Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Dental health and proactive measures are essential. Staying on top of your dental health through cleanings, x-rays, and dental examinations are critical to avoid in-depth procedures and to maintain a healthy mouth that’s free of decay, bacteria, and oral cancer.
Are you overdue for a dental cleaning and exam?
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria that harbors deep within the pockets of the teeth. If you notice bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth, you might have underlying bacteria that is causing inflammation in your gingival tissue. Never ignore pain, odor, teeth that move easily or any other dental or oral health changes. These issues can intensify quickly. It’s never too late, but as with any health condition, early treatment is always best.
Aging Restorative Treatment
As we age, teeth can begin to break down with wear and tear or inadequate hygiene. When children get filings or root canals, those will most likely need to be replaced as they age. Almost all restorative dental treatment has limitations. If the old fillings in your teeth have any dark margins, you may have microleakage around the restoration, which can lead to decay and the need for root canals or extractions. Antibiotics will only work on abscesses caused by trauma or bacteria for a short period of time before the infection returns. A long-term restorative option will be necessary.
X-rays and examinations provide in-depth detail on the health of your teeth, gums, soft tissue, and bone structure.
Missing Teeth and Extractions
There are multiple treatment options; however, if you need to replace missing teeth, getting dental implants is the best solution for overall health. When an extraction is necessary, it’s because the structure of the tooth is too weak to support a crown or restoration, or it may be due to the bone loss and periodontal disease within the supporting gingival tissue (gum line).
If a tooth is removed and not replaced with an implant, denture or bridge, several adverse reactions begin to take place. The first is that the facial structures can change. As individuals age, the facial contours that once supported the lips and cheeks can change with muscle atrophy and the effects of gravity, but when there is added tooth loss, the facial structures change drastically. The outcomes are an increased aging effect with noticeable sagging and gaunt like features.
This may seem superficial, but there is an underlying cause that increases health risks and disorders. The underlying cause is bone loss. When a tooth is extracted, the alveolar sac (bone socket) begins to degenerate, and the surrounding jaw structure will as well.
Degeneration of bone is caused by lack of contact of the teeth. When healthy teeth are correctly abutting against each other, it creates pressure and friction on the teeth and surrounding bone. This pressure from biting helps to regenerate bone on a daily basis, keeping teeth and the jawbone firmly sustained.
Dental implants can be used to replace one or multiple teeth. Implants are also a remarkable solution for holding in a permanent bridge or as an anchor(s) for dentures.
If there is significant bone loss, bone grafts can help to regenerate the bone that’s been compromised and assure that the implants are securely supported.
Caring Dentistry of Naples
At Caring Dentistry of Naples, we are a genuine team of dental professionals that always strive to treat our patients with love and kindness. Dr. Dianelis Blanco values excellent communication, which helps guide you to the right treatments to meet your individual needs. We are committed to helping you feel at home and do everything possible to help you have an excellent dental experience.
We provide general dentistry, cosmetic, surgical, restorative, and advanced technology, and software to offer the best solutions and treatment outcomes for our patients.
We welcome you to our dental office and look forward to helping you learn to love your smile. You are welcome to browse through our website to learn more about our services for dental care in Naples, Florida, and we invite you to feel free to call us with any questions. Schedule an appointment with our dentist today and let us be the reason you smile!
Please call Caring Dentistry of Naples at (239) 455-1044.
