove any bacteria or food from your teeth. Food that sticks to the surface of your enamel can turn to sugar, which then eats away at the enamel of your teeth causing cavities.

2.     Floss at least once a day. Dr. Denine Rice says, "there are hard to reach spaces in your mouth." By flossing you can make sure there is not food debris stuck between the teeth.  Cavities and decay can occur between your back molars and in between teeth that are close together.

3.     Increase your water consumption. Water helps rinse away any leftover food particles and helps rinse your mouth between brushing. It also prevents you from getting a dry mouth. When your mouth is dry it is easier for bacteria to spread.

4.     Increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables high in water concentration and low in starch. "Foods that have carbs and starch in them stick to your teeth and turn to sugar," states Dr. Rice. The sugar then turns to decay.

5.     Visit the dentist on a regular basis. Not only can they prevent some cavities and other major dental problems from occurring. They can catch any small problems before they become major dental repairs.

6.     Take care of periodontal disease right away. If your gums are bleeding even a little bit, take care of the problem and don’t let it get worse.

10 Things You Should Know About Your Gums

Your gums are an important part of your mouth and require you to take extra special care of them. Here are ten things you should know to protect your gums.

1.     Gums are soft tissue that can be impacted by bacteria from food and certain drinks.

2.     Your gums can last a lifetime if you take care of them. As long as your brush, floss and visit the dentist on a regular basis you can avoid most major dental problems.

3.     Brushing and flossing removes bacteria from the mouth that can damage the gums. Bacteria is found in the mouth in mass quantities. By brushing and flossing regularly you are not going to remove all of the bacteria, but you will be able to manage it.

4.     Fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water can remove leftover food from your gums.

5.     Gums help protect your teeth from damage.

6.     Decay can go beneath the gum line to cause additional damage.

7.     If your gums begin to recede due to bacteria, it can cause problems with your teeth, as most likely the bone is being lost as well.

8.     Unhealthy gums can cause sensitivity for teeth.

9.     Healthy gums do not bleed and are not red or swollen.

10.  When unhealthy bacteria taken care of, your gum health can improve.

Healthy Smile From The Past

Do you have periodontal disease that has attacked the bone? Have you given up and believe your mouth can never have the healthy, white smile of your past? We have good news for you. Technology, being utilized in periodontal offices, can regenerate bone and  restore your smile. This procedure may sound complicated, but in a few short visits, you can be on your way to a smile where the bone is restored.
 

“In order to determine the best route for you, your periodontist,” says Dr. DenineRice, “will need to evaluate your periodontal health.” Depending on how much damage has been done, and where there is bone loss, will determine which procedure and where the bone is placed.  

The bone is usually artificially created and then implanted into the jawbone once bacteria have been removed. It is important for the bad bacteria to be removed from the gum tissue and for any periodontal disease to be under control prior to this procedure being conducted, otherwise, it will be difficult for healthy bacteria to grow.  

 Once the procedure is completed it is important to give your mouth the time to heal. You'll want to adjust some of the foods you eat. "Double check with your periodontist after the procedure is completed for any post-surgery requirements," suggests Periodontist Dr. Rice.  

Your Smile Is Worth It!

You only have one set of gums and teeth, and while you may believe you can replace them, it comes with a cost. Take care of the ones you have is the best advice you can receive.

Dr. Rice states, "periodontal disease is the leading cause of gum recession and missing teeth." It attacks your gums first until they bleed and are swollen. As the disease continues to attack your healthy gums, they pull away from your teeth, which eventually leads to bone loss.  Traditional surgery usually takes several sessions each lasting potentially several hours with recovery time needed after.

LANAP laser surgery can stop periodontal disease in its tracks and help restore your beautiful smile much more easily. This new innovative choice can allow you to return to work usually the same day with minimal damage to your gums. The thin laser goes beneath the gumline in order to get rid of any bacteria, and instead of cleaning one quadrant of your mouth at a time, the LANAP procedure allows the periodontist the option of treating multiple areas in the mouth at one time.  “This procedure usually takes two, two hour sessions,” says periodontist Dr. Denine Rice, “and results in a faster healing time!”

If you have a referral to the periodontist, sit down and listen to the options presented and remember, while keeping your teeth is an investment, it’s an investment into your health.

Don’t wait for your beautiful smile!