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If you’ve lost a tooth or you’re about to, you may be wondering what the best solution is for replacing it in Barkeley, CA. You have multiple options, including a dental bridge and a dental implant. But which option is better? Your choice may depend on your aesthetic goals, functional needs, oral health situation, and even your budget. You and your dentist will be able to determine which option is right for you during a consultation.

When it comes to gum disease and the development of it there are quite a few risks. However, for the purpose of this article will be discussing the 7 major risks of gum disease development in Berkeley, CA. To be more specific, there is a direct link between your oral health and your overall health. Meaning that the development of gum disease can lead to the development of major health concerns. It has been proven that these seven systemic diseases below that affect overall health are related to having gum disease: Stroke Heart Disease  Diabetes Erectile dysfunction Alzheimer’s disease Respiratory infections Pre-term low birth weight Understanding the Links Between Gum Disease and Health Risks As far as the link between gum disease and health risks is concerned it’s highly important to understand how negative oral health can lead to negative overall health. The initial stage of gum disease would be gingivitis and when you have gingivitis essentially you have bacter ...

A vast majority of the population suffers from dental anxiety. It is actually estimated that more than 10% of Berkeley, CA adults avoid going to the dentist because of how severe their dental anxiety is. Causes of Dental Anxiety There are quite a few reasons people experience anxiety about dentists including the following: Fear of pain Feeling helpless Bad gag reflex Embarrassment Negative experiences Sedation is the Solution Thanks to advancements in sedation dentistry it is now easier than ever to reduce your dental anxiety. Also, there are many forms of sedation that can be utilized and doing so helps patients no matter what form of anxiety they are dealing with. Also, while the sedation helps to calm the patient and help them relax it also works to help the doctor treat you more efficiently.   Schedule Your Consultation If you are experiencing dental anxiety especially if it is keeping you from seeking important dental work then it would be beneficial if y ...

If you begin to experience gum recession then it would be very beneficial if you sought out early treatment. This is mainly because gum recession is a major warning sign that you may be in the very beginning stages of gum disease. Gum disease is important to treat when it is in its early stages in order to avoid it developing into advanced gum disease. Gum Grafting: The Traditional Way To Treat Gum Recession Traditionally gum grafting was considered the main form of treatment for gum recession. This is partly because it allowed the unhealthy tissue within a patient’s mouth to be replaced with healthy gum tissue that was taken from other parts of the patient’s mouth. While effective this form of gum recession treatment was also very invasive for the patient. Thanks to advancements in dentistry less invasive forms of gum recession treatment have emerged. One form is known as the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST™). What Is the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST™)? The Pinhol ...

It’s never a good thing to develop gingivitis or any other kind of gum disease, but if you do, there are treatments that patients have identified as better or easier to tolerate. It’s important that you know about them so you can get the relief you need to gain the upper hand against this disease. One of those procedures is LANAP laser gum treatment, and for many patients it is the turning point in their process.Why Laser Gum Treatment Is So EffectiveThere are a few different ways to clean the infection and provide patients with the opportunity to move into repairing tissue and working to prevent a recurrence of symptoms. They’re all effective, but older methods involve a surgical intervention that sometimes takes portions of healthy tissue with the infected portions. This is done to ensure the entire infection is cleaned, because of the margin of error involved with traditional surgical procedures. Laser gum treatment cleans the infected tissue without taking any healthy tissue because the lasers are calibra ...

If you have receding gums, you’ve probably noticed that your teeth seem to be larger than normal. However, in addition to this relatively mild aesthetic side effect, your receding gums could be quietly causing more serious problems. Here are a few ways untreated gum recession could affect your health, and why you should consider receiving the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST™).   Oral Discomfort   Untreated gum recession can lead to oral discomfort, especially if your recession is so severe that your tooth roots are exposed. It’s wise to seek treatment when you first notice increased tooth sensitivity so your gums don’t’ continue to recede and cause you more pain than necessary.   Bone Loss   When your gums recede, they no longer provide adequate support to the teeth. As a result, the teeth can loosen or even fall out of the mouth completely. Additionally, as the gums recede, they can create deep gum pockets that trap bacteria. ...

If you’ve recently lost a tooth, you may be wondering if you need to replace it right away or if you can wait. Besides the obvious inconvenience and embarrassment tooth loss can cause, you should also know that leaving a missing tooth untreated can lead to a variety of oral health problems. Here are a few of the top risks associated with missing teeth, and how dental implants can help you avoid these risks.   Bite Changes   The way your upper and lower teeth fit together when you close your mouth is often referred to as your “bite”. When your bite is off, it can make it more difficult for you to speak and chew. A misaligned bite can also cause strain and discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Unfortunately, if you are missing teeth and don’t seek treatment, the remaining teeth in your mouth will slowly start to shift and fill in the gaps left by the missing teeth. Over time, shifting of the teeth will cause your bite to change. If you receive dental ...

Do you have gum disease symptoms such as swollen, red gum tissue or receding gums? If so, you’re not the only one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that half of the adult population aged 30 and over in the United States has periodontal disease. Fortunately, you can improve your oral health by visiting your periodontist as soon as possible for treatment. Here are four treatments that can improve your gum health and potentially prevent your disease from progressing:   Guided Tissue Regeneration Bone loss is a common consequence of advanced gum disease. Guided tissue regeneration supports the body in regenerating lost bone tissue. It also increases your chances of retaining your natural teeth instead of losing them to gum disease. Dr. Keith Chertok is a skilled periodontist who offers guided tissue regeneration to patients who need gum disease treatment.   Gum Grafting Periodontal disease leads to the destruction of gum tissue, which can cause the gum line ...

It may not seem like a big deal to lose one or a few teeth. However, failing to replace your missing teeth can lead to serious issues that can negatively impact your oral and overall health. To prevent these issues from developing, it’s important to receive dental implants soon after you lose your teeth. Here are three unexpected complications that can be caused by missing teeth if they’re not quickly replaced. Bone Loss Did you know the roots of your teeth constantly stimulate your jaw bone and prevent it from losing mass over time? When the roots of a tooth are no longer there, the area directly beneath the site of tooth loss begins to degrade. Although the degradation process is generally slow, it can cause the shape of the jaw to change over time. If you have a periodontist quickly replace your missing teeth with implants, you can maintain your jaw bone health because implant posts stimulate the bone much like natural tooth roots do. Bite Changes When a tooth socket is left unfille ...

There are many drawbacks to having missing teeth, but advances in technology have made it possible for people to have dental implants and get their mouth and health back. The implant procedure involves your dentist placing a titanium post in the jawbone and topping it with a natural-looking crown. The procedure is often completed over several visits, and not everyone may qualify. If implants are a suitable option for you, however, you could enjoy these health benefits. Eat the Foods You Love Because the dental implants are posts embedded into your jawbone, they do not move around the way other dental prosthetics might. This means you do not have to worry as much about eating your favorite foods; your dental implant will function like a real tooth and help you eat and drink like normal. Speak With Ease In addition to eating what you like, dental implants also make it easier to speak like normal because they stay securely in place. There is no awkward movement of your jaw to worry about because your ...