I have Periodontal Disease… What is it?

Periodontal disease is the category given to those infections that occur in and around the teeth, specifically, the gums. Periodontal disease typically begins as gingivitis and will progress to periodontis if left untreated.

Periodontal disease can develop around any tooth. When plaque starts growing along the gum line, over time it can spread below the gums. As the bacteria that are part of plaque begin releasing toxins, the gums become irritated. In response to the irritation, the body initiates an immune response and attacks itself.

Specifically, the body begins destroying the tissues and bones that provide the underlying support for the teeth. With the support structure compromised, gums and teeth can separate, creating pockets which then start getting infected. Those pockets will keep growing deeper as long as the condition isn’t treated. Once teeth start loosening, there’s nothing else that can be done except to extract the affected teeth.

As mentioned above, periodontal disease is most often caused by poor dental hygiene. However, there is another bad habit that can lead to gum disease – cigarette smoking. The relationship between cigarette smoking and periodontal disease has been studied extensively and the relationship is real: those who smoke greatly increase their risks of developing periodontal disease.

Genetics has been shown to play a role in its development, too. If periodontal disease is known to run in the family, early intervention can mean the difference between keeping teeth intact and losing teeth.

Wildly fluctuating hormones during puberty and pregnancy have been shown to increase the risks of developing periodontal disease, and so has stress. When you’re stressed, your body has a more difficult time fighting infection, including that which forms in the gums. Certain medications might negatively impact your oral health which is why it’s important that your dentist know all that you are taking, along with the dosage. Tooth clenching or grinding can accelerate the rate that the tissues that support your teeth weaken, which can lead to periodontal disease.

Diabetes and certain disorders of the immune system can contribute to problems with the gums as can poor nutrition.

Periodontal disease treatment begins with an effort to scrape away the plaque and tartar that have built up in the root surfaces. This process helps remove the irritating toxins, too. Once the deep pockets have been thoroughly cleaned, surgery usually can be avoided if ongoing, regular maintenance is performed.

When surgery is necessary, the type will depend on the severity of the periodontal disease. Pocket depth reduction reduces the size of the pockets that have developed, making it easer to keep plaque out. The pockets are cleaned and then surgically tightened around the tooth. Regenerative procedures attempt to regenerate the tissues and bone that have been lost. Crown lengthening involves surgically removing and reshaping gums so that more of the tooth is visible. Soft tissue grafts can cover up exposed tooth roots, reducing sensitivity. This procedure can also build up gum tissues that have been lost

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease. Its presence is indicated by a redness and/or swelling of the gum area. Those who have gingivitis usually have gums that bleed easily, too. Gums generally bleed when slight pressure is applied such as after brushing or flossing. A change in the color of the gums is another indication that gingivitis may be present.

What makes gingivitis tricky to self-diagnose is that typically not much pain accompanies these symptoms. What also makes the problem go unnoticed by many is the fact that millions of Americans have some degree of gingivitis, especially those who are over age 35. Most don’t realize it isn’t ‘normal’ for their gums to bleed.

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor dental hygiene. When plaque is not completely removed from the teeth, it will begin to release toxins. These toxins irritate the gums. In just a few days, plaque that is not removed from the teeth will turn into calculus, more commonly referred to as tartar.

These hardened deposits of plaque cannot be removed at home. A dentist must use a special tool to scrape away the tartar build-up. Because tartar cannot be easily removed, its presence will also irritate the gums. Tartar compounds the problem by giving bacteria one more location where it can grow.

Gingivitis is caused by other factors including genetics, certain medications, fluctuating hormones and certain diseases such as leukemia and diabetes. Fungal and viral infections such as oral thrush and herpes also negatively impact the gums. A weakened immune system can also trigger gingivitis because the body has a more difficult time fighting off the bacteria that develop along with plaque.

A diet lacking in Vitamins B and C and calcium contributes to the onset of periodontal disease, too. Therefore poor nutrition is also a cause.

Effective treatment of gingivitis takes effort on behalf of the dentist and the patient. If you think you have gingivitis, it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will give your teeth a thorough cleaning that will include scraping the tartar off your teeth. The dentist uses a special scraping tool and the procedure might cause discomfort, but it’s absolutely necessary.

After completing the dental visit, the second step in treating and preventing future incidences of gingivitis is the development of a better at-home routine for tooth brushing and flossing. Brush at least twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, using a new toothbrush after every 3 months. If possible, brush once more after lunch. Daily flossing is important, too. And be sure to floss all teeth, not just the ones in front.

Both of these steps are equally important because when gingivitis isn’t treated by the dentist and properly addressed by the individual, the condition can become much worse. It can turn into periodontis, a more serious form of periodontal disease. At that stage, there is a real possibility that the tooth or teeth in the affected area might fall out – permanently.

Overcoming the Fear of the Dentist

http://www.1305dental.com Why is it that so many people become scared at the thought of going to the dentist? Some degree of fear is understandable, but when that fear turns into dread, a person might actually have a phobia. When people put off going to the dentist because they are so afraid of what may or may not happen their teeth are at significantly increased risk of developing decay. Left untreated, tooth decay can damage not only the tooth but the underlying roots and gums. If gingivitis develops and isn’t treated, it can develop into periodontis, gum disease that can become so bad that the gums and underlying bone structure are no longer capable of holding teeth in place.

If you feel stressed or tense before your dental appointment, worrying excessively and even losing sleep, or if you become sick to your stomach while waiting in the dentist’s office or while looking at the assortment of instruments or the staff in their white lab coats, you might benefit from knowing how to overcome this type of fear.

Fear is a common emotion and almost everyone fears something whether it’s spiders or flying or standing before a large crowd. Therefore, understand that fear isn’t something to hide or feel embarrassed about. Instead, admit you’re afraid because there are tools that can help alleviate this fear.

Communication is one of the best tools there is for overcoming your fear of the dental visit. Modern dentistry has advanced to the point where many of the procedures are performed without pain. This is important to know and your dentist can explain what’s going to happen inside your mouth in precise detail, if your dentist realizes that such communication will help alleviate your fears.

Knowing what’s happening may make you feel more in control of the situation. Another way to feel more in control is to agree upon a hand signal you can give the moment you want the dentist to stop. Communicating with someone else’s hands inside your mouth is difficult so a hand signal can definitely help.

Also available at the dentist’s office are different pain medications and numbing creams that you can be given. The options range from localized topical numbing creams to anesthesia to sedation. If you can’t relax because you’re worried about feeling pain, then let the dentist do something so that you won’t feel it.

There are also various techniques to help you relax that you can employ. You can distract yourself by listening to music, watching television or daydreaming. A technique called guided imagery helps you create in great detail an image of a more pleasant environment. A dental assistant can help you create this image by suggesting situations which you then visualize. You’ll be so busy creating the perfect mental image that you might even forget that your teeth are being worked on!

For intense dental phobia, consider finding a dentist that practices hypnosis or acupuncture. And if your fear is so bad that you can’t even make a dental appointment, you might benefit from therapy or participation in a support group. If you would like more information on over coming your fear of the dentist, call us at 203-255-5999 or visit us online at www.1305dental.com  for more information on Dr Mariana Conant visit her website at www.drconant.com

Facts on Opalescence Teeth Whitening System

People like their pearly whites to be both pearly and white. It sounds lame but it is true. People love to take care of their teeth. One might even say that people are particularly vain concerning their teeth. This is because when meeting people, the teeth are definitely the first thing to get noticed. We smile in order to show people a glimpse of our soul. There are people who depend on their smiles for their living. This is the reason behind the success of such products as the Opalescence teeth whitening system.

One of the Opalescence teeth whitening system lets people take the system home and do the whitening themselves. This might seem like unnecessary work for some people, but for others, it means convenience. People today do not have the time to go to the dentist for teeth whitening. Some just choose to get a tan instead of having their teeth whitened. This is the reason why the Opalescence teeth whitening system is so sought after. Convenience is one of the things that people look for today.

How does the Opalescence teeth whitening system work? First of all, you have to know that the Opalescence teeth whitening system is a professional-grade bleaching system. This means that it can whiten your teeth faster than other over the counter teeth whitening systems. This is because of the fact that most over the counter teeth whitening systems contain only about 3 to 10 percent hydrogen peroxide. However, the Opalescence teeth whitening system has a 38 percent concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

While most teeth whitening systems today require the use of a bleaching light in order to “activate” the product, the Opalescence teeth whitening system is the first product which lists the use of the light as “optional”. People like this because it is often the case that the cost of the bleaching light is undeniably higher than the cost of the actual product. Another interesting fact about this is that lately, many dentists are finding out that the “studies” regarding the use of bleaching lights rarely do prove that the light is needed to activate the hydrogen peroxide.

Although you can take the Opalescence teeth whitening system home, it is still advisable that you get a professional to whiten your teeth. This is because the Opalescence teeth whitening system works best when in the hands of a professional. About 90 minutes is required from preparation to the actual procedure. Think of it: just one and a half hours for you to have whiter teeth!

Besides giving you whiter teeth, the opalescence teeth whitening system also gives you other benefits. While some teeth bleaching systems may give you sensitive teeth and thus, forever deny you the pleasure of eating ice cream, the opalescence teeth whitening system actually minimizes sensitivity. This means that you do not have to sacrifice the pleasure of eating certain foods in order to have a great smile.

Another complaint that people have with common bleaching agents is the fact that these often cause teeth to become vulnerable to cavities. However, the opalescence teeth whitening system actually strengthens the enamel, making it harder and decreases the likelihood of cavities.

The opalescence teeth whitening system can give great benefits to whoever uses the product. You get whiter teeth in a way that’s convenient and painless. So what are you waiting for? If waiting several weeks for white teeth wont do, then opalescence make a product called Boost! This is an in office whitening system that can give you the smile of your dreams in about an hour. Call Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of Fairfield for details.  Mention discount code BLOG1305 to receive $100 off Boost in office whitening.