Month: January 2019

Alzheimer’s which has been suspected to be more of a degenerative disease has a direct link to periodontitis. “Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease or an infection of the tissues that support teeth”, says the American Dental Association (ADA). Gum disease is a common dental health condition where the gums become infected due to deposition of tartar on the teeth. It can be prevented by brushing and flossing regularly to get rid of plaque. However, when left untreated, the inflammation can become chronic and start to cause disease in other areas of your body.

Reported by the CNN, “The bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, known as Pg, causes the gum infection chronic periodontitis, causing chronic inflammation and potential loss of teeth.” A research was conducted by Dr. Stephen Dominy and Casey Lynch, the originator of Cortexyme, a renowned pharmaceutical firm. The researchers went a step ahead and conducted the same test on mice and found that it led to brain colonization of the bacteria and increase in amyloid beta (Aβ), another major marker of Alzheimer’s disease.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major causes of gum disease and tooth loss in humans and has also been associated with artery damage.

These findings are taken from the latest edition of journal Science Advances. Tests on mice confirmed that the bacteria travels from the mouth to the brain and gives rise to a toxic protein, called gingipain, which has a crucial role in destroying brain neurons.

Alzheimer usually affects people aged 60 and over. It is more likely to occur if your mouth and gums are diseased. As per the studies stated above, there is a long-term evidence that periodontal (gum) disease may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s. Not everyone who suffers from gum disease develops Alzheimer’s disease and not all who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease have gum disease. So, you don’t need to panic and as we say there is always a room for improvement, you can anytime reverse the situation from getting worse by regular brushing, flossing and dental cleanings.

As reported by the BBC News, currently there is no cure or effective treatment. However, keeping your oral health maintained is the only way to prevent gum disease. The important things you can do to maintain your oral health are:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day
• Flossing your teeth regularly once a day
• Routine checkup with your dentist
• Taking a balanced diet which is low in sugar, acid

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
It simply indicates that taking care of your teeth and gums is equally important at any age. Regardless of having been diagnosed with periodontal disease or not, you must offer regular and continuous visits to your dentist. A consistent and effective oral hygiene plays another important role in keeping your oral health maintained for long.

These healthy choices will help you reduce or eliminate the occurrence of periodontal disease. Use products like fluoride, dental sealants, mouth rinses or gels that help reduce tooth decay. Researches say that getting a regular professional dental cleaning and x-ray is also an important step in maintaining great oral health.

ORALSCREEN TESTING FOR DETECTING GUM DISEASE
Gum disease is more likely to be treated when caught early. Since it does not show or produces any symptoms, it is important to keep up with regular dental cleanings and X-ray. Scheduling an oral cancer screening with us would be the right way to start. Our dentists will help discover the early onset of gum disease. Contact us today to set up an appointment for your next dental checkup!

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Dental implants come up as the ultimate substitute to a missing or damaged teeth. They allow you to eat, laugh, talk the way your real teeth does. In addition to being a reliable tooth restoration option, they also function as the strongest tooth replacement option. In dental implants, tooth is held via a titanium implant post. The process is known as osseointegration. By providing a natural fit, dental implants are successful in eliminating the gaps between teeth. Titanium along with the bone forms a strong foundation for your artificial teeth.

The process
Dental implant placement can be categorized into 2 phases. In the first phase, a small titanium is gently anchored in the patient’s jawbone that recreates a natural tooth. The implants are placed beneath the surface of gum and gradually bond with jawbone for a certain time period after the surgery. During this time, patients are allowed to take soft diet. In the second phase, another piece called “abutment” is attached to the posts. Crown, bridgework and fixed denture is finally cemented to the abutment.

Implants also function great to support dentures, thereby holding in place securely while eating, speaking or other oral activities.

Advantages
Dental implants have redefined the way people talk, eat or smile. The advantages offered by them are:

1. They help in creating a natural-looking smile.
2. Function and feel like natural teeth.
3. Quite comfortable and do not require any specialized care.
4. Taking care of dental implants is the same as natural teeth. It also requires brushing, flossing, and regular checkups.
5. Dental implants are entirely functional. Patients need not experience pain or any kind of discomfort with dentures.
6. They allow patients to speak with confidence.

Dental implants accurately mimic tooth appearance and function. If you are looking to get one for yourself, contact our Crosby Dental Office TX today.

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Dental advancements over the past few years have made it easier to replace a missing teeth. The best part is that there is an availability of multiple options that can be customized to suit the patient’s needs. Dentures emerge as an ultimate solution to replace lost teeth and gift you with an attractive smile. There are different types of dentures available, but finding out the right one for yourself is equally important to maintaining great oral health. Let us introduce you to the different types of dentures that are available nowadays:

Immediate dentures
Immediate dentures are placed on the same day when the teeth are removed or extracted. They are worn temporarily and make it possible to smile, talk, and chew normally at that point of time.

Custom dentures
Custom dentures offer a more natural-looking smile. The denture is customized according to your needs, so you will have a natural smile that suits your needs.

Implant-supported dentures
Implant-supported dentures are attached to implants in the jawbone and extend outwards from the gums. Dentists surgically fit these implants in one or two visits. Implant-supported dentures are quite stable than other types of dentures, especially in the lower jaw. Their placement is usually at the front of jaw. This type of denture provides extra strength, and support that allows it to stay securely in place.

Snap-in dentures
Stability is the USP of snap-in dentures. They are positioned securely in place with the help of dental implants. Their uniqueness lies in the locator attachments that are embedded within the tissue side of the denture. They are used by patients who do not have a teeth but have enough bone to support an implant.

Partial dentures
Partial dentures fill the gap when only a few teeth are missing. They can be attached to the natural teeth in multiple ways, the most common one is using metal clasps that grip natural teeth. Partial dentures can also be attached to the crowns on natural teeth. Crowns improve the fit of partial dentures.

Finding the right fit for yourself
Other than just considering the cost factor, it is important to emphasize on the functionality of each type of denture. The ease of speaking, eating, comfort, and fit varies for each denture. Custom dentures require some practice for eating and speaking before one becomes accustomed to using them.

It is advisable to start with eating soft food first. Patients may also find difficulty in speaking, but it improves later with time. Patients are recommended to wear dentures overnight to identify the areas of the mouth that are most irritated. Taking care of dentures is another important factor to maintain its durability in the long run.

If you still have doubts, you can schedule an appointment today with Our dentists, who can help you decide which type of denture is best for you, assess your oral health, and determine the right age for denture placement.

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People often take a rain check every time they plan to make an appointment with Crosby Dental Office TX. However, skipping on dental checkups could make a bad situation worse. Therefore, dentists often recommend getting an oral health routine checkup. So, if you are also one of those who have been missing out on their oral health checkup due to unspecified reasons, dental benefits could be an immediate solution.

So, what dental benefits exactly mean?

Every dental insurance provider allocates specific benefits that must be used before the year ends. Every year on January 1, all those benefits reset. Patients who fail to take advantage of their dental benefits due to some or the other reason, lose them before the year ends.

The importance of using dental benefits

Your dental insurance provider allocates a specific sum of money every year to help with any kind of dental procedure you may opt for. By taking care of the remaining dental work by the end of the year, you will have a greater scope of not having to go out of your budget.

By blocking your dental services, you could also not be meeting your yearly deductibles.

Dental problems worsen with the passing time. So, if you don’t act sooner than later, your dental health will eventually be at risk. So, if you have a root canal, chipped tooth or dental crown and you avoid taking precaution in the initial stages, your issues might get worse with time. Eventually, the cost factor will also get affected and the expenses may go higher. However, on using your dental benefits, you will get an extra advantage over the cost and treatment.

Dental plans cover most of the dentistry services like X-ray, oral examination, crowns, root canal treatment, extractions, dental sealants, tooth cleaning, fluoride treatment, gum disease, anesthesia, dental emergency, consultation and so on.

Dental benefits are aimed at offering a healthy and glowing smile and cover the cost of dental care. They help you save money.

So, if you are still pondering how and when to schedule your next checkup with the physician, it’s the right time to make use of your dental benefits. Your yearly dental benefits will cost you as low as possible on pockets, yet offering best-in-class dental health checkup.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.