PERIODONTICS
Digital X-Rays & Dental Hygiene
PERIODONTICS FROM FORT COLLINS’ TOP RATED LOCAL® DENTISTS
The dentists at Shores Family Dentistry are trained to find periodontal disease, which is a condition that can often be silent and not appear until the advanced stages of the disease. There are warning signs of this dental disease starting with persistent swelling, red or bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, and bad breath. Millions of people do not know they have this serious infection and if not treated, can lead to the loss of one or more teeth. Swollen and bleeding gums are the early signs that your gums are infected with bacteria. If no approach to treatment is taken, the infection can spread, destroying structures that support your teeth in the jawbone. Your teeth eventually become so loose, they may have to be extracted. This can lead to needing dentures or dental implants, which can impact your self-confidence, as well as cause you to have to visit your dentist multiple times over a short period of time. Dentures or implants can also be quite expensive, and you’ll need to schedule follow-up appointments to ensure everything fits correctly.
Periodontal disease can have a significant impact on not only your oral health, but also your life in general. At Shores Family Dentistry, we’re here to help you maintain good oral hygiene so you don’t have to worry about losing teeth or needing dentures or implants. Keep reading to learn more, and if you have any questions about periodontal disease, our team is here to help. It’s never too early to speak with a dentist about your teeth and gums. Contact us today and schedule your appointment to avoid serious complications resulting from periodontal disease.
PERIODONTICS
The root “perio” means around and “dontal “ refers to teeth, meaning periodontal disease is an infection involving structures around the teeth, rather than the teeth themselves. The earliest stages of periodontal disease are known as gingivitis. This mainly affects the gums, but more severe forms of periodontal disease affect all tissues, including gums, periodontal ligaments, and bone. Research is still ongoing concerning how gum disease can affect your overall health. Studies have suggested possible connections to atherosclerosis and heart disease, stroke, premature births, diabetes, and respiratory disease. The Fort Collins dentists at Shore’s stay up to date with new information regarding gum disease in order to provide our patients with the best care.
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria found in dental plaque. By practicing good oral hygiene like daily brushing and flossing, and by visiting our Fort Collins dentists regularly, you can keep plaque under control. If you skip the dentist visit or are lax on oral hygiene, plaque builds on the teeth and eventually spreads below the gum line. If there is a buildup of plaque below the gum line, the gums become inflamed and swell, which can cause the tooth to become detached. This forms a space or “pocket” between the tooth and gum and bacteria can grow rapidly in the pockets encouraging further plaque buildup. If left untreated the disease can spread to periodontal ligaments and the jawbone. Periodontal disease can destroy them. Removing the plaque promptly is important because over time it hardens and calcifies turning into what is commonly known as tartar. When layers of tartar and plaque build-up, it can be a downward spiral. While bacteria and plaque are the main cause of periodontal disease, several other factors may contribute. This may include other diseases, your oral habits, or the medicine you currently take. Stress can also make periodontal disease worse and harder to treat.
If you have periodontal disease you will need to consult a local periodontist that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Periodontists in Fort Collins receive extra training in these areas plus have an additional three years of education beyond dental school.
Consulting with one of our Fort Collins dentists at Shore’s will allow you to gain more information.
DENTAL HYGIENE
We will be the first to say that dental hygiene is definitely not something you should take for granted. Your teeth will only stay healthy if you take good care of them. While you may mean well when it comes to taking care of your teeth, the truth is that care has a tendency to go by the wayside when life comes into play. Sure, you plan to brush your teeth before you go to bed, but because you are tired you decide to just wash your mouth out and call it a night. The fact is, the more that you ignore doing what you need to do to keep your teeth healthy, the bigger risk you run of serious issues coming up in the future like gum disease (gingivitis). This is something we take very seriously as dentists. Fort Collins residents can rest easy knowing we have their back – and their teeth!
First things first: Flossing really does make a difference. You know how our dentists and dental hygienists at Shores Family Dentistry talk about how you need to floss at least once a day? We’re not just saying it to make conversation. Flossing doesn’t just get rid of those bits of food that are stuck between your teeth, but it also helps keep your gums and teeth clean. It’s something that is vitally important to your dental hygiene so it is of the utmost importance to do it every day. (And trust us, we know when you’re not telling us the truth about how often you floss!)
The second thing that you need to make sure you do is to take at least two minutes to brush your teeth twice a day. Simply sitting back and running the brush over your teeth a couple of times won’t do much. You need to actually carve two minutes out of your morning and evening schedule to methodically brush your teeth. Make sure that you cover your entire mouth and don’t just give up after 30 seconds. Many electric toothbrushes have a two-minute timer built-in, or you can use the timer on your phone. All top-rated dentists agree on the two-minute subject.
Finally, you need to make sure that you use a high-quality mouthwash to finish up your brushing routine. Save money on dental care in the long run and make sure that you spend your money on something that will actually give your teeth and gums what they need. Do a bit of research and ask your dentist which would be best to use. A great mouthwash is something that you need in your dental hygiene routine. Putting a strong emphasis on these three categories is a good reason why many of our patients feel we are the best dentists in Fort Collins.
BENEFITS OF DIGITAL X-RAYS
Digital dental X-rays are helpful for diagnosing all types of dental problems very easily. The dentist can compare the current image with previous ones with the help of additional software programs, like subtraction radiography. This is highly effective for finding out even the smallest changes in the structure of the tooth or teeth. Your local dentists can also discover minor dental problems by using digital X-rays, which was not possible in the past. Your dentists at Shore’s have put together a list of benefits:
- The physical process involved in digital dental X-rays is similar to that of traditional ones. In order to capture the images of your teeth, the dentist inserts a sensor in your mouth. This sensor is electronic and it is connected to a computer. After taking an X-ray, the dentist projects the image on a screen.
- Less radiation is the major benefit of digital radiography. Compared to traditional dental X-rays, digital radiation procedures need around 90% less radiation. Therefore, this modern method is relatively safe and an excellent option for those who need to take X-rays frequently.
- Taking less time is the other important benefit of digital radiography. Developing X-ray film is a time-intensive procedure and if you use digital technology, there is no waiting until the film is developed. The sensor used in digital X-rays is able to develop images almost instantly.
- The image quality of digital radiography is also very high and the color, contrast, and brightness can also be adjusted once it appears on the screen. You can even print out a hard copy of the X-ray if needed. They are also beneficial for the environment because they do not use any chemicals for film development. There is no need to waste space for a darkroom to develop film and there is also no need for a storeroom.
Our dentists in Fort Collins will be more than happy to answer all of your digital X-ray questions.
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Our devoted staff and highly-experienced dentists believe in creating long-term relationships with all our patients. Routine visits and preventative care is the best way to ensure healthy teeth, so we work hard to ensure every visit is a pleasant experience. As your Top Rated Local® Fort Collins dentist, we provide a wide range of dental treatments performed with care and great attention to detail to maintain every patient’s well-being. Contact us today to learn more or schedule your next appointment!