American Heart Month, sponsored by the American Heart Association every February, is designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of heart disease and how to lower your risk for poor heart health. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy isn’t a guaranteed way to prevent heart disease, but experts agree that it certainly reduces your risk for inflammation linked to heart problems and other systemic issues. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys your gums and underlying jawbone as it progresses. One of the more significant symptoms of diseased gums is bleeding. When your oral tissues are infected, chewing and brushing your teeth can release oral bacteria into the bloodstream. According to recent research, the mechanisms behind periodontal disease, namely the bacteria that incite excessive swelling, are a significant contributor to some cases of coronary heart disease. (more…)
How Do You Repair Damaged Gums?
The reason why prevention and early treatment are vital to your continued good oral health is because gum disease is progressive, meaning that without intervention it only grows worse as time continues. If prevention fails, then gum disease will slowly destroy the foundations of your smile (i.e., gums and jawbone) until your mouth loses its ability to retain teeth. Mild to moderate gum disease can be addressed with an appropriate periodontal treatment, such as scaling and root planing. When disease has significantly riddled your gums, Dr. Kania may have to perform procedures to restore your periodontal health. (more…)
How Serious is Your Gum Disease?
If you’ve developed gum disease, the severity of your condition depends on how long the disease has been neglected. The earlier it’s detected and treated, the less damage gum disease will be allowed to wreak on your soft gingival tissues, making timing one of the most significant factors in effective periodontal treatment. Gauging how serious your gum disease is requires a professional examination by your Encinitas periodontist, but preventing it from becoming a destructive force requires your attention and care, as well. (more…)
The Value of a Periodontal Cleaning
Prevention is an important aspect of your periodontal (gum) care. Your Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, can repair and rebuild severely damaged periodontal tissue (gums) using innovative methods and technology, including lasers. However, Dr. Kania explains that the true purpose of expert periodontal care should be to prevent disease and the need for extensive treatment. A periodontal cleaning is a preventive measure designed to reduce inflammation the infection that leads to periodontal disease, before the condition can progress into something worse. As the first stage of periodontal disease, gingivitis marks the last phase at which the disease is still preventable if treated in time. (more…)
Examining Your Periodontal Health
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.