Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is one of the most common dental diseases in the world today. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most destructive, and its advanced form, periodontitis, is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. Periodontal disease is most likely to develop in a susceptable host in the midst of poor oral hygiene, when dental plaque builds up excessively on a patient’s teeth and along the gum line. The germs within plaque release toxins that specifically target periodontal tissue (gums), and can incite inflammation that can lead to aggressive periodontal disease. As a periodontist in Encinitas, Dr. Ann Kania specializes in periodontal health, and helping patients preserve their smiles through diligent care and maintenance. (more…)
Preserving Your Smile with Periodontics
In the United States, gum disease is a prevalent and serious health issue. According to a recent study conduced by the Centers for Disease Control, over 64.7 million Americans exhibit the symptoms of periodontal disease. In order to improve the health and stability of your smile, your Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, offers treatment for gum disease. Learn more about our approach to providing quality periodontics.
The Link Between Gum Disease, Tooth Loss, and Dental Implants
Thanks to advanced dental knowledge and mass-media advertising, gum disease (and its beginning stage, gingivitis) is a well-known dental malady these days. You may recognize that swollen, bleeding gums can indicate the presence of gum disease, and that it’s typically a result of poor oral hygiene. However, did you know that severe gum disease is the leading cause of permanent tooth loss in the United States? Or that, when left untreated, the disease can progress past your gums and infect the jawbone underneath? Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Kania, warns that untreated gum disease may not only destroy your smile through tooth loss, but negatively affect your chances of successfully replacing lost teeth in the future, as well. (more…)
What is Laser Dentistry?
In order to provide the highest quality dental care, your Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, believes in offering the latest in dental technology. Across America, more and more dental practices are realizing the benefits of laser dentistry. With dental lasers, Dr. Kania can provide unrivaled precision when treating a variety of serious dental issues.
Encinitas Periodontist: Why Are Dental Cleanings Necessary?
Carefully brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is essential to keeping your smile clean and healthy. If your toothbrush and floss are all that you rely on, however, then your smile may not remain clean and healthy for long. Aside from diligent personal care, good oral hygiene also entails professional dental care and routine maintenance. At any given time, your mouth hosts over 600 different kinds of bacteria. While most of these germs are harmless even beneficial, others are directly responsible for dental health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath. When they accumulate, oral bacteria form dental plaque—the sticky film that sometimes coats your teeth, gums, and tongue. Once plaque calcifies (hardens) into tartar, your toothbrush and floss can no longer remove it. With various degrees of professional dental cleanings, your Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Kania, can help remove tough tartar and protect your smile from destructive dental diseases.
Routine Cleaning Boosts Effective Hygiene
A routine dental cleaning, or prophylaxis, is the most common form of professional dental care, and should be conducted at least once every six months on healthy patients. Patients who are especially at risk for dental disease, may require more frequent visits to improve the state of their oral health. If no disease is present, a prophylaxis can help maintain a smile’s good health by removing all traces of bacteria, plaque, and tartar from teeth’s surfaces. (more…)
San Diego Periodontist Answers Questions About Gum Grafts
Our teeth have two forms of protection: tooth enamel and gums. Tooth enamel protects the portion of the tooth above the gum line, protecting the sensitive inner tooth structure from bacteria. The roots of the tooth have no enamel coating; instead your gums protect them. However, a number of factors may cause the gums to recede, exposing the roots to harmful bacteria. In order to protect your smile, you may require a gum graft. In today’s blog, your San Diego periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, answers questions about gum grafts.
San Diego Periodontist’s Tips to Improve Bad Breath
Do you struggle with foul breath? As a common dental condition, bad breath affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives (like in the mornings), but when it lingers, the condition can become more than just a nuisance. Chronic bad breath, or halitosis, can have a serious effect on your personal and professional life as you hesitate to interact with others for fear of offending them. Luckily, halitosis isn’t an insurmountable issue. Below, your San Diego periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, offers a few effective tips for defeating persistent bad breath, and explains what to do if it remains anyway.
Fresher Breath in No Time
Brush and floss often
The inconvenient truth is that most cases of bad breath are due to poor dental hygiene. Dental plaque, the colorless substance that sometimes sticks to your teeth, gums, and tongue, contain hundreds of different kinds of oral bacteria. When some of them metabolize certain nutrients, they release foul-smelling sulfur compounds that can overwhelm a patient’s mouth. Brushing and flossing at least twice every day, and after meals whenever possible, can help control oral bacteria and their foul presence. (more…)
San Diego Laser Dentist Helps You Recognize Gum Disease
Did you know that some of the biggest threats to your teeth and health are microscopic? The bacteria responsible for gum disease can spread devastation throughout the mouth and even other parts of the body. To find out how to recognize the work of these tiny enemies, read the following information from your San Diego dentist, Dr. Ann Kania. (more…)
San Diego Periodontist Explains How to Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common dental health problem that affects approximately 70% of adults under the age of 60. Usually, gum disease can be controlled with advanced periodontal treatment to prevent extensive dental damage. However, in its most severe form (periodontitis), gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and studies suggest it can significantly increase the risk of certain systemic health issues like heart disease. To protect your oral and overall wellbeing, your San Diego periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, explains how to prevent gum disease, or treat it early enough to avoid irreversible damage.
The Power of Good Dental Hygiene
The importance of daily dental hygiene can never be stressed enough. Over 600 different kinds of bacteria inhabit a healthy oral cavity, and form sticky dental plaque to protect themselves from the mouth’s natural defenses (like saliva). (more…)
San Diego Dentist: Bone Graft Procedures for Dental Implants
Dental implants provide the most security as far as tooth replacements go. Implants won’t come loose or fall out during mealtimes, they color-match teeth, and implants don’t require special care. This is because implants function as natural teeth and help maintain your jaw healthy and strong.
Unfortunately, though, not every patient qualifies for implants due to insufficient bone mass. Dental implants only prove successful if the patient has enough bone tissue to support the implant, which serves as a surrogate tooth root. However, with a bone graft procedure, the patient may have the opportunity to receive the implant they desire.
In today’s blog post, Dr. Ann Kania, your San Diego dentist explains the bone graft procedure and how it aids in the placement of dental implants.
What is a Bone Graft?
A bone grafting procedure is one that helps replace missing bone in an area of the body. This replacement bone could stem from the patient, bovine, synthetic glass material, or even a cadaver. Doctors prefer to use the patient’s own bone material, if possible, otherwise an alternative material is utilized.
Bone grafting is used for a number of medical procedures, including: orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, or even otolaryngology (head and neck) surgery. Yet, bone grafting also aides in oral surgery when a patient with insufficient bone mass wishes to receive a dental implant.
The bone graft allows the area with insufficient bone mass to regenerate and provide a steadier base for the implant.
How the Procedure is Completed
Bone grafting in the mouth is a relatively simple procedure. First, your San Diego dentist places you under local anesthesia to make you feel more comfortable. Once you’re numb, the doctor creates a minor incision in the gum line where the bone graft is needed. After the bone is exposed, the dentist places the bone graft and covers it with a protective membrane. This membrane could come from the patient, bovine, or synthetically made material.
When the dentist has finished placing both the bone graft and the protective membrane, the opened gum tissue is sutured and is left to heal. If the bone graft proves successful, the patient should have the opportunity to receive their dental implant.
San Diego Dentist Offers Dental Implant Surgery
For more information about bone grafts or dental implants, talk to Dr. Kania. She can discuss the benefits of dental implants and answer any questions you may have. To schedule an appointment with our San Diego dental practice, call us at (760) 642 – 0711. Also, visit our website for services, patient forms, and to read more about our team. We forward to treating new and existing patients from Leucadia, Olivenhain, Cardiff by the Sea, and the neighboring areas.