It’s Much More Than “Just a Cleaning”
More and more dentists now incorporate routine exams inside the oral cavity and the outside of head and neck into their hygiene appointments to screen for a host of oral diseases, including gum disease and oral cancer. Unfortunately, not all early signs of disease can be seen by the naked eye. At our practice we do much more. Advances in technology have made it possible for dentists to offer non-invasive screening tests to help identify patients that are at higer risk for developing head and neck cancers and gum disease and to detect these diseases at an early stage. At our office we utilize 3 screening tools, in addition to the examination of the oral cavity and head and neck, to help identify at risk patients that we serve. They include individualized Oral Health Scores, a light based screening tool for the oral cavity, and a saliva test that measures the amount of human papillomavirus in your mouth.
Cosmetic Dentistry – It’s Not Just For Looks
Cosmetic Dentistry. It brings to mind the photos of your favorite movie star with their $1 Million smile that probably cost that much to get. What is often times missing from the doctor-patient discussion regarding cosmetic dental procedures is the health benefits of having these procedures done. You might be wondering, “How can cosmetic dentistry benefit my health?” It’s a great question, one that many dental professionals do not regularly communicate to their patients. Cosmetic procedures include teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, dental implants, and Invisalign© Invisible Braces, just to name a few. All of these procedures have benefits that can affect your oral health and total wellness.
For a Healthy Heart, Go See Your Dentist
“You have periodontal (gum) disease.” These 4 words initially scare or confuse many people when they hear them from their hygienist or dentist. There are many questions that might run through your mind after hearing this. “What does this mean?” “How is this going to affect me?” “Am I going to loose any or all of my teeth?” “Is gum disease something I really need to worry about?” Gum disease is estimated to affect about 8 out of every 10 Americans with 99% of those with gum disease having no signs or symptoms that let them know they have a problem. At our practice, total wellness is our goal. Along with our highly skilled dental team, we are pleased to offer specialized technology that will assess your individual risks of gum disease with easy to understand Oral Health Scores. Your individual Oral Health Scores are just like your cholesterol scores. These Oral Health Scores, combined with your clinical examination, will allow us to make the best recommendations for you specifically. Do you know your Oral Health Scores? If not, now is the time to find out! With proper treatment we can improve your Oral Health Scores just like your physician can improve your cholesterol score.
What Are Your Oral Health Risk Scores?
Gum disease (known as periodontitis) is a silent disease. It is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. You can’t see it. There’s usually no pain. Often times, you don’t even know you have it. If left untreated, gum disease just gets worse and can compromise your oral health and your overall health. It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs. Research has demonstrated that as many as 3 out of 4 people will experience some form of gum disease in their lifetime. There are many reasons to take gum disease seriously. o one wants to lose teeth. No one wants to risk heart disease. No one wants to risk diabetes. No one wants to risk cancer. Knowing your Oral Health Scores is the first step toward healthier teeth and gums. It allows us to chart your course to better oral health. Remember that if caught early enough, gum disease can be reversed or prevented altogether. Now is the time to find out if you are at risk for gum disease. There can be no greater peace of mind than knowing you are protecting your health.
Help Take a Bite Out of Oral Cancer
Screening for the early warning signs of oral cancer is one of the most important reasons why you should visit the dentist on a regular basis. More than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. The bottom line for everyone: See your dentist; it may save your life. It is our goal to have 100% of our practice family screened for oral cancer on a yearly basis. It is important to realize that a visit to our office is no longer about a filling, a crown, or “just a cleaning,” but can actually be a matter of life and death. Dental examinations, when properly done and which include a screening for oral cancer will save lives.
Reshape Your Smile and Change Your Life!
A smile is a very simple thing that means a lot. It can transform the world around you and revive the lonely spirit of a person. Having crooked or misaligned teeth can have a serious impact on your confidence and your life. There are many reasons that inspire people to change and improve their smile. Are you the only one not smiling in your holiday photos? Do you feel self conscious when meeting someone new or giving a presentation at work? You are not alone, with surveys showing that a huge proportion of people in the Western world would change something about their smile if they had the chance. From aging baby boomers to brides and grooms-to-be to job seekers, patients are getting the smile they’ve always wanted. New research has shown more than half of brides-to-be and about 40% of grooms-to-be consider cosmetic dentistry. About 60% of women have considered teeth whitening and 75% of men have considered porcelain veneers.
Can What’s In Your Mouth Really Make You Sick?
For years we have heard of the ever-growing connections between dentistry and medicine, with articles written in medical and dental journals as well as in scientific authorities such as Reader’s Digest or Ladies Home Journal. For decades dentists have looked at the increasing body of evidence that what we are doing in the mouth can affect the rest of the body. The mountain of evidence that supports the oral health-overall health connection has seen incredible growth and advancement over the past few years. There is no longer a question as to “if” the soft tissues in the mouth are connected to the rest of the body. For example, we can easily find evidence of gum disease-causing bacteria creating challenges in tissues throughout the body. However, the mouth-body connection is not limited to just infections in the soft tissues of the mouth. The impact of the mouth also extends to such monumental things as blood flow to the brain.
Having Trouble Thinking? You Might Want to See the Dentist
Throughout the years research has shown links between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer's disease. Now researchers from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York have found gum disease could also influence brain function through several mechanisms, such as causing inflammation throughout the body, a risk factor for loss of mental function. This study is another of many that have shown the importance of maintaining your optimal oral health. Your mouth and oral health are connected to more than just chewing and eating. Taking care of the health of your teeth and gums through regular visits for hygiene therapy will not only improve your oral health, but it will affect your overall health and wellness as well. Call us today to reserve your time to shape up your teeth and gums.
Have You Been Screened for Oral Cancer Lately?
Did you know that every time you visit our office for your routine hygiene therapy appointment you are screened for oral cancer? Screening for the early warning signs of oral cancer is one of the most important reasons why you should visit our office on a regular basis. More than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall have decreased, both the incidence and the death rate for oral cancer have increased. Early detection and diagnosis are essential in successful treatment of the disease. Oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages.