Don't Ignore Your Dental Health

If we haven't seen you for quite some time, this could mean serious consequences for your teeth and gums, such as eventual tooth loss or worse, major gum surgery.  Many types of dental problems require continuing care; the kind of care you can only get from your dentist.  Without this continuing care, the problems can progress and worsen, and this can have dangerous effects on your dental health.

                                                           Gum disease, not one is immune.

For example, did you know that gum disease is blamed for approximately 50% of all missing teeth?  Did you also know that some form of gum disease affects 87% of the population?  And, did you know that gum disease can be prevented with proper care?

                                                      Know the warning signs of gum disease.

Healthy gums are firm and resilient.  And, even though gum disease sometimes progresses without symptoms, there are some symptoms that almost always mean a problem with gum disease.

Warning sign checklist:

*  Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
*  Swollen, red and tender gums
*  Gums that have separated from the teeth
*  Loose teeth or teeth that look long because of receding gums
*  Changes in the way teeth or partial dentures fit together
*  Persistent bad taste or bad breath

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important that you come in right away. 
when we catch it in its early stages, gum disease can often be treated non-surgically.  Remember too, that gum disease doesn't always display symptoms.  If you haven't been checked in awhile, it's important that you come in so we can find any problems in their early stages.

                                                   Don't wait until you have a problem to call.

Tartar that forms on the base of your teeth and under your gums can, and will, actually pull your gums away from your teeth.  This process causes pockets in the fums where diseases flourish - and become harder to get to.  Your teeth will become loose, and you may eventually lose them.  We use the best gum care available.  It's called soft tissue management, and it's a non-surgical approach that is less costly and far less painful than having gum surgery.  Gum disease doesn't have to be a fact of life.  And that's the message we want to get across to you.  When we're able to detect gum disease early, you won't have to suffer painful surgery or the expense of replacing lost teeth.  Remember, only the trained eye of your dentist can spot problems like these in their earliest stages, and prevent pain and discomfort later.

                                                Why you should replace those missing teeth. 

If you're missing one or more permanent teeth, those empty spaces can lead to serious problems affecting your entire mouth.  A lot of people think, "If it doesn't show, it doesn't matter."  This is not true, however, because teeth are designed to support each other.   When a tooth is missing, adjoining teeth tend to move toward the open space to fill it in.  In addition to serious bite problems, this tooth movement can contribute to cavities and gum diseases, and often results in even more teeth being lost.  While our main goal is to prevent the loss of teeth, there are things we can do to replace them and prevent further problems.  But, we can't help if you don't come in.

                                                               Now you can see what I see

Thanks to revolutionary advances in dentistry, new technology has made it possible for you to see the same things that I see when you come in for a check-up.  We offer intra-oral  video imaging.  It looks like a wand with a light tip.  That light is a video camera that magnifies the inside of your mouth and projects the image on a monitor.  But what does all this mean to you?  It means that when I talk about plaque and gum disease, you'll be able to see it.  That may sound a little gruesome, but it will help you understand how important good dental hygiene and regular cleanings are to your teeth and gums.

                                                       Please call us for an all important exam.

Don't rely on your own eyes to spot problems.  Or on  your own judgement to diagnose conditions.  Again, it takes training to spot most tooth and gum problems in their earliest stages.  Remember:  Only a dental professional can see many  problems and know how to treat them.  Before you have a problem that needs extensive care, visit the professionals at Adult Dentistry of Rochester.  Preventive care is your best defense against tooth and gum decay,  not to mention possible surgery.

Tags: Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, Intra-Oral Camera