Don’t Let That Blank Space in Your Mouth Fool You

Questioning Dental Patient Hiding The Missing Teeth In Her Smile

So, you had teeth extracted and/or are missing a few teeth? No big deal, right? Do not fool yourself! There are plenty of issues that come with missing teeth in Allen, TX. You lose the confidence in your smile, you can’t chew the foods you use to enjoy, and so much more. Beyond these though, there are also adverse health effects to missing teeth.


What Happens When We Are Missing Teeth?

From gum disease to infection, there are several reasons why you should consider replacement of your missing teeth!

In many cases, the gums where the tooth used to be will get infected which will cause inflammation. This is known as gingivitis, commonly referred to as gum disease. Gingivitis can cause your gums to bleed when you floss, changes in your bite line, pain when chewing, pus to form between the gums and teeth, and other symptoms. This, of course, makes day-to-day life more difficult as the pain from chewing causes great amounts of anxiety about eating and can cause other teeth to loosen or fall out.

Another problem that may occur is weakness in your jaw and other teeth. Other teeth surrounding the missing one have to work harder to chew due to the lack of teeth and can cause jaw pain, weakness, and in some cases temporomandibular joint disorder (TMDJ). Your TMJ attaches your lower jawbone to the rest of your skull and when it is being worked on one side more heavily, it can cause disorders to form which will result in pain when chewing and many other issues.


Fill Those Gaps

To avoid these diseases and others that are caused by the loss of teeth, consider calling us at (972) 954-2275. Contact our office in Allen, TX to schedule an appointment with our doctor, Dr. Rebecca Bork, so we can give you our options to fill in that missing tooth! With years of experience in supporting those like you, we will work with you to find the best treatment option to fit your unique situation. We look forward to helping you!


References

Gum Disease (Gingivitis and Periodontitis), Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/gingivitis

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorders, Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-disorders

Importance of Treating Gum Disease

a diagram depicting gums affected by gum disease

Have you been noticing your gums bleed easily whenever you brush or floss? Or they are starting to pull away from your teeth? These are common signs of gum disease and should never be ignored. Whether you’ve recently started developing symptoms of gum disease or it has been affecting your health for some time, don’t wait to seek treatment. There are many important reasons why.

Gum disease won’t go away by itself

A progressive and dangerous condition, gum disease begins when bacteria from plaque and tartar infect the gums. If not treated right away, gum disease can progress until it causes irreversible damage to oral structures and increases the risk of tooth loss.

Gum disease affects overall health

Advanced stages of periodontal disease have been linked to complications with systemic health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, heart attack, and stroke. Bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream, and the chronic inflammation and infection can take a toll on your body’s immune system.

Gum disease will lead to tooth loss

The number one cause of tooth loss is advanced gum disease. If you don’t get treatment for your bleeding gums and periodontal disease progresses enough, the damage it causes your gums and bone can lead to loose teeth. In worse cases, gum disease destroys so much of the oral structures that teeth are lost entirely.

Gum disease diminishes your confidence

The effects of gum disease are more than just physical. The changing look of your smile can make it difficult to feel confident. Swollen gums, tartar buildup, darkening between your teeth, and more leave your smile looking less than attractive. Treating your gum disease not only improves the health and aesthetics of your smile but your self-confidence, too.

Schedule Your Consultation

Do you have symptoms of gum disease? Don’t put off seeking treatment from our office. Your health and confidence depend on it! Schedule your gum disease treatment consultation today.

Gum Disease And The Development Of Systemic Diseases

Dental Patient In Pain

When it comes to gum disease and the development of it there are quite a few risks. However, for the purpose of this article will be discussing the 7 major risks of gum disease development in Allen, TX. To be more specific, there is a direct link between your oral health and your overall health. Meaning that the development of gum disease can lead to the development of major health concerns. It has been proven that these seven systemic diseases below that affect overall health are related to having gum disease:

  1. Stroke
  2. Heart Disease 
  3. Diabetes
  4. Erectile dysfunction
  5. Alzheimer’s disease
  6. Respiratory infections
  7. Pre-term low birth weight

Understanding the Links Between Gum Disease and Health Risks
As far as the link between gum disease and health risks is concerned it’s highly important to understand how negative oral health can lead to negative overall health. The initial stage of gum disease would be gingivitis and when you have gingivitis essentially you have bacteria in your mouth that causes your gums to become inflamed due to an infection. If the gum disease is not treated in its initial stage and is allowed to develop to a more advanced stage, then it can spread to other parts of your body via your blood stream. The spread of this bacteria is what directly links your oral health to the development of systemic diseases.  

Contact Our Office To Schedule Your Gum Disease Examination
If you feel as though you are experiencing gum disease then it would be very important if you would reach out to our Dental office in Allen, TX to schedule your gum disease examination. This will allow our doctor, Dr. Rebecca Bork to examine you and if needed provide you with the necessary treatment to rid you of your gum disease and improve your oral and overall health.  

Dealing With The Dreaded Gingivitis

The Dreaded Gingivitis

While in the dentist office for cleanings or other necessary appointments, gingivitis may be a word that that you hear thrown around frequently. Gingivitis is a form of gum disease, that causes irritated and inflamed gums. Gingivitis is common, and treatable by your dental professional. This form of gum disease is so common, that in the United States alone, there are roughly more than 200,000 cases.

Gingivitis is usually caused by plaque, debris and bacteria that form on the teeth and soft tissues. Without maintaining your oral hygiene, the best you can, you risk irritating the soft tissue of the mouth. Because gingivitis and gum disease is so common, patients tend to not think of the risk factors that come along with this disease.

Gum disease is a DISEASE. It is a serious thing and needs to be thought of as such. Gum disease is typically overlooked because patients tend to associate red gums or bleeding gums as brushing and flossing too vigorously. In reality, not taking care of your gum disease can cause other issues within the body. The oral cavity is very susceptible to bacteria growth and diseases because it is a warm place where bacteria thrive. When bacteria are left, infection and disease can arise, infiltrating the soft tissue and entering the blood stream. Once the infection enters the blood, you risk having infection occurring in other parts of the body. It is also important to realize that gum disease has been linked to diabetes and heart disease, so it should be treated immediately.

Whether you’re suffering from gingivitis or periodontal disease, you need to seek immediate attention from your dental professional. Do not let your signs and symptoms go to the wayside. When caught early, your doctor and their skilled team will be able to effectively treat your gum disease and help you with your oral health.

Contact your dentist if you are experiencing any inflammation of the gums, abnormal redness and bleeding. These may be signs of gingivitis. Schedule an appointment for your routine checkups and ensure you take care of your oral health.

Gum Diseases: Take Control

Gum Disease: Take Control

Oral health is very important and if left untreated can lead to bigger and serious issues.

One of the diseases with serious consequences that we have to watch out for is periodontal disease or gum disease. It is a bacterial infection which if not treated on time can lead to loss of tooth, among other things. This disease can affect one or many teeth at the same time.

The bacteria in our mouth with mucus and other substances regularly forms plaque, which sticky colorless substance, around our teeth. That’s why we brush to clean our mouth of these substances. If we don’t do that regularly, the plaque can harden and will be difficult to take off by just brushing. The longer we don’t clean our teeth off that hardened plaque or ‘tarter’, they become more harmful. The bacteria cause our gum to inflame, the inflammation is called ‘gingivitis’. Gingivitis causes the gums to turn red, swollen and can bleed. At this condition, the symptoms are reversible, but you need to take action quickly.

If you don’t treat gingivitis on time, it can lead to periodontitis. In this stage, your gums loosen, causing gaps between the teeth – those gaps can be infected.

Identifying gum diseases on time is extremely important. You should regularly watch out for the symptoms which include long lasting bad breath, swollen gums, bleeding gums, or toothaches. If you observe these signs in you, you should see your dentist as soon as you possibly can.

There are precautions you can take to avoid gum diseases. Brushing your teeth is top priority, but flossing will also control the amount of plaque that forms. Making these daily tasks, routine will cause you to have good oral hygiene. Another regular habit you should develop is to visit your dentist in regular intervals, they will thoroughly clean your teeth, which will also ensure you catch any forming disease.

Gum disease is not discriminatory. It forms when you do not take care of your oral health, as you should.

Some other conditions that might invite gum diseases are pregnancy, diabetes and other health conditions. It is a common knowledge too that smokers are likely to get gum diseases.

Consult your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms.

How a Dentist Can Treat Your Gum Disease

How a Dentist Can Treat Your Gum Disease

It comes and it goes, but the bleeding and tenderness comes a lot more frequently these days and it takes a lot longer to go away. You’ve made sure to brush and floss more regularly, yet your gums are still sore and prone to bleeding from brushing and even eating at times.

It’s time to get gum disease under control, before it advances into periodontitis and begins rotting away your teeth, gums and jawbone. Take a look at these procedures your dentist can deliver to stop gum disease, from treatments for mild gum disease to advanced procedures to address periodontitis.

Scaling and root planing: this pair of gum disease treatments is commonly referred to collectively as “deep cleaning.” It entails a hygienist removing dental calculus, hardened plaque, from the roots of teeth – “scaling.” It also involves smoothing the surface of teeth roots, after scaling, to get rid of bacterial pockets between the root and gums – “planing.”

Gingivectomy: this procedure involves smoothing and recontouring the gums so that a gum line ravaged by gum disease will look healthy and normal again.

Ridge augmentation: when a tooth falls out, the area of the jawbone where it was once planted will begin to decay and cause the cheeks to sink inwards. Ridge augmentation can restore the contours of teeth and gums to keep your smile full, healthy and symmetrical.

Bone grafting: it’s a critical procedure that’s often necessary to make an area of the jawbone reliable enough to support dental implants, which are placed when periodontitis rots natural teeth and causes them to fall out.

Find Out More

Learn more about the common procedures your dentist can perform to help you keep gum disease in check.

Click here to schedule a consultation with a local dentist in Allen, Texas and be prepared to ask plenty of questions about your options for gum disease treatment.