Am I at Risk for Periodontal Disease?

Lubbock Periodontics

The term "periodontics" refers to the dental specialty that pertains to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease that affects the gums and jawbone. The gum tissues serve to surround and support the teeth and the underlying jawbone anchors teeth firmly in place.

Periodontal disease is a progressive condition which begins with mild gum inflammation called gingivitis. Periodontal disease is typically signified by red, swollen, painful, or bleeding gums, but in some cases has no noticeable symptoms. Periodontal disease generally begins when the bacteria living in plaque cause an infection in the surrounding tissues of the teeth, causing them to become irritated and painful. Eventually, this infection will cause the jawbone to recede and the teeth to become loose.

The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to take good care of your teeth and gums at home. This includes brushing your teeth after every meal and before bedtime, flossing at least once each day, and seeing Dr. Lisa Wentz for regular exams twice a year.

Periodontal disease is often silent, meaning the signs and symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, you should still be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms, which include:

• Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth 
• Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or when eating certain foods 
• Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before 
• Loose or separating teeth 
• Pus between your gums and teeth 
• Sores in your mouth 
• Persistent bad breath 
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite 
• A change in the fit of partial dentures

If you notice any of these symptoms, be sure to contact Lubbock Periodontics right away.

Can children be at risk for developing periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is rarely found in children, and only sometimes found in adolescents. However, children should still learn the importance of keeping their teeth and gums healthy to prevent periodontal disease in the future. Children should brush their teeth twice a day and learn how to floss properly. As a parent, you should also be aware of the warning signs of periodontal disease, which include red, swollen, bleeding gums or bad breath that won’t go away. If your child develops any of these symptoms, tell your child’s dentist right away.

Cleanings and Prevention

At Wentz Periodontics, our goal is that you smile with confidence! We want to ensure you are living your best life, and showcasing the world your beautiful smile.

We believe that the best way to continue to have a healthy beautiful smile before and after your visit with us is preventative care. Having a preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.

Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office by the efforts of your dentist and dental hygienist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.

A good oral hygiene routine is simple to follow if you already know how to properly clean your teeth. A good effective oral hygiene routine involves, brushing your teeth, using mouthwash and flossing correctly. This also includes knowing when you should come into a dentist or periodontist office. Knowing when to aski questions regarding your health and scheduling a cleaning.

Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, beautiful smile.

Smile Bright in 2019

At Lubbock Periodontics, we want to ensure you have plenty of healthy reasons to smile. We believe a smile is a universal language and that your smile affects your self-image, and can greatly influence the quality of your interactions with others. Many people hold back from laughing or smiling because they are uncomfortable about their appearance when they do.

Take a Smile Analysis and determine how you want to smile in the new year. The Smile Analysis will ask you to answer questions such as:

• Do any of your teeth appear too small, short, large or long?
• Do you have any gaps or spaces between your teeth?
• Do you have any crowns or bridges that appear dark at edge of gums?
• Are the edges of any teeth worn down, chipped or uneven?

https://www.lubbockperiodontics.com/smile-analysis.php

What does bone grafting treatment involve?

Bone grafting is a fairly simple procedure which may be performed under local anesthetic; however if large amounts of bone area need to be grafted, general anesthetic may be required. 

Initially, the grafting material needs to either be harvested or prepared for insertion. A small incision is made in the gum tissue and then gently separated from the bone. The bone grafting material is then placed at the affected site.

The bone regeneration process may be aided by:

Gum/bone tissue regeneration – A thin barrier (membrane) is placed below the gum line over the grafting material. This barrier creates enough space for healthy tissue to grow and separates the faster growing gum tissue from the slower growing fibers. This means that bone cells can migrate to the protected area and grow naturally.

Tissue stimulating proteins – Enamel matrix proteins occur during natural tooth development. Emdogain is a matrix protein product which is usually placed on the affected site before the gum is sutured. It mediates the formation of accellular cementum on the tooth which provides a foundation to allow periodontal attachment to occur. Tissue stimulating proteins help to create lost support in areas affected by periodontal defects.

Platelet-rich growth factors – A high platelet concentration liquid can be used to create a blood clot at the site of a wound. It has recently been discovered that PRGF also stimulates bone growth – meaning a denser graft in a shorter time period.

The gum is sutured in place and a follow up appointment will need to be made within 10 days to assess progress. Bone grafting is a highly successful treatment and a good base for further periodontal restorations.

Prevent Gum Recession

Your teeth may go through a lot throughout the years, but they are meant to last a lifetime and can look and function properly well into your senior years. Enamel is the hardest substance in your body making teeth resilient; along with the help of your gums. Your gums don't just provide an aesthetically pleasing smile, they protect the dentin and roots below the enamel covering too.

With time, gums recede from their normal place due to a number of reasons. This does not only look unattractive, but it can expose your teeth to disease and cause sensitivity to biting pressure or temperature changes.

Though there are causes for gum recession that are out of your control, there are also causes for this problem that you can control. Below are some things you can do to help prevent gum recession.

• Avoid over-aggressive brushing
• Daily brushing and flossing
• Visit your dentist for cleanings and check-ups
• Consider orthodontic treatment for malocclusion

If you begin to see signs of gum problems such as swelling, bleeding or pain, schedule an appointment at Lubbock Periodontics for an examination and treatment. The first step to correcting gum issues is early detection of the problem and proper treatment. If you would like more information on the treatment and prevention of gum disease, please visit our website or give us a call at 806-794-8365.

Periodontal Disease & Diabetes

It has been proven that people that have diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease thanpeople without diabetes. Diabetes occurs when blood sugar is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood isn't good for your health. Those with diabetes are also more susceptible to contracting infections, which why they are more likely to develop periodontal disease.

Here are ways in which diabetes and periodontal disease are linked: 

• Increased blood sugar – Moderate and severe periodontal disease elevates sugar levels in the body, increasing the amount of time the body has to function with high blood sugar. This is why diabetics with periodontitis have difficulty keeping control of their blood sugar. In addition, the higher sugar levels found in the mouth of diabetics provide food for the very bacteria that worsen periodontal infections. 

• Blood vessel thickening – The thickening of the blood vessels is one of the other major concerns for diabetes sufferers. The blood vessels normally serve a vital function for tissues by delivering nutrients and removing waste products. With diabetes, the blood vessels become too thick for these exchanges to occur. This means that harmful waste is left in the mouth and can weaken the resistance of gum tissue, which can lead to infection and gum disease. 

• Smoking – Tobacco use does a great deal of damage in the oral region. Not only does tobacco use slow the healing process, it also vastly increases the chances of an individual developing periodontal disease. For diabetics who smoke, the risk is exponentially greater. In fact, diabetic smokers aged 45 and over are twenty times more likely to develop periodontal disease. 

• Poor oral hygiene – It is essential for diabetics to maintain excellent levels of oral health. When daily brushing and flossing does not occur, the harmful oral bacteria can ingest the excess sugar between the teeth and colonize more freely below the gum line. This exacerbates the metabolic problems that diabetes sufferers experience.

It is important that people suffering from any type of diabetes to see the dentist at least twice yearly for checkups and professional cleanings. For those who have diabetes and contract periodontal disease we do have treatment options available. For more information on periodontal disease and diabetes visit our site lubbockperiodontics.com 

What Is Bone Grafting?

A great smile requires more than just healthy teeth. It also requires healthy gums and a healthy jaw bone.

The jaw bones hold the teeth in place. If a tooth is missing either due to periodontal (gum) disease or caries (decay), the jaw bone will begin to recede. Why is that a problem? You need the jaw bone intact to replace the missing tooth or teeth with a dental implant, a denture, or a partial.

Bone grafting is the common procedure that reconstructs the bone so that you can fill the extracted socket from the missing tooth in order to maintain the width and the height of the alveolar ridge. The alveolar ridge is also known as the gum ridge and is one of the two jaw ridges either on the roof of the mouth between the upper teeth and the hard palate or on the bottom of the mouth behind the lower teeth.

Bone grafting is a highly successful treatment and a good base for further periodontal restorations.For more information on bone grafting at Lubbock Periodontics, contact us at (806) 794-8365 or click here to visit our website.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Have you ever feared going to the dentist for a routine checkup? Well believe it or not, a large number of Americans experience this and don’t visit the dentist regularly because of dental anxiety.

At Lubbock Periodontics, we offer a solution for those who are afraid of dentist visits, sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry provides an opportunity for us to make our patients who struggle with dental anxiety feel more at ease, as it allows a safe way to rid the nerves at your dental appointment. Many have a misunderstanding about sedatives and define them as an induced sleep; however, this is incorrect. The reality is several of our patients who opt for sedation dentistry often stay awake during the procedure. 

Some advantages that come with sedation dentistry are as follows:

• Anxiety is alleviated. 
• Few side effects. 
• More can be accomplished during each visit. 
• No needles. 
• No pain. 
• Perfectly safe. 
• Procedures seem to take less time.

Click here to visit our website for more information, or give us a call at 806-794-8365.

Healthy Super Bowl Snacks

Are you ready for some football? With the Super Bowl around the corner, many of you will be hosting or attending fun parties that demand super snacks, but they don't have to be at the expense of your teeth. That’s why Lubbock Periodontics put together a few tasty game day snacking ideas with healthy ingredients. Of course, these are snacks, and none of them are perfect. Regardless of what you eat, don’t forget to brush! Just click the name of the snack for the complete recipe!

Hummus and Cucumber Bites

Healthy 7 Layer Dip

Dark Chocolate Greek Yogurt Dip

A Mouth-Body Connection

Bacteria collect on teeth and gums daily, which is why routine brushing and flossing is essential to stopping infection. These bacteria, if left alone, develop into gum disease and begin to wreak havoc on the look and function of the smile. Teeth develop plaque and gums become sensitive, eventually leading to decay and infection. Patients with advanced periodontal disease experience gum recession and tooth loss.

Periodontal disease can enter the blood stream and spread to the heart, lungs, and can also create blood sugar problems. Individuals suffering diabetes are at greater risk for gum disease, and if your heart health isn’t optimal, it’s possible to aggravate problems by not seeking treatment for periodontitis. However, our Lubbock dentist can reverse this process if caught in time, saving your teeth and overall body health with transformative treatments.

If you think you’re suffering from gum disease, please call our office and we will schedule you for treatment as soon as possible.

Prevent Enamel From Wearing As You Age

Did you know there are only 9 Mondays left until Christmas? Where has the year gone? If you’re anything like us and time just passes you by in the blink of an eye, then you know with the passing of every min, every hour, and every day comes another year to add to your age. Though life brings so many wonderful things with the coming of age, aging can have its downside too; especially on your teeth. Contingent on your health and diet habits, tooth enamel can erode from years of chewing and biting. Unfortunately, the human body can’t replace your enamel and there really is no telling how much your teeth will wear during your lifetime.

Aside from the regular wear of tooth enamel, some health conditions can cause your teeth to wear at a faster pace than the average person. Bad habits such as grinding, chewing on nails or things like bobby pins, can often fuel your teeth to wear faster. Also, acids and tooth decay can do this too. So what can you do to prevent your teeth from wearing as you age? 

First, start by making sure you’re getting regular maintenance done. Brushing, flossing, regular check-ups and cleanings as well as exams by your general dentist will help you keep your teeth healthy as well increase longevity. Second, talk to your dentist about habits that affect your teeth, or identify them and take the initiative to seek help. For instance, those who have a problem grinding their teeth can purchase a bite guard that can prevent this habit and prevent abnormalities in your teeth.

If you would like more information on slowing the rate of tooth wear as you age, please contact Lubbock Periodontics to schedule an appointment.

What Is Your Role In Periodontal Health?

Dental plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease, so it's essential to remove it every day with effective brushing and flossing. This doesn't mean scrubbing, which can actually cause your gums to recede. Proper techniques can be demonstrated for you at Lubbock Periodontics by Dr. Lisa Wentz, if you have any questions.

Of course, there are some areas of the mouth that a toothbrush and floss just can't reach, which is why it's so important to have regular professional cleanings at the dental office. Your regular dental exam is also a time when early signs of gum disease can be detected — before they become apparent even to you.

Eating a nutritious diet low in sugar, and staying away from tobacco in all forms, will also increase your periodontal health — and your chances of keeping your teeth for life. If you have any further questions regarding preventing periodontal disease, contact Lubbock Periodontics.

How Can Laser Dentistry Help me?

Laser dentistry is incredibly versatile and plays an important role in a growing number of common dental procedures. Though laser dentistry is most notably associated with cosmetic treatments, it is equally effective for preventative purposes.

Here are some of the ways that dental lasers can be used:

Tooth preparation – Prior to laser dentistry, a drill would be required to prepare the tooth for a filling. Lasers can now completely eliminate the need for drilling and anesthesia. Lasers also successfully kill oral bacteria around the surgical site.

Reshaping soft tissue – Dental lasers can dissolve soft tissue to expose more of the natural tooth (crown lengthening), reshape soft tissue to make “gummy smiles” more attractive, and remove uncomfortable soft tissue folds caused by denture wear.

Frenectomy – Lasers can improve speech and the feeding habits of babies, children and adults by untying the tongue.

Tumor removal – When benign tumors have formed in the soft tissue areas of the mouth, a dental laser can completely remove them without causing pain. Whitening – Lasers can greatly expedite the tooth whitening process by increasing the activity of the particles in the peroxide bleaching solution.

Biopsy – Lasers are sometimes used to perform a biopsy on suspicious areas of soft tissue. This biopsy procedure can be performed instantly and with great precision

What are the differences between an Orthodontist, Dentist, and Periodontist?

All are dentists who specialize in oral care, and all are technically dentists.

Orthodontists complete an additional two – three years of training in orthodontics, above and beyond general dentistry

Periodontists complete and additional two – three years training to specialize in all areas of general dentistry for children

All orthodontists are dentists, but only 10 percent of dentists are orthodontists. Orthodontists limit their practice to moving teeth and correcting jaw irregularities

Dentists and Periodontists refer their patients to an orthodontist if they have problems with the alignment of their teeth or a bite abnormality of some kind. The same as a physician would refer you to a cardiologist or orthopedists if you had heart or skeletal issues.

It is important to understand the differences in treatment delivery and care! At Lubbock Periodontics all we specialize in periodontics, all day long, day in a day out, with thousands of beautiful smiles to testify over the years. For further questions, or to schedule an appointment, contact our office at (806) 794-8365.

Ask A Professional: Who Should Treat My Periodontal Disease?

Who should treat my periodontal disease: my general dentist or a periodontist?

When it comes to your oral health problems, taking a serious approach to treatment should be your first priority. Several people struggle with what to do when deal with periodontal disease, and aren't sure where to turn.  Instead of leaving your periodontal treatment to one dental professional, you really should have both your general dentist and periodontist actively involved in your diagnosis and treatment as a team.  

Your general dentist is familiar with your dental and medical history, and can help your periodontist in that aspect. Your periodontist, has all of the general dentist training and background, yet specializes with extensive experience in treating periodontal disease. Together, they can collaborate to tailor your treatment for your individual needs.

When you visit our Lubbock, TX dental office, your smile is our top priority. Dr. Wentz and her entire team are dedicated to providing you with the personalized, quality dental care that you deserve.

Do You Know Why Your Gums Are Bleeding?

Improper or inconsistent dental hygiene can lead to bacteria buildup in the mouth, which results in red, swollen, and bleeding gums. This condition, called gingivitis, is quite common, and is not particularly painful for many people. If left untreated, however, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is a serious condition that can lead to tooth loss.

What Is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis will cause your gums to become red, swollen, and soft, instead of pink and firm. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and/or floss, you could also have persistent bad breath. Gingivitis is caused by poor oral hygiene habits. Oral bacteria continuously form a sticky substance called plaque. If the plaque isn’t brushed off or flossed away quickly, it will harden into a substance called tartar. The presence of both plaque and tartar will irritate that part of your gums (like a splinter) and lead to gingivitis. Plaque also causes tooth decay. The good news is that if you catch gingivitis in its early stages and practice proper dental hygiene, you can reverse the effects.

You are at a risk for gingivitis if you:

• have diabetes
• are older
• don’t brush and floss regularly
• have a suppressed immune system
• take certain medications
• abuse drugs or alcohol
• have dry mouth
• are pregnant

Why Flossing is Important
One of the common things you hear people say is that they don’t floss because it makes their gums bleed. However, it’s very important to floss at least twice a day to remove the plaque that can’t be reached by a tooth brush. Even if you already have gingivitis, you should continue to floss so that plaque doesn’t have a chance to turn to tartar, which can eventually lead to periodontitis if it’s not removed. Once you’ve been brushing and flossing regularly, your gums should return to a healthy pink, and you should not see bleeding.

Tartar? Time to See a Dr. Lisa Wentz of Lubbock Periodontics 

If you notice blood during and after brushing or flossing, you should make an appointment with your Dr. Lisa Wentz. Your oral health is very important to your overall health, so call her today to set up an appointment.

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Gum recession is an incredibly widespread problem that is diagnosed and treated on a daily basis. It is important to thoroughly examine the affected areas and make an accurate diagnosis of the actual underlying problem. Once the cause of the gum recession has been determined, surgical and non-surgical procedures can be performed to halt the progress of the recession, and prevent it from occurring in the future. 

The most common causes of gingival recession are: 

Overaggressive brushing – Over brushing can almost be as dangerous to the gums as too little. Brushing too hard or brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush can erode the tooth enamel at the gum line, and irritate or inflame gum tissue. 

Poor oral hygiene – When brushing and flossing are performed improperly or not at all, a plaque buildup can begin to affect the teeth. The plaque contains various bacterial toxins which can promote infection and erode the underlying jawbone. 

Chewing tobacco – Any kind of tobacco use has devastating effects on the entire oral cavity. Chewing tobacco in particular, aggravates the gingival lining of the mouth and causes gum recession if used continuously. 

Periodontal disease – Periodontal disease can be a result of improper oral hygiene or caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes. 

The excess sugars in the mouth and narrowed blood vessels experienced by diabetics create a perfect environment for oral bacteria. 

The bacterium causes an infection which progresses deeper and deeper into the gum and bone tissue, eventually resulting in tooth loss.

If you have any questions or concerns about periodontal disease, periodontal treatments, or gum recession, please ask Dr. Lisa Wentz of Lubbock Periodontics.

Special Holiday Hours

With Christmas being only a few days away, we want to inform you of our special holiday hours at Lubbock Periodontics.  

Wednesday, December 23

Closed at 12pm

December 24 - January 1

Closed

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and wish you all a blessed holiday!  As we recognize Christmas this year let's celebrate Jesus birthday and show how thankful we are to be given the gift of salvation.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Signs & Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

It is extremely important to note that periodontal disease can progress without any signs or symptoms such as pain. This is why regular dental checkups are exceptionally important. Described below are some of the most common signs and symptoms of periodontitis. 

Unexplained bleeding – Bleeding when brushing, flossing or eating food is one of the most common symptoms of a periodontal infection. The toxins in plaque cause a bacterial infection which makes the tissues prone to bleeding.

Pain, redness or swelling – A periodontal infection may be present if the gums are swollen, red or painful for no apparent reason. It is essential to halt the progression of the infection before the gum tissue and jaw bone have been affected. It is also critical to treat the infection before it is carried into the bloodstream to other areas of the body.

Longer-looking teeth – Periodontal disease can lead to gum recession. The toxins produced by bacteria can destroy the supporting tissue and bones, thus making the teeth look longer and the smile appear more “toothy.”

Bad breath/halitosis – Although breath odor can originate from back of the tongue, the lungs and stomach, from the food we consume, or from tobacco use, bad breath may be caused by old food particles which sit between the teeth and underneath the gumline. The deeper gum pockets are able to house more debris and bacteria, causing a foul odor.

Loose teeth/change in bite pattern – A sign of rapidly progressing periodontitis is the loosening or shifting of the teeth in the affected area. As the bone tissue gets destroyed, teeth that were once firmly attached to the jawbone become loose or may shift in position.

Pus – Pus oozing from between the teeth is a definitive sign that a periodontal infection is in progress. The pus is a result of the body trying to fight the bacterial infection.

If you have any of these signs or symptoms, the advice of Dr. Lisa Wentz should be sought as soon as possible.

Healthy Turkey Day Foods Fit For Teeth

It’s pretty safe to say the words Thanksgiving and Healthy don’t pair up when you think about the delicious foods flowing around the table on Turkey Day.  But, believe it or not, you’ll have reason to feel less guilty when you indulge in the feast this season because of the benefits some of these traditional foods will have on your teeth.

  

This year, we want you to know you can now be extra thankful for turkey and pumpkin pie!

Turkey

Not only is turkey the main attraction at the table on Thanksgiving day, but it benefits your body and teeth in several ways due to the high protein content. Protein helps build strong bones and healthy teeth; just another reason to keep smiling!

Pumpkin

Not only are pumpkins decorative and delicious, but they’re filled with magnesium too! Magnesium is a nutrient known for strengthening teeth. Also, pumpkin pulp is a good source of Vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, all which help build enamel.

So when it’s time to sink your teeth into your holiday meal, go ahead and grab a big helping of turkey and an extra slice of pumpkin pie, as these are great foods in achieving a healthy smile.