Why You Dread Those Dental Cleanings

Posted on Dec 18, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

It’s pretty rare that I run into someone who claims to “enjoy” getting their teeth cleaned. As a matter of fact, I not only hear the opposite from most people, occasional complaints about how “rough” their Hygienist is accompany the dislike of these visits.

The reality of this is not a hard-handed Hygienist or that dental cleanings are merely dreadful procedures. The reality is (drum roll) your cleanings are uncomfortable because your gums are tender. And, the reason your gums are tender is because you probably don’t floss your teeth.

Tender gums indicate that bacteria is attacking your sensitive oral tissues. Gums that bleed easily are a symptom of periodontal (gum) disease. If treated early, the cost and time required to restore your gums to a healthy state will be minimal. However, as gum disease progresses (and it WILL without treatment), the procedure is more involved.

Once your gums are restored to good oral health, it is a simple process to keep them that way. However, this requires twice daily brushing (at minimum), daily flossing (not a difficult or time-consuming task once you get the hang of it), monitoring sugar intake and drinking plenty of water to keep the mouth moist.

We see a number of patients periodically who have had their gums restored to a healthy state for evaluation and cleanings in-between visits to their regular dentist’s office. They come in smiling and leave smiling. Their cleanings are neither dreaded or uncomfortable. And, their smiles sparkle and their teeth are at minimal risk for cavities.

Join them! Call us at (828) 274-9440 to schedule a periodontal evaluation.

 

Give Your Smile A Healthy Foundation To Prevent Problems In The First Place!

Posted on Dec 16, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Imagine contracting a house painter to paint a home infested by termites. Or, even worse, knowing the house has termites and hoping they’ll go away.

Your smile is a reflection on your appearance, hygiene standards, personality, and affects speech, digestion and your ability to enjoy foods – enhancing your life every day in many ways. Yet, the value of a healthy mouth goes even further.

The bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease can become bloodborne through tears in gum tissue. As it travels throughout the body, this inflammatory bacteria can trigger reactions that have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, pre-term babies and even impotency. Gum disease is also the number one reason for adult tooth loss in this country.

The best way to have, and keep, a healthy mouth is to begin with its foundation. If your gums are not healthy, you will experience continual problems that just get worse and worse.

Your six-month dental hygiene visits remove tartar and plaque that has accumulated between visits. However, gums that are tender while your teeth are being cleaned is not necessarily because the hygienist is rough. Tender gums indicate the presence of bacteria. This is when periodontal therapy through a trained periodontal specialist will adequately help you regain a healthy mouth in a way that is appropriate to your individual needs.

For example, if your gum disease is at a specific level in some areas but not others, a Periodontist will customize your treatment accordingly so you don’t receive more (or less) treatment than necessary in any particular area. Your treatment by a Periodontist will restore your oral health for a foundation that is easy to maintain and actually helps you prevent problems in the first place.

A Periodontist has earned a dental doctorate and then continues an additional 3-4 years in school to become an expert in the soft tissues in your mouth, including dental implant placement. Think of it this way: Rather than have a house painter put a fresh coat of paint on termite infested siding, find the right person who can rid you of termites once and for all! Call (828) 274-9440 to learn more.

Give A Lasting Gift For That Special Person!

Posted on Dec 09, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

It seems everyone has at least one person on their holiday shopping list who is extra special and deserves an extra special gift. Whether it’s a parent, child or spouse, there are holidays we want to give the gift that “keeps on giving all year long” (and longer!).

This year, how about a gift that enhances their appearance, boosts confidence and creates smiles more often? Periodontal procedures can create smiles they love, such as crown lengthening, recovering receded gums, repairing a gummy smile or even ridding a mouth of gum disease.

Call us at (828) 274-9440 to discuss your recipient. We can arrange a consultation for them to discuss treatment options.

This year, you really can give a gift they’ll cherish for years to come! And, you’ll end up being the ultimate gift giver!

Is Gum Health Related To Mental Sharpness?

Posted on Dec 03, 2013 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Mental alertness seems to decline as people age. But, could this have more to do with tooth loss and inflamed gums than the aging process? The findings of a study indicate a possible association between oral health and cognitive function (the mental process of knowing, awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment) in middle aged adults. As part of the national Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, researchers investigated whether tooth loss and the presence of periodontal (gum) disease relate to reduced mental function.

Participants included over 11,000 late middle–aged adults who were studied from 1996 through 1998. Researchers measured delayed word recall, digit-symbol substitution and word fluency accompanied by a dental screening. Of the 8,554 participants who had natural teeth remaining, nearly 6,000 were given oral exams to measure dental condition, number of natural teeth and presence of inflammation from gum disease. Adjustments were made for factors including smoking, alcohol use and diabetes.

Approximately 13% of the study’s participants were totally without teeth. Of the participants with remaining natural teeth, over 27% had less than 20 teeth. Over 12% of those showed some level of periodontal (gum) disease.

Compared with participants who had natural teeth remaining, those without any natural teeth had lower scores for all cognitive tests. For participants who had fewer teeth and bleeding gums, they had lower digit-symbol substitution and word fluency scores.

The researchers feel the findings show that the absence of natural teeth relates to having less mental sharpness. Tooth loss and bleeding gums (a sign of periodontal bacteria) also seems to indicate reduced mental function among middle age people who still have some or all natural teeth.

Does being without teeth and having gum disease mean you are at risk for cognitive decline? Or, can gum inflammation negatively effect an adult’s mental sharpness as early as middle age? As research continues, we will keep you updated on the findings.

In the meantime, remember that prior research has already established that the health of your mouth effects your overall health. The bacteria of gum disease can become bloodborne through inflamed tissues and cause adverse reactions elsewhere in the body. This bacteria has been associated with coronary artery disease, diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies, and memory loss.

Be  committed to your oral health and your entire body will thank you!