Gum Disease

Gum Disease...Now what? 

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Do you have chronic bad breath that doesn’t get better with improved hygiene or a change in diet? You may not realize it, but these can be signs of a serious health concern.  By ignoring these symptoms of a serious infection in your mouth you are playing Russian Roulette with your teeth and your overall health.  And, according to very recent scientific research, it seems plausible (even likely) that lifespan may be negatively affected.

If you have the above oral symptoms it is likely that you have some form of gum disease - as do greater than 70% of all adults.  The 2 most common, scientific names for gum disease are Gingivitis and Periodontitis.  They represent stages of gum disease.  That is ... Gingivitis is early and affects gums only; while Periodontitis is more advanced and affects the underlying (supportive) bone around the teeth.  Both start as a bacterial infection in the gums (and later the surrounding tissues) and are also affected by your body's "sensitivity".  In other words, gum disease is similar to allergies - some people are majorly affected; some minor; while others (those lucky ones) remain unaffected.

If gum disease is left untreated the prognosis is not good.  Infections in the mouth that are not treated will travel throughout the bloodstream and into other body systems. Untreated gum disease can tax your immune and cardiovascular systems causing major health problems, and in severe cases death.  However, this is not the only problem with untreated gum disease.  Untreated gum disease also causes tooth loss.  The infection in the gums will spread to the underlying bone and eventually lead to unnecessary gum recession and bone loss which leaves little support for remaining teeth and causes loose, unstable teeth, and tooth loss. 

X-ray showing significant bone loss caused by periodontal disease. 

Here’s the good news! Is it is treatable.  It is thought that over 75% percent of the  adult population has some form of gum disease. It is often under treated, because for many people it is painless.  And without regular dental exams would go largely unnoticed by a vast majority of the US population.   

Symptoms of gum disease include:

·        Bleeding gums  

·        Tender gums

·        Bright red or purple swollen gums

·        Shiny gums

·        Mouth sores

 

Healthy gums are pink, do not bleed and are not swollen .

 

Symptoms of advanced gum disease include:

·      Bleeding gums

·       Pus and much odor 

·       Loose or mobile teeth

·       Receding gums

 

Risk factors for gum disease include:

·        Pregnancy

·        Poor Dental Hygiene

·        Tobacco use of any kind

·        Certain bodily infections

·        Uncontrolled Diabetes

·        Misaligned teeth (crowded teeth, crooked teeth, etc…)

·        Malocclusion (overbite, cross-bite, etc…)

·        Poor fitting dental appliances (crowns, bridges, dentures, etc…)

·        Some medications, including birth control
 

If you have any of these risk factors it is very important to see your dentist regularly!

Treatment of gum disease includes:

·        Reduce the inflammation

·        Regular/more frequent dental hygiene visits (a minimum of twice a year)

·        If gum disease is severe enough a deeper cleaning called, perio scaling and root planning ,will be recommended.  This is just a cleaning that goes below the gum line and into the perio pockets around the tooth, or gum tissue surrounding the tooth, where the tooth and gums meet.

·        Meticulous at-home oral hygiene, with daily flossing

·        Correcting  misaligned teeth with orthodontic treatment

·        Replacing poor fitting dental appliances with proper fitting ones

·        Treating any bodily infections and proper management of diabetes

·        Using antibacterial mouthwashes and other aids

·        In rare cases where gum disease is not responding to treatment surgery my be required

See your dentist right away if you suspect you might have gum disease. Gum disease is just one of many reasons regular dental check-ups are good for your overall health!

What are Veneers?

What are Veneers?

George Clooney: Veneers lengthened and lightened his smile for a more youthful appearance.

What are veneers, you ask? Veneers are Hollywood’s best kept secret! Just take a look at some before and after photos of some of Hollywood’s best smiles and you will see some veneers, for sure!

Veneers are similar to "false finger nails" for teeth.  They are a thin restorative material placed over the outside tooth surface to either protect the tooth or to improve the tooth’s appearance. The material used , usually, is a ceramic of one type of another.  The best material today is a Lithium Disilicate type that is ultra strong even when only .5 mm in thickness.  Sometimes a composite resin (bonding) material (the stuff we do tooth colored fillings with) may be used.

Demi Moore: Veneers Straitened, lengthened, and brightened her smile

Porcelain (Ceramic) Veneers differ from Crowns in that they only cover one surface of the tooth (the side you see when you smile), instead of wrapping all the way around the tooth like a crown.  Thus, a big advantage of veneers is that very little natural tooth structure must be removed to place a veneer.  Certain cases can be treated with virtually NO tooth preparation whatsoever.  Lumineers is the older version (20 year old technology) of the "prep-less" veneers -- today our materials are even stronger and more natural looking!

Veneers can be used to restore a single tooth that has been broken or discolored, or to make over an entire smile.  They can close spaces between teeth, lengthen teeth and provide uniform shape and symmetry.  Veneers can be like "instant orthodontics" and the best part is that they fix anything else that might be bothering you about your smile.

Porcelain Veneer

Picking a cosmetic dentist can be a little tricky.  Make sure to ask to see many before and after photos of actual cases that they have performed.  Also, some dental offices, like mine, have software that will allow you to see a “Digital Imaged” case (before and after pictures) so that you are better able to visualize your would-be new smile.  This is a huge advantage as you can play with the shape, length and color of your teeth to see how it will look on you! This will allow you to customize your smile, for your features, unique to you!  

 

Some dental offices will request you do a “wax up,” or a model of your teeth to see the end result.  Also, beware of the ceramic material chosen as some offices and labs are usuing materials that are "old school" and they might appear more opaque (fake) upon final cementation.  This subtle difference in the cermics can make a huge difference in the appearance of the veneer. 

I know that fees (price) are on your mind.  For the best type of Ceramic Veneers you can expect to spend over a $1,000 a tooth.  So, for some the alternative types of Veneers (bonding) makes the most sense.  Surprisingly, even some dental insurances companies will cover a portion of the costs.

The smile improvement resulting from Veneers (and associated benefits of improved self confidence, etc), however, many times is a life changing event (so "worth" is difficult to assess in those cases).  See my previous blog "True Value of a Smile" (click here). Veneers are also considered "permanent" and are expected to last many, many years.  In short, veneers have been, and remain, a stellar means of smile improvement.  Might you consider the possibilities?