This article addresses questions including: what is periodontal disease, how do I know if I have it and what can be done about it?

I know what you are thinking: not another slow reading, confusing article filled with medical jargon about dental healthcare and why your bathroom habits are just not good enough. Well, it's all fun and games until someone loses a tooth!

Consider the aim of this article is to keep things simple and avoid any plaque build-up while you read about why periodontal disease is NOT your friend! This is despite the fact that many of your friends might just have some form or stage of periodontal (gum) disease. That’s right: this oral affliction is as common as it is nasty. But, not to fear, for the Silver Spring dentist provides easy-to-follow solutions to your oral healthcare woes. At this point you might find yourself asking the question…

So What Exactly is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gum and bone that surrounds and supports the teeth. In its early stages, it presents itself as simple gum inflammation, swelling and mild bleeding when brushing: a condition referred to as gingivitis. In its scarier and more serious form, it is known as periodontitis, where the gums can pull away from the teeth, forming deep pockets of decay between the gums and the tooth roots. Ultimately, this can lead to loose teeth, and the loss of bone tissue in the jaw. In the advanced stages of the disease, your teeth can get left behind in the sink. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.

What are some of the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

• Bad breath or a bad taste that won't go away,
• Red and swollen gums,
• Tender or bleeding gums,
• Painful chewing,
• Loose and sensitive teeth,
• Oral lesions and sores that won’t heal,
• Gums that have pulled away from the crowns of the teeth, making you look “toothy”,
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite,
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures.

What Factors Can Lead to Gum Disease?

• Smoking and excessive alcohol use,
• Bad oral hygiene,
• Hormonal changes in girls and women, such as during pregnancy or menopause,
• Certain illnesses, such as diabetes, respiratory and heart diseases and Rheumatoid arthritis. People that suffer from these ailments tend to be at a higher risk of developing infections, including gum disease.
• Medications: Some medications cause the flow of saliva to be reduced, leaving the mouth vulnerable to oral bacteria.

So what's the good news? Well, you can do something about gum disease with a little help from a friendly dentist in Silver Spring.

Your job at home is to floss and brush your teeth regularly in order to avoid plaque build-up, but once it hardens to form “tartar” only a professional dentist or oral hygienist can help. The longer plaque and tartar remain on the teeth, the more harmful they become and the greater your risk of gum inflammation, tooth decay and disease. Although brushing and flossing regularly can help prevent the onset of gum disease, it is recommended that you visit your friendly (not in the least bit scary) dentist at least once a year for check-ups, or more frequently if you have noticed any of the warning signs above.

Teeth whitening is a wonderful quick and easy treatment that can be done to remove the appearance of staining and discoloration, making your smile appear years younger.

It’s an inescapable truth… white is the preferred hue for your teeth when it comes to modern standards of beauty. Just compare the two pictures below! You are inherently programmed to find the second smile the more attractive one. Brown, grey and yellow simply don’t make the cut and rightly so!

Very few people are ‘born’ with perfectly white teeth. It takes a fair amount of professional intervention to get your teeth looking absolutely flawless. In fact, your dental enamel is naturally an off-white or even pale yellow color. So how do all those celebrities get their smiles looking like sunlit snow? Well, it takes a few visits to the Silver Spring dentist and perhaps some teeth whitening!

Ask the Dentist in Silver Spring: How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

A teeth whitening treatment essentially involves the application of a special gel to the crowns of the teeth. A strong dental light is then shone on the teeth to activate the bleaching agent in the gel, which, in professional whitening kits, is typically a 10% concentration of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

After about 30 minutes, the enamel of the teeth will have been bleached quite a few shades lighter, eliminating the appearance of staining and discoloration caused by repeated exposure to the natural tannins, dyes and pigments in foods and beverages. A professional whitening treatment can also help to counteract the appearance of staining caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. In severe cases of discoloration, patients may first require treatment for decay or gum disease, or a cosmetic procedure such as porcelain veneers.

Can Anyone Go for Teeth Whitening?

A professional teeth whitening is one of the simplest and quickest cosmetic procedures offered by the dentist in Silver Spring, so most people are able to book themselves in for a treatment without any problems. However, in cases where patients present with a poor standard of oral health, your dentist may first recommended treatment to resolve these issues. A bacterial infection of the gums – for example, periodontitis and gingivitis – can render the soft tissues in the mouth weak and very sensitive, which might cause them to react adversely to the bleaching agent in the whitening gel.

In any case, it is always advisable that patients first have their oral health restored to an acceptable standard before simply opting for cosmetic improvement. This can quite naturally come about by improving health and hygiene.

How Long Do the Results of a Teeth Whitening Last?

This really depends upon what kind of staining agents – and the frequency with which you consume them – you expose your teeth to. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker and a smoker, no doubt your results will be shorter-lived than a non-smoker who restricts their coffee intake. Generally, however, the results of a professional teeth whitening can last up to a year before re-treatment becomes necessary.

Remember, bleaching your teeth may remove evidence of past staining, but it won’t prevent future staining, so you may want to go easy on the red wine for a while! Also, nothing preserves the youthful beauty of your pearly whites like proper oral hygiene. A teeth whitening treatment will not erase evidence of decay and infection caused by negligence.

This article talks about the benefits of dental implants and the negative aspects of removable dentures.

Change is never an easy thing, but yet it is unavoidable. With each new Silver Spring generation comes a long list of things that are new, are strange and are not the way you remember. Sometimes it takes a little while to adapt. You start by spending most of your time talking about ‘the good old days’ and how things were so much better back in your day. But soon you realize that you can no longer harp on the past, and in fact, have to change with the times.

Although this is not an easy process, change comes with a multitude of benefits. One of the benefits of this new world, and one that will definitely not have you harping on about the good old days, comes in the form of dentistry. Over the years, Silver Spring dentistry has advanced in leaps and bounds, with new research, development and discoveries being made on a regular basis. One advancement that will have Silver Spring residents smiling is dental implants.

But We Had Dentures

Over the years there have been multiple solutions to tooth loss, and for many years removable dentures were your best bet. That is until dental implants in Silver Spring came along. After much research and debate, it was discovered that the tooth root played a very important role in the shape and function of the jawbone. Whilst dentures were successful in replacing the visible portion of the teeth, the crowns, they do not replace the root, which is incredibly problematic for the health of the jaw.

What Are the Downsides of Dentures?

The jawbone functions similarly to that of the muscles in the body, in such a way that it requires stimulation in order to maintain its shape, strength and volume. When all your teeth are intact, the act of chewing stimulates the jawbone. But when you have missing teeth, the stimulation that was once transmitted by the tooth roots into the jaw ceases to exist at the site of the missing tooth, causing the bone to atrophy.

“The atrophied jawbone causes the mouth to change shape,” explain dentists in Maryland. “This, in turn, causes the removable dentures to become loose in the mouth, often causing pain and discomfort.”

How are Dental Implants Different to Dentures?

While dentures replace the crowns of the teeth, dental implants received in Silver Spring, replace the entire tooth, including the root. Replacing the tooth root ensures the continuation of the stimulation achieved through chewing, ensuring that your jawbone remains “exercised” and healthy.

But What if I Need All of my Teeth Replaced?

“There are a variety of options with dental implants, depending on the state of your oral health,” explain dentists in Maryland. “For edentulous (toothless) or near edentulous patients there is the “All-On-Four” dental implant procedure, which allows for a full set of replacement teeth to be attached to just four implants. This means that with just one procedure you can have a full set of non-removable teeth placed that won’t any pain or discomfort and look, feel and function like natural teeth.”

So while many changes are difficult to adapt to, most people will agree that changes to dentistry and tooth replacement is a cause for celebration rather than nostalgia.

This three-part article series takes an in-depth look at root canal therapy: what it is, why it’s necessary and what patients can expect from the procedure.

Little else strikes fear in the heart of the patients quite like the words “root canal” do. This procedure has such a bad reputation that the expression “was more painful than a root canal” has become a popular English language idiom! But, is this procedure deserving of such a reputation? What exactly IS root canal therapy anyway? And what necessitates this procedure?

In this three-part article series, the dentist in Silver Spring MD speaks to us about root canal therapy and why it could be the only thing that stands between you and a gappy smile!

The Anatomy of a Tooth

Technically, a root canal is not actually a procedure… root canal therapy, also referred to as endodontic treatment, is. Root canals are the tiny spaces inside the roots of your teeth. They, together with the pulp chamber (see image below) house the living “guts” of the tooth, including the blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue: collectively referred to as the “pulp”.

Root canal therapy becomes necessary when these delicate tissues become infected. Usually, the body deals quite effectively with diseased tissue by sloughing it off or expelling it in some form or manner. In the case of your teeth, however, this pulp is trapped within the exceptionally hard casing of the tooth. So, when bacteria infiltrate the protective dental enamel and infect the pulp, the health of the entire tooth becomes critically endangered.

There’s simply no way the body can deal effectively with the infection. This leaves the patient with two options: (1) root canal therapy or (2) tooth extraction. Either way, action needs to be taken or else the tooth will decay excruciatingly in the mouth and eventually fall out on its own. Having a decaying tooth in your mouth is not only terribly unpleasant, but it can actually make you sick.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

“Root canal therapy involves the elimination of diseased tissue inside an infected tooth,” explains the dentist in Silver Spring MD. “We do this by drilling a hole in the top of the tooth and removing all of the pulp from the inner tooth chamber and the root canals. Once the insides of the tooth have been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, we fill it with “gutta percha” – a rubber compound – and a special sealer paste, which will prevent bacteria from getting inside the tooth again. We then cap the tooth, usually with a durable and aesthetic ceramic crown so that the tooth appears as though nothing ever happened to it.”

The procedure is, of course, a little more detailed than this and we shall provide a blow-by-blow account of what goes on during a root canal in part 3 of this article series.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the second installment of this three-part article series on root canal therapy. In our next article, the dentist in Silver Spring MD will provide us with a little more detail on what can cause a patient to require such a procedure in the first place and how we can recognize the various signs and symptoms of an inner tooth infection.

This two-part article series examines a fairly common condition, dry mouth or “xerostomia” that can cause a higher risk of oral infection and tooth decay.

We’ve all at one time experienced “dry mouth”, perhaps associated with a specific medication we took or after a heavy night out! But what few people understand about this uncomfortable condition is that it can actually have a deleterious effect upon the health of your teeth and gums.

In this two-part article series, we shall be speaking to a dentist in Silver Spring about what causes dry mouth or “xerostomia”, how it can be dangerous to our oral health and what can be done to treat the condition.

The Importance of Saliva

You don’t pay any attention to saliva when it’s there, but when it’s not you’re guaranteed to notice! “Saliva plays an essential role in digestion and in protecting your teeth and gums against bacteria,” explain Silver Spring dentists. “It is your body’s inherent defense against the plethora of micro-organisms and pathogens that naturally swarm your mouth.”

Saliva:

• Contains enzymes that break down food,
• Has an anti-bacterial action, helping to control the bacteria in the mouth,
• Washes away food debris, cleansing our mouths after a meal,
• Keeps our mouth nice and moist and comfortable.

When your body doesn’t produce enough saliva, you get a condition called “xerostomia” or “dry mouth”, which may present with one or more of the following symptoms.

The Symptoms of Dry Mouth:

The most obvious symptom of this condition is the absence of saliva in the mouth, which is an uncomfortable sensation that causes:

• A dry and/or sore throat
• A sticky, dry sensation in the mouth
• Your tongue to stick to the roof of your mouth
• A tingling or burning feeling in the mouth and tongue
• Dry nasal passages
• Terrible thirst
• Halitosis, or bad breath
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty chewing, tasting and swallowing your food
• Difficulty speaking

Chronic dry mouth sufferers may even experience the development of sores in the mouth, cracked lips and split skin at the corners of the mouth in addition to a red, inflamed and parched tongue.

“It’s quite incredible just how far saliva goes to keep us comfortable and our mouths healthy,” remarks the dentist in Silver Spring. “It’s only when we suffer from a condition such as xerostomia do we become fully aware of the role it plays.”

But why exactly is “dry mouth” considered to be such a problem? What are the ramifications for our oral health in the long term?

The Long Term Repercussions of Dry Mouth

The biggest problem associated with xerostomia is infection. Saliva protects the teeth and gums against bacteria, while helping to wash away the food debris and sugary residues that these microorganisms feed upon. “Without saliva, your mouth is so much more vulnerable to bacteria and all the health concerns they cause,” explain Silver Spring dentists. These include:

• Gingivitis, or infection of the gums
• Thrush fungal infection
• Increased plaque formation
• Cavities and tooth decay
• Chronic bad breath

In fact, in the long term, xerostomia can even lead to periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss if measures aren’t taken to protect one’s oral health.

This leaves us with two remaining pertinent questions… (1) What causes dry mouth? (2) What can be done to prevent it and/or mitigate the damage?

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for our next article installment in which a qualified and experienced dentist in Silver Spring will provide the answers to these pressing questions!

This article explains why the ‘All-on-4’ procedure is considered the most comprehensive and effective solution to tooth loss and edentulism. It explains the causes of tooth loss and exactly how the ‘All-on-4’ procedure works.

There are 38 million Americans living without any original teeth left and if the statistics of tooth loss are to be believed (and they are), tooth loss is a certainty that a considerable proportion of the population faces as they enter into their late adulthood. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the revolutionary “All-On-4” technique; a dental implant protocol that provides patients with a fantastic answer to a mouth full of missing or failing teeth.

During the 1990’s, world renown implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo developed the “All-on-4” in collaboration with one of the world’s largest dental implant manufacturers, Nobel Biocare. This dental implant protocol would go on to become the most important breakthrough in the field of dentistry since the innovation of implants themselves. Since its development, the “All-on-4” has improved the quality of life of countless people in countries all over the world.

”All-On-4” Protocol: The Details

The leading cause of edentulism (toothlessness), near-edentulism and a failing dentition in the United States is periodontitis or gum disease. Missing teeth can start causing bone loss in the jaw and without the support of the bone; the roots of your teeth will become unstable and fall out or need to be removed.

According to the Dentist in Silver Spring, the “All-on-4” procedure differs from traditional dental implant methods in that it almost never requires bone grafting, which saves patients the pain, incredible cost and time-consuming healing process typically required by this additional surgery. It is the incredible design behind the “All-on-4” that enables your dental rehabilitation team to give you a full set of stunning, new and non-removable teeth. But if that wasn’t impressive enough, this can be accomplished in as little as a single dental appointment!

The “All-On-4”: How Does It Work?

The “All-On-4” dental implant technique is made up of a custom-tailored prosthetic dental bridge (a firm construction of a full set of aesthetic and functional replacement teeth) attached to the abutments of four dental implants. Using advanced imaging software and 3D Cone Beam CT, a qualified Silver Spring dentist can insert the dental implants with hardly any incisions, making the “All-On-4” far less invasive in nature. This reduces post-operative pain and the length of the recovery period.

Once your dental implants have been successfully inserted, your prosthodontist, or dentist, can take over and place your new teeth on the very same day! Speak to a Silver Spring dentist about why the “All-On-4” is the best possible solution to tooth loss and edentulism, not only aesthetically but functionally as well. Since the “All-on-4” bridge is secured tightly to your jaw using dental implants, you will feel far freer to smile, eat and talk openly with friends, family and colleagues.

A Final Note on the “All-on-4”

Although your smile is worth a million bucks, it shouldn’t have to cost you as much! Thankfully, the “All-on-4” costs tens of thousands of dollars less than traditional dental implant protocols and this comes down to the lesser number of implants used, the fewer surgeries it takes and the fact that it rarely requires bone grafting!

This three-part article series explains the 10 mistakes people commonly make when brushing their teeth or choosing the appropriate healthcare appliances.

You’ve been brushing your teeth since you can remember and have been doing so twice a day (hopefully) every day ever since. You should know how to brush your teeth, right? Well, according to the dentist in Silver Spring, it’s fairly obvious that people just aren’t brushing their teeth correctly! If they were, problems such as cavities, tooth decay and gum infections wouldn’t be as common as they are. In this three-part article series, we spoke to a qualified and experienced dentist about the dental health of Silver Spring and how this can be improved by avoiding 10 common toothbrushing mistakes.

Common Mistake # 1: Using the Wrong Toothbrush

“For every individual, there is a toothbrush that will best fit their mouth,” explains a dentist in Silver Spring. “So, when you are shopping for a toothbrush, try to match the size of its head to your mouth so that it’s able to reach every square inch, including behind your back teeth. You should never have to strain in order to clean every tooth and if you are, the head of your toothbrush is probably too big."

 “Additionally, you should opt for a toothbrush with a comfortable handle – perhaps with a rubber grip. If you struggle to hold your toothbrush when brushing, your control will be poor and you’ll likely stop short of the recommended two minutes,” says the Silver Spring dentist. “Whether you choose an electric or manual toothbrush is entirely up to you – one isn’t better than the other if you use them correctly.”

Common Mistake # 2: Choosing the Wrong Bristles

Just a brief perusal of the oral hygiene department of any grocery store reveals a staggering variety of toothbrushes that come in just about every shape, size and color. Even the bristles are cut differently – some toothbrushes come with straight bristles and others with angled bristles… some with a combination! What’s better?

“Again, what’s more important is how a patient uses their toothbrush rather than what shape or style the bristles have been cut in,” explains the dentist in Silver Spring. “Also, stay away from hard bristled brushes as these can actually contribute to the hastened erosion of your dental enamel. They can also irritate the gums and cause their recession from the crowns of the teeth, revealing the sensitive root underneath.”

Common Mistake # 3: Not Brushing Long Enough or Often Enough

You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and preferably three. The dental health of Silver Spring could be much improved simply by increasing the length of time we brush for and how frequently. The longer the period of time between brushes, the more time bacteria is given to multiply. This leads to a build-up of plaque and a longer exposure of your teeth to the acids bacteria produce. Frequent brushing removes plaque and neutralizes the PH of the mouth, keeping your teeth clean and healthy.

“Unfortunately, most people only brush for a fraction of the recommended time. Dedicate 30 seconds of brushing time to each quadrant of the mouth and be certain to scrub each and every tooth (but not too hard),” advises the dentist in Silver Spring. “If you are easily bored, try brushing your teeth while watching TV or reading a magazine article!"

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the common toothbrushing mistakes Silver Spring residents make, stay tuned for the second installment of this three-part article series.