Time Is Almost Up

As the holidays are right around the corner and you are focused on everything you have to do between now and then, don’t forget to schedule your routine periodontal visit. It may seem that it is one more thing you do not want on your list, but it is a great time to take advantage of the dental benefits that will be expiring by the end of the year.

You have already paid for these benefits, so sit back, relax and enjoy a visit to Rice Laser Periodontics and Implant Surgery. Your smile might be brighter once you have a laser periodontal procedure to reduce bacteria. Or get your smile ready for the family photos by replacing that missing tooth. This year is your year to take advantage of your dental benefits.

Dr. Rice and her team recommend if you have been waiting and wondering what can be done to improve your smile, that you take the time to schedule your consultation now. They will help walk you through cosmetic improvement procedures, evaluate the health of your gums, utilize your benefits, and provide before and after care information you need.

You deserve the smile of a lifetime and now is your time to get it. Call Dr. Denine Rice and her team today for more information.

What Your Gums Are Trying To Tell You?

Your gums can communicate a lot. They can tell your periodontist whether you floss and brush regularly. They can tell your periodontist whether you are struggling with oral cancer or whether your diet is a healthy one, or if it is full of carbohydrates and fast food. Spending time with your periodontist can help you to figure out what healthy choices you want to put in place for your life. So, stop and listen to what your periodontist is saying your gums are telling him or her. Here are the signs your periodontist sees that tell them your gums and your body are crying for help.

If your gums are receding and they bleed when you brush and floss it means you have the early signs of periodontal disease. If this problem is left untreated, your gums will continue to pull away, potentially causing serious problems for you and your smile. Your gums are a pocket that should fit around your teeth tight, but when they are not taken care of it causes them to begin to pull away.

Do you enjoy pizza, bread, and chips? Diets high in carbohydrates tend to cause problems for your smile because those foods stick to your teeth and mix with the bacteria, that is already in your mouth. By not brushing and flossing properly it can cause decay and periodontal disease. Individuals who have periodontal disease are more likely to be impacted by heart disease then individuals who do not have periodontal disease.

For more information on what your gums are telling you and cosmetic ways to improve your smile, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team.

Don’t Wait! Your Benefits Are Going To Expire

Dental insurance is a benefit you pay for ahead of time and then use throughout the year. Or you may have a Flex Spending account or a Health Saving Account. You may also have a deductible you have to pay prior to your insurance benefits kicking in. At the end of the year all of these benefits start over and you begin again. But you have already paid for all of these benefits. “So, now is the time,” says Dr. Denine Rice, “to take advantage of what you want to get done to take care of your smile.”

Dental issues will continue to create problems for your smile when they are not taken care of. You may think: I can’t afford it. I will need to do it later. But when you take advantage of your dental benefits you can improve your smile and wow your family at the next holiday family photo.

In order to determine exactly what you can get with the remainder of your dental benefits, contact your dental insurance company. They can explain what benefits you have left and what procedures are available to you.

For more information on using your dental benefits to your advantage contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

An Oral Health Screening May Save Your Life

Regular oral health screenings are essential in order to determine if there are other problems going on in your body. Oral cancer can impact thousands of Americans every year, but you do not have to be one of them. Take the time to schedule your appointment with Dr. Rice and her team today in order to have an evaluation done and ensure that you are not impacted by oral disease.

The United States does not have a current system in place that helps people regularly be evaluated for oral cancer. This year alone 1 person will die every 24 hours from oral cancer. The reason is because of the late nature in which oral cancer is usually discovered. Just visiting the periodontist on a regular basis and scheduling your oral health cleaning can save your life. Your benefits are also close to running out, so this is a perfect time to use your dental insurance benefits before the end of the year and get the benefit of great health.

Oral health screenings do not just uncover cancer though. Diabetes impacts 29.1 Million people. This number includes individuals who are diagnosed and undiagnosed. Undiagnosed diabetes can cause multiple health impacts including gum disease, decay, missing limbs and death if left untreated.

For more information on oral health screenings, contact Dr. Denine Rice and her team.

Enjoy Thanksgiving Without The Negative Impact On Your Smile

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and you can see the mounds of different items that will be cooked at Thanksgiving dinner flooding the stores. Potatoes, turkey, breads and a variety of items that will be whipped, cooked, combined and enjoyed by families across America in a few short days. If your teeth could talk though, they would be warning you to be careful this holiday season and not indulge in foods that can damage your dental health.

Fruits and vegetables are a great way to counteract the high carbohydrates that are in a variety of the foods we consume during this meal. Stay away from the desire to add extra sugary items on top of your vegetables and avoid using a dip that is sweet for your carrots and celery. A low sugar dip can provide the great taste your guests are expecting without the problems of leaving food and sugar on their teeth for long periods of time.

Avoid foods that get stuck in your teeth or between your teeth. During this busy time, the first thing you think about may not be flossing your teeth immediately after eating. Avoiding foods such as crackers, a lot of turkey, and the marshmallows on candied yams can keep your smile and gums in a healthy state.

For more information on great Thanksgiving foods for your smile, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.