Q&A: How to Properly Care for your Dental Health

Your Dental Health is our Top Priority! 

Dr. Hans Sperling recently answered some questions on how to properly care for your dental health!  We hope you find the answers informative and useful.

Q. Why is it necessary to have dental check-ups regularly?
A. Your mouth is part of your body. If it isn’t healthy, you aren’t totally healthy either. Take charge of your dental health with regular visits to experience many benefits, which include:

• Prevention of cavities and gum disease. This can be as simple as a cleaning or fluoride treatment. 
• Identify early signs of periodontal disease and tooth decay. Your dentist can make dietary or early treatment recommendations that are far more affordable when spotted early.
• Spot warning signs of tooth erosion. Today, many people consume sports and energy drinks or soda, which have the potential to cause dissolution of the enamel. Your dentist can see early signs and can help — sometimes by just prescribing a different toothpaste.
• Oral cancer prevention. This type of cancer has been linked to the HPV virus and is becoming more prevalent. By using specialized diagnostic tools and equipment available today, your dentist can help recognize early warning signs and changes in the oral issues. 

We all know that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Recognizing and treating any disease early is much better and more affordable.

Q. Can dental problems affect my overall health?
A. Absolutely. Taking good care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about preventing cavities or bad breath. The
mouth is a window into the health of the body. It can show signs and symptoms of disease that affects the entire body, such as diabetes and others. These signs can only be detected early if you’re keeping up with regular dental visits. The mouth is filled with countless bacteria, some linked to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease may be connected with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke).
One recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association shows a correlation between receipt of dental care and lower diabetes-specific hospital admissions and emergency department visits.

Q. How often should I see my dentist?
A. Twice a year is sufficient for most people, including a set of bitewing x-rays taken once a year. However, your dentist can determine a plan based on factors specific to your individual health, as some people need more or less frequency and/ or diagnostic exams.

We hope this information has been useful. Please visit our website at www.dentalcenterofhollywood.com for more information.

Career Day, 2012

Dr. Hans Sperling and the Dental care center of Hollywood staff during career day at Carrie P. Meek/ Westview K-8 Center. We are very proud to be able to share our experiences with the community.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.400952623272648.98678.118866641481249&type=1

Q & A about the Perio Protect Method.

Hi; here are some questions we have been asked by patients about periodontal disease and ways to treat it. We hope you find the answers informative and useful.

      I recently went to my dentist because I wanted to have my teeth cleaned.  Before I could have my teeth cleaned the Dentist said that he needed to perform an examination. He then proceeded to take some x-rays and took some measurements of the gums around my teeth. He told me that I had periodontal (gum) disease and that I needed treatment. What is he talking about and how concerned should I be with this condition?

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most widespread diseases of the human kind. It affects more than 85% of adults age 35-44 in the United States. One of the reasons periodontal disease is so prevalent is because there are more bacteria living in a persons mouth than the number of people on earth. The most invasive and damaging bacteria associated with periodontal disease are anaerobic bacteria.

Bacteria form enzymes that can cause damage by host response, causing breakdown of the collagen fibers that attach the gums to the teeth and that are responsible to hold the proper form and function of the gums.

When these collagen fibers break down, an abnormal sulcus (space between the gum and the teeth) is created.  Under normal conditions the sulcus measures up to 3 mm in depth. Healthy gums should not bleed; even when poked at. They also  should  be pink and firm. The bacteria living in a normal sulcus are predominantly aerobic. Where there is periodontal disease the space between the tooth and the gum becomes deeper since the gums become soft and swollen and pull away from the teeth. The gums also tend to bleed easier (except in smokers) and loose their normal shape.  Measuring the space around the gum and the tooth help the Dentist determine the severity of the condition. The bigger the number the bigger the problem. Also the bacteria living in these now called pockets are predominantly anaerobic.

The most obvious concern about gum disease is that it leads to tooth loss, but, there is also extensive research that shows a correlation between Periodontal disease and Cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, Adverse pregnancy, Alzheimer’s disease, Respiratory diseases and some other conditions. When the gum tissue gets inflamed, puffy and bleedy, bacteria very easily make their way into the bloodstream.  The whole body is interconnected.

            What can be done about gum disease?  How can It be treated?

Treatment for gum disease varies depending on the severity of the condition. The treatment can range from deep cleanings (Scaling and root planning) to gum surgery and tooth extraction. By far the best thing that can be done is to keep a healthy oral hygiene routine by flossing daily to reach in between the teeth as well as brushing properly and using mouth rinses. Even after treatment gum disease needs to be controlled daily by practicing a sound oral hygiene routine. The goal is to remove the bacteria and the biofilm that forms on the teeth and the gums.

          

            My Dentist recommended the Perio Protect Method. What is it and how will it help?

The Perio protect method is a non-invasive, comfortable way to treat periodontal disease. The patient wears a custom fabricated tray prescribed by the Dentist and made to fit precisely over the patients teeth and gums. The tray has a special seal that enables the delivery of antimicrobials into the sulcus. The medications to be used and the frequency of application are determined by the Dentist based on a multitude of factors including the severity of the disease. Most commonly the antimicrobial of choice with the perio protect method is a Hydrogene Peroxide gel. Hydrogene peroxide is a natural bi-product and by re-establishing oxygen into the sulcus we can safely eliminate the virulent anaerobic bacteria.

After the proper health is re-established, the Perio Trays are used to maintain the healthy environment. They could be used daily as an adjunct to your healthy oral hygiene routine.  You will see that by using the Perio Protect Method, your mouth will be much cleaner and healthier and the Hygienist will have to dig a lot less during your dental hygiene appointments and you will have more comfortable hygiene visits.

We hope this information has been useful. Please visit our website at www.dentalcenterofhollywood.com for more information about the Perio Protect Method  and many other dental related subjects.

See you soon  and in the meantime remember -an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of care-.

Invisalign Case

Besides being so happy of how my teeth look now... I love comming here because the staff is fantastic. Everybody is professional, happy and willing to help. I love Dental care Center of Hollywood.

Patient Testimonial by D.O 1/26/2012.