For most people, it’s no secret that good daily hygiene is the key to keeping their smiles healthy for life. However, many people still develop conditions like periodontal disease (also known as gum disease). In some cases, it’s because people fail to stick to what they know about good hygiene routines, but often, it’s because they don’t realize where exactly their hygiene routines are lacking. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontist’s office, good hygiene education is one of the most important preventive measures we provide. (more…)
Things that Might Mean You Can’t Get Dental Implants (Yet)
For most patients who’ve lost one or more teeth, dental implants can offer advantages for rebuilding their smiles that other, more conventional prostheses can’t offer. For example, traditional bridges and dentures might offer highly lifelike esthetic results and help prevent remaining teeth from shifting, all while restoring your bite’s ability to function. However, at our Encinitas/San Diego, patients who receive dental implants can also help stop many of the continuing effects of tooth loss that result from lost teeth roots. Before suggesting them, we’ll make sure that placing dental implants is a good idea by thoroughly examining the state of your oral health. (more…)
A Brief Look at What Happens After Tooth Loss
Patients who’ve lost one or more teeth have a good idea of how the loss can affect things like their smile’s appearance and their bite’s overall function. However, there is more going on due to tooth loss than what most people realize, and if ignored long enough, the destruction can continue long after you’ve lost a tooth. Today, we examine how tooth loss patients at our Encinitas periodontal office can help preserve their smiles by addressing the things they may not realize are still affecting their smiles. (more…)
3 Surprising Things Related to Gum Disease
For many patients, the development of gum disease isn’t always obvious at first. That’s because the earliest symptoms of the condition aren’t always noticeable upon first glance, and some of them may not seem immediately related to gum disease at all. Today, we examine a few of the sometimes-surprising things related to gum disease, and how patients in Encinitas/San Diego can spot them to know when it’s time to seek help from a periodontal specialist. (more…)
Exploring the Benefits of LANAP
The state of your periodontal health can have significant consequences for your overall oral health. For example, periodontal disease not only affects your periodontal tissues (gums), but can also erode your jawbone structure and lead to tooth loss in its most severe forms. Fortunately, patients in Encinitas/San Diego have several options for addressing the condition and restoring their good periodontal health, including laser-assisted treatment (or LANAP) that involves the use of advanced technology to promote healthier gum tissues. (more…)
A Brief Look at Scaling and Root Planing
Under healthy conditions, routine dental cleanings are typically enough to remove harmful oral bacteria from your teeth and along your gum line. Doing so helps you significantly lower your risks of developing oral health conditions like gum disease. However, for some patients in Encinitas/San Diego, oral bacteria may have worked their way underneath the gums and away from the reach of routine dental cleaning equipment. In such cases, the most effective way to remove the bacteria and lower your risks of developing gum disease because of it is to undergo scaling and root planing. (more…)
Interested in Dental Implants? Find Out if You’re a Candidate
Increasingly more patients in Encinitas/San Diego who’ve experienced tooth loss are experiencing the many benefits that dental implants offer. The unique dental prosthetics, which are designed to replace your lost teeth roots, create the most lifelike support system for a dental crown, bridge, or denture. Not only does that translate into significantly improved comfort and stability, but also several important advantages for the long-term health and integrity of your smile. Today, we examine how you can determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. (more…)
A Few Signs that You Might Have Gingivitis
The first stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can seem deceptively minor in its earliest stages. For example, patients in Encinitas/San Diego can notice the small warning signs and yet still ignore them or fail to seek treatment. Because of this, gingivitis quickly (and often) matures into more serious gum disease before patients seek treatment for it. Today, we examine a few signs that you might have gum disease and should visit your periodontist as soon as possible to address it. (more…)
Could You Be Making Gum Disease Worse?
Not everything you do has an obvious impact on your oral health, but when you experience a condition like gum disease, even seemingly harmless things can affect the disease’s progression. For patients in Encinitas/San Diego who suffer from gum disease, recognizing and controlling these influences is paramount to protecting their long-term oral health. Today, we examine what you may be doing to unwittingly exacerbate your gum disease, and how you can address them to improve your oral and periodontal health. (more…)
How Poor Hygiene Can Lead to Destructive Gum Disease
Your hygiene routine plays a significant role in the state of your oral health. For example, brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once is the only way to control the oral bacteria that cause issues like gum disease. At our Encinitas/San Diego office, we stress the importance of hygiene by ensuring every patient knows the best ways to keep their smiles clean and healthy at home. (more…)