Regular care of your teeth, including everyday brushing and flossing, as well as twice-yearly dental appointments, can keep your teeth healthy and also keep gum disease from developing. If gum disease does take hold, however, there are several ways in which your dentist can treat it. One of these methods is through planing and scaling. If you need treatment for gum disease, our dental office in Denver CO can provide you the necessary care needed.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease occurs when infection develops in the gums. It begins as gingivitis, an inflammation of the gingival tissue. If gingivitis is not treated, it can develop into more severe gum disease, referred to as periodontitis. It can lead to tooth loss, as well as systemic problems, since the infection in the mouth can spread to other areas of the body. Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, for example.

In early stages, gum disease can be treated with topical treatments such as baking soda toothpastes or special rinses. As it progresses, though, infection can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth. In addition, tartar can develop on the tooth roots. In these cases, planing and scaling might be necessary to bring your gum disease under control.

How Planing and Scaling Works

Planing and scaling is essentially an intensive cleaning technique that removes tartar and plaque from the teeth below the gum line, down to the tooth roots. Your dentist uses a special tool to scrape the surfaces clean. In most cases, your dentist will use an anesthetic during the procedure.

After the procedure, your dentist might place antibiotic fibers in the pockets between your gums and teeth to prevent additional infection. Your lips and mouth will remain numb for a few hours if you have been treated with an anesthetic. The antibiotic fibers will be removed after about a week.

For more information about how we can treat your gum disease, please contact our general and cosmetic dentistry office for an appointment or a consultation.

For patients who are missing one or more natural teeth, dental implants are the most effective solution, both above and below the gumline. Patients who select dental implants in Coquitlam can appreciate the numerous advantages that this restorative solution can provide.

Above the gumline, implants can instantly improve your smile and rebuild your confidence. Your chewing efficiency is increased, and the neighboring teeth are properly supported.  Although these are important attributes, dental implants extend far below the gumline to perform other unique tasks. [pullquote]For patients who are missing one or more natural teeth, dental implants are the most effective solution, both above and below the gumline.[/pullquote]

Bone atrophy, or bone loss, can be halted or significantly decreased by the presence of dental implants. Mimicking the relationship of a natural tooth root to the jaw bone, dental implants are fused directly to the bone. The implant post is specially prepared to promote a secure bond between the implant and the bone, permanently holding the bone in place.

Without this integration, the bone will naturally begin to resorb or atrophy at the location of the missing tooth. The ability to stop jawbone atrophy is a characteristic that is unique only to the dental implant. Other tooth replacement options, such as the bridge or the denture, are designed to hover above the gumline. These options do not anchor the teeth to the bone, and often begin to look and feel different as the underlying bone is lost.

Jawbone atrophy, in the advanced stages, often has a negative impact on your facial appearance. Patients may begin to notice sunken cheeks and unsupported lips, details that can unfairly add years to your face. On the other hand, the fullness of a complete smile, relying on the underlying jaw bone as a foundation, can instantly create a younger and more youthful appearance.

Learning about the many advantages of dental implants can make the decision to replace missing teeth easier. Understanding the functional and esthetic benefits makes the decision even more exciting. Talk to Dr. Bernard Jin at Smiles Unlimited Dental Centre to find out if dental implants are right for you.

Losing your teeth is not inevitable with age. With proper care, you can keep your natural teeth well into your retirement years. Skilled dentistry at our Denver CO office can also help you ensure that you keep your teeth.

Caring for Your Teeth as You Age

As you get older, it remains important to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Regular visits to your dentist are also vital to ensure your teeth and gums are in the best possible health. Aging can lead to a less efficient immune system, which means that gum disease could progress more rapidly. In addition, infections in the gums, especially serious periodontal disease, have been shown to be related to systemic problems such as heart disease. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy, in turn, helps keep the rest of your body healthy and strong. [pullquote]With proper care, you can keep your natural teeth well into your retirement years.[/pullquote]

Some older people find that discomfort in the mouth makes it difficult to eat, which can lead to malnutrition. Missing teeth can also make it difficult to eat healthy foods. If you take care of your teeth through regular everyday care and regular visits to the dentist, you will be less likely to suffer from discomfort and much less likely to lose your teeth.

Challenges of Dental Care as You Grow Older

As you grow older, you might find it more difficult to maneuver dental floss between your teeth, or to exert sufficient pressure with a toothbrush to ensure thorough cleaning. If you are experiencing difficulty using your everyday dental hygiene tools, consult with your dentist.

Several options are available for older patients who have difficulty using toothbrushes or standard floss. Special holders that are pre-threaded with lengths of floss make it much easier to maneuver the floss between your teeth. Toothbrushes with larger, more easily grasped handles also make it easier to keep the toothbrush in the correct position relative to your teeth and to exert sufficient pressure to remove plaque.

To find out more about how to keep your teeth healthy, and for help with any difficulties you might be having with your daily oral hygiene routine, please contact Governor’s Park Dental Group at 303-832-7789 to make an appointment.

Digital X-rays are a relatively new technology that adds new functionality to this mainstay of dental diagnostics. Digital X-rays offer several advantages over traditional X-rays, allowing your dentist in Denver to make a more thorough and more accurate analysis of your dental health.

How Digital X-Rays Work

With traditional X-rays, X-rays pass through the tissues to strike a piece of sensitive film, much like photographic film. The film must then be developed on-site in order to view the resulting pictures, which takes a few minutes. Film is then stored in your file at the dentist’s office. If specialists need your X-rays, or if you move away and begin working with another dentist, these films must be physically transferred to the new office.

Digital X-rays use the same kind of X-ray technology, but the X-rays strike a special tablet that converts the light rays to digital pictures that are sent immediately to a computer. The pictures can be viewed right away, and are stored on the computer for later reference. Stored as files, the pictures are easily transferable.

Advantages of Digital X-Rays

Digital X-rays can be viewed immediately, unlike traditional X-rays that must be developed. In addition, the digital images are stored on the computer where they can be compared to previous images for more accurate diagnosis. With special software, your dentist can compare a series of images to more easily spot changes in your teeth such as minor decay, root loss or other problems.

Using digital X-rays, your dentist can keep better track of changes in your teeth that might go unnoticed with regular X-ray technology. These records can also be easily accessed on the computer and can be transferred digitally to dental specialists you might need to work with, or to a new dental office if you move to another city or out of state.

The advanced technology of digital X-rays makes it easier for our dental team to provide you with the best possible care. For more information on how this cutting edge technology can help you, please contact our office.