Friendly Dental Tips and Guidance

Did you know that there are different types of dental cleanings? While you and even your dentist may refer to it as just a dental cleaning, there are specific names for different types of cleaning. Knowing these types and what they entail is important so you know what kind of dental services you are getting. If you are unsure, your dentist can easily explain to you about the dental services you are receiving. Prophylaxis Cleaning Prophylaxis is defined as an action taken to prevent disease, especially by specified means or against a specified disease. A prophylaxis cleaning is what is also referred to as just a normal dental cleaning. This is the recommended biannual cleaning to have for [...]

Your overall health is important for a long, healthy life. Good diet and exercise are not the only activities that make the ingredients for health. Your oral health is just as important, especially to prevent gum disease. When you have other health conditions or underlying conditions, gum disease can make your health difficult. Sugary foods and drinks, especially soda, has led to a big uptick in poor oral health, particularly gum disease. It has also increased the occurrence of diabetes in all ages. When you combine poor oral health and diabetes, the two can make the other worse. If allowed to continue, it is a vicious cycle of health risks. Gum Disease Can Worsen Diabetes If [...]

A person’s oral health is one of the most overlooked, even neglected areas of health. This is due to various reasons. One of those reasons may be due to the fact that it can be easy to forget about or not pay attention to your oral health because it’s more difficult to see on a daily basis. That is, until it’s often too late. Another reason is cost, as regular health insurance does not include much, if anything, for dental care. Many people also think that they don’t need to spend the money on a dentist when they can brush their teeth and floss at home. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough to maintain great oral health. Even with brushing your [...]

Gum Disease is a bacterial infection in, you guessed it, the gums. Without practicing proper dental care, it can affect anyone regardless of how healthy they are. You may think it’s just a simple infection of the tissues that support teeth, and that it’ll go away eventually. The reality is that gum disease won’t go away without any treatment or preventative measures, and will even get worse. Numerous studies have shown that untreated gum disease is linked to a variety of other health issues. Gum disease has been proved to increase the risks of many other health conditions, particularly cardiovascular issues. Considering that almost 50% of the American population has some stage of gum disease, and if you’re 65 [...]

Sometimes your teeth need something a little more than a normal cleaning. This is primarily needed when plaque has been able to build up and then harden to form tartar. The main difference between a regular dental cleaning and a deep dental cleaning is what area is being cleaned. A deep clean typically involves removing plaque and tartar below the gum line whereas a normal cleaning is at, and above the gum line. A deep cleaning may be required in order to prevent the development of gum disease, also known as periodontitis. When gum disease starts going below the gum line, the bacteria can get into the periodontal pockets around your teeth. This can lead to receding [...]

Known more officially as periodontal disease (periodontitis), gum disease is an oral infection caused by bacteria. From commercials from dentists to toothpaste and toothbrush brands, you’ve probably heard an extremely common term: plaque. Plaque is the primary culprit when it comes to gum disease. Gum disease can be difficult to detect for people not going to their local dentist office for regular cleanings. This is mostly because, for the most part, gum disease is often referred to as a “silent disease”. It generally doesn’t cause much pain, if any, or discomfort. This makes it easy for people to neglect or put off because they’re lacking a physical reminder. Causes Of Gum Disease Your mouth [...]

There are a lot of people that think regular dental cleanings aren’t worth it and even needed. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth and leaves them open to numerous health risks. One of these risks is gum disease which affects 50% or more of Americans. Even with brushing your teeth at home, gum disease still occurs. This is why dentists recommend regular dental cleanings and exams to ensure your oral health is in top condition. Regular cleanings allow your dentist to catch problems before they become worse and to adjust your treatment to address these problems. Plus, dental cleanings are not expensive when compared to many other health services, even without insurance. How Dental Cleaning Prevents Gum Disease [...]

Dental Deep Cleaning Dental deep cleaning, also called root scaling and planing (SRP), is a procedure that has been around for a long time. Our dental hygienists will use an ultrasonic instrument or manual scaling tools to remove the plaque (tartar) on the surface of the enamel under the gums that cause chronic irritation and bone loss. This procedure is different from regular cleaning which only cleans along the gum line. Deep cleaning also targets the roots of your teeth to make the cementum on the surface smoother. This will help keep plaque from forming in spaces that are uneven. Why do dentists do deep cleaning? Is it really necessary? Deep Cleaning is a [...]

More than one-in-ten Americans have multiple missing teeth. That adds up to about 36 million people, with 120 million missing at least one tooth. Of those people missing multiple teeth, 90% wear dentures. If you’re missing teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease, or need to have teeth surgically removed, you’re not alone. These issues can be painful and seem embarrassing, but with the right dentist near you, you can get back a full and healthy smile. But when it comes to temporary vs permanent dentures, which option is best for you? Temporary vs permanent dentures? Temporary dentures are often used when you are getting ready for oral surgery or other dental procedures. They help to secure the [...]

If you lose one or more teeth due to gum disease or tooth decay and choose the route of dentures after speaking with your Keller Texas Dentist, Dr. Tyson Pickett, then you can replace these teeth with partial or complete dentures. Dentures are removable false teeth that appear natural. While we typically recommend dental implants for most patients, sometimes dentures may be a better option. If you're still trying to decide then we recommend reading the differences between dentures and dental implants. If, having chosen dentures, then you should understand the purpose of temporary dentures prior to receiving your permanent dentures. What Are Immediate (or Temporary) Dentures? The difference between immediate or temporary dentures [...]