Cosmetic Dentistry

Non-Surgical Peridontal Treatment

Why is oral hygiene so important? Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases, (periodontal disease) than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good tooth brushing and flossing techniques, performed daily.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease. However, when the bacteria form in gum pockets which are greater then 3 mm, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage a successful home care regimen without professional help from the dentist or hygienist. Deeper pockets attract the harmful bacteria which cannot easily be removed by the patient. This harmful bacterium is what leads to bone loss around the teeth, often leading to tooth loss. That’s why some have called periodontal disease a gum and bone disease. Dr. Strauss’s office has a comprehensive non-surgical periodontal program to fight this disease. Included in the therapy program is the use of ultra-sonic scaling (a device utilizing high frequency vibration) to aid in calculus and plaque removal from the teeth. Additionally, hand scaling is used to smooth the roots and antimicrobial irrigation helps reduce bacteria. We may also use site specific chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial rinses and fluoride treatments to help combat this disease. More recently we have added the use of laser technology to reduce or eliminate harmful bacteria in specific sites. ( See Laser Services for Soft Tissue Management in the State of the Art Dentistry Section)

The bacterium in periodontal disease has been linked to other health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Remember healthy gums do not bleed. If you are concerned please ask us about your periodontal health.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

Automatic and "high-tech" electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of the patients.    We see excellent results with the Rotadent electric toothbrush which we dispense in our office.  Some manuel toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle; this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your hygienist.  Flossing is also very important to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.

We dispense Oxyfresh products in our office.    The selection of mouth rinses and toothpastes contain zinc and oxygene, which are helpful in combatting halitosis (bad breath) as well as supportive homecare for good periodontal health.