Because everyone’s oral health is unique, your specific risks for things like periodontal (gum) disease may be different than others. However, the main cause of the disease itself is the excessive buildup of harmful oral bacteria underneath your gums. Therefore, preventing or treating gum disease at our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office typically involves eliminating the threat of oral bacteria by carefully removing them and protecting your gums from their influence. (more…)
Think You Might Have Gingivitis? Here’s How to Know
Gingivitis – the first stage of gum disease – is common. In fact, more than 80 percent of adults have gum disease to some extent, and every case began with the formation of gingivitis. While most people know what gingivitis, they may not always realize they have it, which means they don’t seek treatment for it until the condition becomes more severe. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, recognizing and treating gingivitis as early as possible is an important way for us to help you protect your smile from the potentially devastating effects of more severe gum disease. (more…)
Why Are Dental Implants the Best Replacements for Lost Teeth?
After carefully researching all of your options for replacing your lost tooth or teeth, you learn more than you originally expected about why dental implants may be your best option. However, you may not fully appreciate the reasons why until well after you’ve had your dental implants placed. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we often recommend placing one or more dental implants to support a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture (depending on how many teeth you’ve lost) for many different reasons. Today, we explore those reasons and why dental implants are likely your best option. (more…)
A Few Fine Points About Platelet-Rich Periodontal Therapy
There are several aspects to treating periodontal disease. For example, the only way to stop the disease’s progression and allow your gums to heal is to remove the harmful oral bacteria that have accumulated underneath your gum tissues. This process, known as scaling and root planing (or periodontal cleaning) may be the full extent of your treatment, or it may just be the first step, depending on the severity of your gum disease. For many patients at our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, the use of platelet-rich plasma and fibrin helps optimize periodontal treatment and maintenance in several ways. (more…)
A Few Things You Might Not Know About Your Hygiene Routine
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing them at least once, and taking care to clean along your gum line each time are the basics of good oral and periodontal hygiene. Most people recognize this, and many of them adhere to it, yet gum disease and other chronic oral health conditions continue to affect a majority of people across the world. That’s why, at our Encinitas/San Diego Periodontal office, we strongly emphasize not only the importance of good oral hygiene, but also educating patients about the nuances of keeping their smiles healthy for life. (more…)
The Biggest Factors in Gum Disease Development
One of the biggest factors in adult tooth loss, chronic inflammatory health issues, and more is the presence of gum disease. The condition not only erodes your supportive gums and jawbone structure, but also leads to unchecked inflammation in your periodontal tissues and ligaments. However, there are also several factors in the formation of gum disease itself, and understanding them can help you avoid the potential dangers associated with it. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you recognize what factors are most prominent to your periodontal health, and how you can mitigate them to protect your smile. (more…)
The Long-Term Effects of Tooth Loss
There are several concerns that come with losing one or more teeth, and the visual impact to your smile is only one of them. While you may notice that gap in your teeth more than you would the other consequences of tooth loss, those other consequences can have a much greater impact on the long-term state of your oral health. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, preventing and dealing with tooth loss is an important part of the comprehensive care that we provide. If you experience tooth loss, then we can help you regain your good oral health and avoid many of the most destructive consequences of losing teeth. (more…)
What Makes Perio Cleaning Different than Dental Cleaning?
Routine cleaning is an important part of oral health care. In many cases, that simply involves brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once, as well as attending regular dental cleanings at least once every six months. Sometimes, however, you might need more involved periodontal cleaning – also known as scaling and root planing – to address a more aggressive buildup of oral bacteria. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can perform specialized scaling and root planing, as well as ongoing periodontal maintenance, if necessary, to help you address an increased risk of gum disease, or control it if it’s already developed. (more…)
Does Controlling Plaque Really Prevent Gum Disease?
When it comes to preventing gum disease (as well as several other common oral health issues), preventing plaque buildup on your teeth and gums is essential. That’s because the bacteria that produce and hide within dental plaque are the main causes behind such oral health issues, especially when they’re allowed to accumulate excessively. While you have several options for addressing gum disease at our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, preventing gum disease from forming is a much better option for your long-term oral health. To be successful, your preventive routine should focus strongly on preventing excessive bacteria and plaque buildup every day. (more…)
3 Things to Know Before Getting Dental Implants
Even if you grow accustomed to how your smile looks with one or more missing teeth, your other teeth and oral structures never will. In addition to appearance, the effects of tooth loss can include the shifting of other teeth, the erosion of your jawbone, and much more that can have an increasingly negative impact on your oral health. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you effectively address those consequences and minimize their effect on your oral health by replacing your lost teeth with one or more dental implants. (more…)