Most patients who have lost one or more teeth make excellent candidates for dental implants. The prosthetic posts, which are inserted into your jawbone, are biocompatible and designed for a healthy jawbone to fuse to them. However, there are certain things that could impact your candidacy for dental implants, such as the state of your dental health and any considerations that affect it. To help more patients in Encinitas/San Diego benefit from dental implants, we explain what some of those things are and how we can help you address them to boost your candidacy for dental implant placement. (more…)
Could You Benefit from Perio Protect?
The good news for patients with periodontal disease (or who are at heightened risks for the disease) is that treating and controlling it isn’t usually difficult. With routine care and expert maintenance, you can save your smile from severe damage that often results from severe periodontal (gum) disease. For many patients in Encinitas/San Diego, that maintenance includes the application of advanced Perio Protect – an anti-bacterial solution that you can apply at home to boost your ability to fight gum disease. (more…)
A Brief Look at How Dental Implants Work
You don’t have to know exactly how every dental treatment you receive works to benefit from it. However, knowing as much as you can about your options will help you ensure that you always choose the best treatment for your specific needs. For example, dental implants are a commonly recommended solution for replacing lost teeth because they provide patients in Encinitas/San Diego with a more stable and comfortable prosthesis. However, it’s the specific way in which dental implants work that make them so effective and why oral health experts typically recommend them. (more…)
Diagnosing Your Periodontal Disease
One of the reasons why periodontal (gum) disease affects so many people before they notice it is because the disease occurs in stages. The first, known as gingivitis, doesn’t always produce obvious symptoms, and patients who skip a checkup and cleaning miss the chance for their dentists to more thoroughly check for it. In its more advanced stages, gum disease is often irreversible, which means even after you do notice it and seek treatment, it may be present for the rest of your life. Today, we examine how we help patients in Encinitas/San Diego by diagnosing their specific periodontal disease and designing treatment options specifically for them. (more…)
Why Inflammation Makes Periodontal Disease Such a Threat
One of the reasons why periodontal disease is such a threat is because it’s the leading cause of adult tooth loss. When left untreated, it can lead to severe erosion of your periodontal tissues and jawbone structure, leaving teeth without adequate support. The driving force behind this erosion is harmful oral bacteria – particularly, the inflammation that certain microbes incite throughout your periodontal and oral tissues. Besides tooth loss, patients in Encinitas/San Diego can also be at heightened risk for other chronic health issues thanks to this uncontrolled inflammation, which is another significant reason why periodontal disease is such a threat. (more…)
Bad Breath, and Other Symptoms of Gum Disease
Bad breath is one of the more common dental health concerns that you may experience, but it’s also one of the most commonly benign symptoms. For instance, your breath may be bad in the morning simply because oral bacteria have gathered more easily overnight (thanks to reduced saliva). However, bad breath that doesn’t go away is often more serious than just morning breath. For many patients in Encinitas/San Diego, it could be one of many potential symptoms of a serious condition, such as periodontal disease. (more…)
How to Boost Your Chances of Preventing Tooth Loss
The tricky thing about your dental health is that it’s dynamic. Your smile may be as healthy as possible one day, and then be at a high risk of tooth loss just a few months later. That’s especially true if you have periodontal disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss for adults in the United States. Fortunately, tooth loss doesn’t always have to happen, and your risks for it don’t have to fluctuate. With consistently good hygiene, regular preventive care from your dentist, and expert periodontal treatment when necessary, patients in Encinitas/San Diego can significantly boost their chances of preventing tooth loss. (more…)
A Brief Look at Laser Periodontal Treatment
Preventing periodontal disease is fairly straight forward. For instance, because it develops from oral bacteria, preventing these bacteria from gathering and remaining on your gums can significantly reduce your risks of developing periodontal disease. However, cleanliness isn’t a full-proof guarantee against periodontal disease, and when it does develop, treating it may not always be as simple as removing harmful oral bacteria. For example, in addition to deep periodontal cleaning, your treatment might also include specialized maintenance, such as the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP). The use of advanced laser technology helps patients in Encinitas/San Diego more comfortably and successfully treat periodontal disease and manage its risks to their oral health. (more…)
Important Things to Remember About Dental Implants
When you experience tooth loss, the condition can result in several different long-term concerns for your smile. That’s because, to remain healthy and fully functional, your bite requires a full set of teeth to work with. While conventional dental prostheses like dental bridges and dentures can replace the parts of your teeth responsible for biting and chewing, the addition of dental implants gives them the ability to rebuild your smile more comprehensively. Implant posts, which are fashioned to replace lost teeth roots, can be used to support a prosthesis of any size (i.e., dental crown, bridge, or denture) with enhanced support and stimulation for your smile. (more…)
3 Reasons Why Good Hygiene Matters So Much
Along with attending preventive dental visits at least twice a year, successfully preventing oral and periodontal diseases requires heavily on your own daily efforts at home. If your hygiene routine is lacking, then even the best oral health care may not be able to help you preserve your smile or avoid the need for extensive treatment. Today, we explain why good hygiene matters so much to the long-term health and integrity of your smile, and how it forms the basis for habits that will increase your chances of avoiding oral health troubles. (more…)