Michelle and Pat had a great night at the Savvy Girls event in South Portland! They met a lot of great women and were able to answer a ton of questions about the latest in dentistry! Thank you to all who attended – the event was a great success!
A Perfect Smile is excited to announce the arrival of a new great toothpaste!
Clinpro 5000 contains 4 x more flouride than over the counter toothpastes -which means greater flouride uptake for you! This toothpaste also contains tri-calcium phosphate which has been shown to reduce “white spots” on teeth. Clinpro also helps to reverse and prevent decay on the roots of your teeth.
We strive to offer you the most innovative products to help you achive your optimal dental health. If you would like more information on Clinpro 5000 – call our office at 781-2448.
Make it a phenomenal week!
Sarah
WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Just as there can be problems with your teeth that have to be addressed by a dentist, there can also be problems with those tissues that hold the teeth in the mouth. These include the gums and the bone that the tooth is anchored to. One of the most common of these conditions is called periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is an infectious disease of the gums and bone caused by the bacteria which is found in dental plaque. Plaque is composed of colonies of bacteria that grow continuously in your mouth and is found along the gumline and in between your teeth. Our body’s natural defenses (our immune system) tries to fight off these bacteria with a process called inflammation. As a result of the presence of this plaque and the inflammation that our body produces to fight it off, our gums can turn red, become swollen and bleed easily. If left untreated, the gums can separate from the teeth and the bone that holds the teeth in place can dissolve away leading to infection, loosening of the teeth and eventually, tooth loss.
We now know that periodontal disease can affect more than just our teeth. The same inflammation that affects our gums has far reaching affects on other parts of our body. Studies have indicated that periodontal disease can increase the risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease, respiratory disease (diseases of the lungs) osteoporosis, and can accelerate the progression of diabetes. This is especially true of Type II or “non insulin dependent diabetes.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, Periodontal, or gum disease, can be managed to allow you to keep your teeth for a lifetime.
At this point I thought you could finish it any way you’d like. Something along the lines of “if Dr. Nelson recognizes this he can treat it or refer to a periodontist” or however you’d like.
WHAT IS A PERIODONTIST?
By Dr. Donald Theriault, D.M.D
Periodontal disease is a condition affecting the gums and the bone that anchors the teeth to the jaws. It is caused by inflammation produced by the body in response to the plaque which accumulates at the gumline and in between the teeth. Periodontal or “gum” disease can start with bleeding or sore gums and can progress to bone loss loosening of the teeth and eventually tooth loss. Halitosis, or bad breath, can also be a sign.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of this common condition. He can assess the severity of the disease with a clinical examination and X-rays and treat it accordingly.
A periodontist can treat a number of conditions other than periodontal disease. Some patients have too little gum tissue. This shows up as recession of the gums and can be caused by a number of factors. If it is bad enough or the recession is progressing, the periodontist can repair the site, usually with a gum graft (sounds a lot worse than it really is!) Areas of visible recession on the front teeth can often be covered with gum tissue to provide a much more attractive smile. Sometimes a patient will have just the opposite problem; too much gum tissue. This can result in “short” or “square” teeth or a “gummy smile”. A periodontist can also treat this condition returning the teeth to their natural shape.
Occasionally a tooth can have decay or a fracture that extends too far below the gumline. This can interfere with placing fillings or crowns. A periodontist can modify the area around a tooth to allow the dentist to better restore it.
Missing teeth now can often be replaced with dental implants. A periodontist can place these metal “roots” or “anchors” into the jawbone to create a foundation to support a new crown which is placed by the dentist.
We get a lot of questions about how to keep a tooth brush clean between uses. To disinfect your tooth brush naturally, we like to keep it in a cup with one ounce of water and 4 drops of bark oil. Rinse it off before brushing. We like Aura Cacia Cassia Bark Essential Oil – it tastes like cinnamon!
Happy Brushing!
Want to get healthier by eating a snack? 
2 oz of yogurt a day may protect you from gum disease, a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology shows. The “good bacteria” in yogurt helps fight germs in your mouth.
Enjoy!
In this edition of the Perfect Smile podcast, Dr. Nelson answers tough questions about groundbreaking breakthroughs in dental science. Tune in to find out about the most significant technology in the field of dentistry!
[audio:http://www.portlandmainedentist.com/podcasts/perfect-smile-03.mp3]
Perfect Smile Podcast, Episode 3 – What are the Greatest Dental Breakthroughs?
A trip to the dentist means cleaner, healthier teeth, not a higher cancer risk – yet some x-ray machines emit more than 4 times the radiation now deemed safe, says a new study from the UCLA.
At A Perfect Smile, we have been using F-speed (instead of D-speed) film to keep our patients safe while we capture digital images to monitor your health. Our xray machines emit 90% less radiation than older technology!
Have a great day!
Sarah
A Perfect Smile staff had a wonderful opportunity last week to work with the JP Institute on our hygiene philosophy and office systems.
Staff members developed their clinical techniques and tried a new oral cancer detection product – Trimera.The JP protocol is the most comprehensive and exciting way to help our patients achieve optimal dental health and we are very excited to share our learning with you!
