While daily oral hygiene habits are essential to good oral health, professional dental cleanings at our office ensure your teeth are treated to a deeper level of cleaning. We recommend for most of our patients to have a checkup at least every six months. In addition to a thorough cleaning and polishing of your teeth, these regular visits help us detect and prevent the onset of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. During your visit, we’ll check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. We’ll also check old fillings and restorations, as these can wear away over time from constant chewing, grinding, or clenching.

If you are predisposed to oral diseases, you may need to visit our office more often than every six months. Factors at play in these diseases include age, pregnancy, tobacco use, medical conditions (such as diabetes, dry mouth, or HIV infection), along with how well you take care of your teeth on a daily basis.

Make sure your teeth get the professional attention they deserve – If you’re overdue for your next cleaning, check with our office to schedule an appointment!

Our office is digitalized, which means we can operate without the use of large amounts of paper and printing materials. The information in our office can be sent and processed digitally, which is also more efficient. We take all of the steps possible to be a ‘green’ office, making us better for the planet and more convenient for our patients.

We would love to hear how you minimize your impact on the environment. Leave us a comment below or post on our Facebook page!

Of course, using toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Approval is a good source of fluoride, but optimal levels of absorption can only be achieved if you use it as directed: brushing twice a day for two to three minutes each time.

At our office, you can receive professionally applied topical fluoride during your next dental checkup. This is extremely important for people who are at high risk for tooth decay, including children, people with less than perfect oral hygiene, people undergoing orthodontic treatment, and people with weakened enamel due to lifestyle choices or genetic factors. If you have any questions regarding fluoride, please feel free to ask us at the office. We want you to have the healthiest smile possible.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great week!

Even a hairline fracture in a cavity-free molar can make the most hardy of us sit up and take notice. When you’re visited by this kind of bite-down pain, get to the dentist quick.

Most cracks are superficial, affecting only part of the crown, but others are more significant and traverse the tooth deeply enough to expose root structure. The simpler “and more common” fractures that affect only enamel are easily treated with an onlay or dental crown.

The deeper ones threaten the vitality of the tooth and require a rapid and more complicated response. And your pain can’t tell the difference.

Neither youth nor maturity put us out of harm’s way for a fracture. But a good dose of common sense can help with prevention. For instance, wear a mouthguard when you’re engaged in sports (most fractures occur as a result of some kind of rough-and-tumble accident); don’t bite through thread or clothing tags, or chew on pencils or ice; and pay attention when you’re eating olives and fruits with pits.

And if you’re already wincing, don’t wait — reach for the phone.

• small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings)
• infections in the bone
• periodontal (gum) disease
• abscesses or cysts
• developmental abnormalities
• types of tumors

If left untreated, these problems can lead to expensive, time-consuming, and painful conditions, so it’s important to find and treat them early.
Dental X-rays are extremely safe, and our team is certified in the proper use of our digital X-ray equipment. The amount of radiation that you are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to your daily exposure from things like atmospheric radiation and naturally-occurring radioactive elements, as well as medical X-rays you may have gotten at your doctor’s office or hospital. In fact our digital system dramatically decreases the already minimal amount of exposure even further. We try to be as conservative as possible when prescribing x-rays but do need them to see what is going on where our eyes can’t see.

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Its links to heart disease and stroke have been well-publicized. But did you know it’s also linked to diabetes? That means every time you pick up your toothbrush or wind that floss around your fingers, you’re saving a whole lot more than just your smile. Here’s the inside scoop on the link between the control of diabetes and your oral health.

The Link between Diabetes and Gum Disease

Studies show that people with insufficient blood sugar control seem to develop gum disease more frequently and severely that those who have good management over their diabetes. The disease slows circulation and reduces the body’s resistance to infection, which puts those struggling with it at greater risk for periodontal infections. On top of that, high glucose levels in saliva promote growth of bacteria that contribute to gum problems. In fact, those diabetics who are also smokers are far more likely to struggle with all types of mouth disease.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Whether you’re diabetic or not, it’s important to know the symptoms of gum disease. Here’s a partial list:
• Swollen gums that tend to bleed easily
• Gums separating from teeth
• Loose teeth
• Frequent bad breath
• A change in the way teeth fit together, or the way partials or dentures fit

How to Prevent Periodontal Infection

Want to know how to prevent gum disease, particularly as a diabetic? Here are some tips:
• Maintain control over your blood sugar levels
• If you smoke, kick the habit
• Stick with your regular dental check-up and cleaning schedule
• Brush and floss every day
• Eat a healthy diet

A Final Word

If you’re managing diabetes, be sure to mention it during your next appointment so that we can check for any signs of early gum disease. If diagnosed in the early stages (gingivitis), it can be treated and reversed. If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage (periodontitis) may follow, which includes irreversible bone loss.

As always, your health is our primary concern. Please do not hesitate to call us at (253) 564-2570 or email us at jpdental@pol.net if you have questions about diabetes and dental care, if you suspect you are suffering from gum disease, or if you’re due for your next regular check-up. We’ll take good care of you!

Best Regards,

James P. Gagliardi, DDS