Gingivitis And Periodontal Disease

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is a serious condition that will normally result in tooth loss. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are the most common forms of gum disease in adults. One way to prevent both types of gum disease is to brush your teeth daily and remove as much plaque as possible. If you allow the plaque to build up, it may result in gum disease.

Gingivitis is known as inflammation in the tissues of the gums. If plaque and tartar build up along the gum line, the gums will eventually get swollen and irritated. Over time, the gums will get very tender and start to appear puffy. When you brush your teeth, you will may notice that your gums become very sore and they start to bleed with little to no pressure. If you notice blood when brushing, chances are you have gingivitis.

During this stage of gingivitis, there is no loss of bone structure. You can help to prevent gingivitis by flossing and brushing daily. If you have gingivitis and you don’t seek treatment, it could lead to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a condition in which the bone and surrounding structures are destroyed. Even though this form of mouth disease cannot be reversed, you can put a stop to it’s progression by going to your dentist on a regular basis and brushing your teeth daily.

If you don’t stop the progression of periodontal disease, the condition will continue to get worse. During the early stages of the disease, you will notice that your gums appear to be bright red, and very sore. This is due to plaque build up below the gum line. When left untreated, the plaque and tartar that below the gums will continue to eat at the teeth.

Plaque doesn’t need to be visible or detected in order for periodontal disease to be diagnosed. In order to determine if you have periodontal disease, you will need to have your dentist examine you. Your dentist can perform tests on your gums and your teeth, to determine if you have it. If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist can tell you how to stop the progression and prevent it from getting worse.

Both periodontal disease and gingivitis are not painful and both tend to progress in a slowly. You may not even be aware that you have either. The symptoms and signs will start to show in the later stages. Once the later stages start to progress you may end up losing the tooth.

You should always go to the dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning and practice good oral hygiene. If you catch gum disease in time time, your dentist will be able to help you treat the earlier stages.

Call your South Tampa Dentist, Marnie Bauer DMD, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273

5 Checklists to Select the Best Tampa Dentist

Your oral health is important for your overall appearance and self confidence so don’t wait for any problems to arise to start looking for a Tampa dentist. If you look around, you will find several well qualified and experienced dentists to choose from. However don’t hurry in making a decision, take your time and decide wisely. In this post, we will give you 5 checklists that will help you select the best dentist in your area.

Location:

Whether you live in the Naples or Tampa, you will find a good dentist in your area. Location is one of the most important factors that you must consider when looking for a dentist in your area. Find a professional close to your work or home. It will be easier for you to arrive timely for appointments. You must also make sure that the dental office is open on the days when you can schedule an appointment. If the clinic is situated close by, you may even go to your dentist after work.

Cost:

When looking for a dental practitioner, it is important to find out whether or not the dentist accepts insurance and or works with insurance companies. The dentist should accept numerous payment options including personal checks, credit cards and payment plans. Some of the insurance plans may require referrals to specialists, so find out if the dentist provides them. Furthermore you must be aware that the costs usually differ by practice.

There are some expensive dentists that charge very high fees, so make sure you get t estimates of what your Tampa dentist might charge for a simple procedures such as root canal, crown or filling. Even if you do not have a dental insurance, the cost estimates for the dental procedures should be within your budget.

Level of Comfort:

When choosing a Tampa dentist one of the most important factors that you must consider is whether or not you are comfortable with that individual. You should be able to explain your problems and ask your Tampa dentist questions. The dentist should listen to your problems carefully and make you feel at ease. Are you comfortable telling him or her about your anxieties and fears or asking questions regarding any medical procedure?

Professional Qualifications:

Before selecting a  Tampa dentist, you must check the qualification of the professional. If you look online you will find websites that include information regarding the dentists in your city. The dental office should also give you enough information regarding the qualifications and experience of the dentist. If you are not satisfied with the behavior of the staff or you don’t find yourself comfortable with the answers you get from them, consider looking for another dentist in Tampa. You will get details regarding a dentist’s qualification from your insurance carrier or dental society.

Emergency Care and Services:

When choosing a dental practitioner, you should find out whether they have any provisions for emergency care during normal office hours and nights or weekends. At the time of any dental emergency, your dental practitioner should not refer you to a hospital emergency room, but should be able to take care of your emergency needs.

Another important checklist to consider while selecting a dentist in Tampa is to find out whether or not the dentist is licensed by an agency like ADA. You can check this through the website of state dental boards which contains all details regarding the dentist. It will also tell you whether any disciplinary action has been taken against him.

Hopefully the above mentioned 5 checklists will help you choose the right dentist in Tampa to take care of your oral health needs.

Dental Implants as Part of Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental implants are one of the most popular services and products in cosmetic dentistry. They are teeth-like materials that are attached permanently to the gums to act as replacement for missing teeth. They are like dentures but are different since they are permanently fixed into gums and are not removable unless under the assistance of a dentist. Oral implants are usually made of titanium, one of the rare metals that are appropriately tolerated by the human body.

Who is a great candidate?

The procedure is available for people who have lost teeth due to an injury, a disease, or some other reasons. Implants are ideal options if you want to have natural-looking and natural-feeling false teeth, something that could not be possible by just merely using dentures. In other cases, people who are not content with how their teeth are aligned opt for dental implants. Natural teeth will have to be removed first before implants are put into place.

What are the types?

There are two general types of dental implants available today. First, the Endosteal uses cylinders, screws, or blades in surgically placing prosthetic teeth into the jawbone. An implant is holding one or more false teeth. Endosteal is the most prevalent type of dental implants and is used as an effective alternative for people with existing bridges and removable dentures.

Subperiosteal dental implants are surgically placed on top of the patient’s jaw. They are metal framework that protrudes through the gum, facilitating or holding the false teeth. This second type of dental implants is recommended more often to patients who are found to have minimum bone height. People who are not able to wear any kind of removable dentures are qualified to have subperiosteal dental implants instead.

Dental implant procedures can be a little complicated and can require the use anesthesia. It is important that only qualified and well-trained cosmetic dentists or other qualified dentists conduct the procedures. Dental implants have been around for more than three decades. The number of qualified dentists performing the activity is low but more dentists are undergoing training so they could very well conduct the procedure.

Dental implants are also regarded as an effective strategy in orthodontics. In many cases, the implant are used to simplify or streamline any orthodontic therapy, decreasing treatment frequency and eliminating dependence on patients’ compliance in wearing orthodontic appliances and making adjustments.

If you are not confident in your own smiles because of missing teeth, or if your dentures do not allow you to chew, speak or smile comfortably, it is time you seek South Tampa cosmetic dentist for the implants.

Call your South Tampa Dentist, Marnie Bauer DMD, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273 – Tampa Dental Implants or Implant Dentures

Mercury Free Dentistry

Did you know? We practice mercury-free dentistry.

Dental amalgam’s mercury is a known health risk, especially for children, fetuses, nursing infants, and people with impaired kidney function especially. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concedes that the developing neurological systems of children and fetuses are more susceptible to “the neurotoxic effects of mercury vapor” – and that there is no evidence that amalgam is safe for these populations. Dentist have decided to take a stand and practice mercury-free dentistry! Mercury poses a threat to your health, the health of family and friends and to the environment. We will not pollute our environment, as sooner or later, most of the mercury from amalgam “silver fillings” ends up in air, soil, and water.

To learn more, click here!

Call your South Tampa Dentist, Marnie Bauer DMD, for all of your dental needs – 813.839.2273 – Or schedule an appointment online!