In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the dangers associated with untreated gum disease. There are several ways untreated gum disease can progress into a far more significant and worrisome concern than where it begins, including not only oral health issues, but also overall health concerns that may arise.

At Trimble Dental, we offer a wide range of treatments and services to help prevent or treat gum disease, from periodontal care to general dentistry solutions and more. What are some of the other conditions you might be at higher risk for if you leave gum disease alone and do not treat it? Here’s a primer.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Gum disease has been linked by several pieces of research to higher risks of Alzheimer’s disease, and this is primarily due to the presence of a bacteria known as Porphyromonas gingivalis — this bacteria is found in gum disease, and is also often present in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s.

In fact, a study performed by the Center for Oral Health and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry yielded some very telling results: Over a third of the participants who had gum disease also had signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains, whereas only 13% of those without gum disease showed any sign of Alzheimer’s in their brains.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Another bacteria, this one known as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, is found in both gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and they are likely related. Researchers have found that those with RA have a far higher level of the specific bacterium that causes gum disease than those who do not have RA.

Moreover, studies have shown that when gum disease is treated, the symptoms of RA are often improved as well. This may be because treating gum disease helps to reduce inflammation in the body, which is a hallmark symptom of both diseases.

Pneumonia

Several respiratory conditions, including not only pneumonia but also COPD, asthma and others, are affected by chronic inflammation — which is often caused by gum disease. In fact, one study showed that those who had untreated gum disease were almost 3 times as likely to develop pneumonia as those without gum disease. In addition, people with gum disease tend to have worse symptoms of respiratory conditions and also require more medication to control them.

Heart Disease and Stroke

Gum disease is closely tied with cardiovascular disease, and this is likely due to the presence of several factors: First, inflammation in the body (caused by gum disease) can increase your risk of heart disease; second, gum disease may make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels; third, people who have untreated gum disease tend to develop higher levels of homocysteine, a protein that has been linked with heart disease and stroke.

For more on why untreated gum disease is a major risk and why you should not allow this to happen, or to learn about any of our dental services, speak to the team at Trimble Dental today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the common questions to ask ahead of any cosmetic dental procedure. Whether you’re looking at teeth whitening, veneers, bridges or any other area, having a full idea of the procedure and what to expect is important.

At Trimble Dental, we’re happy to offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry services along with our dental implants, sedation dentistry and other procedures. What are some other key areas to inquire about before any cosmetic dental appointment? Here are several.

What Are the Benefits and Risks of My Procedure?

It’s very important for patients to be well-informed about their procedure. Every cosmetic dental procedure has its own set of benefits and risks. For example, teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic procedure that can brighten your smile by several shades. The main benefit is an improved appearance, but there are some risks to consider as well. These can include increased tooth sensitivity, gum irritation and even burns to the gums if the whitening agent is left on for too long.

That’s just one example of many. Be sure to ask your dentist about the specific benefits and risks of your chosen procedure.

What Are My Alternatives?

In some cases, there may be more than one way to achieve the results you’re looking for. It’s important to explore all of your options before making a decision. For example, if you’re interested in straightening your teeth, you may be considering traditional metal braces or Invisalign. Both options can achieve similar results, but they have different benefits and drawbacks. Be sure to ask your dentist about all of the available options before making a decision.

What Are the Estimated Costs?

Another important factor to consider is the cost of your procedure. Some procedures, like teeth whitening, are relatively affordable. Others, like dental implants, can be quite expensive. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the costs before you make a decision.

At Trimble Dental, we offer a variety of financing options to help make dental care more affordable. We also offer a discount dental plan that can save you money on routine dental care and many common procedures.

What Is the Recovery Time?

After your procedure, you’ll need some time to recover. The recovery time will vary depending on the procedure you choose. For example, teeth whitening is a minimally invasive procedure with a short recovery time. Dental implants, on the other hand, require a longer recovery time. It’s important to ask about the recovery time before you make a decision.

These are just a few of the questions you should ask before you choose a cosmetic dental procedure. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Trimble Dental at your nearest convenience.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the most prominent signs that you or someone in your family may be in need of cosmetic dentistry. Whether we’re talking about teeth whitening, fillings, crowns or any other form of cosmetic dentistry, there are a few situations where you may find yourself in need of such services.

At Trimble Dental, we’re proud to offer the best cosmetic dentistry services in Wisconsin, including everything from fillings and crowns to veneers, whitening services and more. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over some additional signs that you or someone close to you might need or desire cosmetic dentistry solutions.

Missing Teeth

Whether they’ve been knocked out due to a specific impact or through a more general wear and tear, missing teeth can be a major detriment to your appearance. Not only does it make you look older than you are, but it also affects the way that your lips sit on your face, thus causing an unbalanced smile.

In addition, missing teeth can pose major oral health problems, especially if a specific tooth has been missing for a long time. It may be difficult to eat certain things and bacteria can develop in those hard-to-reach places. This can lead to even more dental problems down the road.

There are multiple cosmetic dental options to remedy this situation, including several kinds of implants.

Smile and Confidence Issues

In other cases, the desire to improve one’s smile or change their general appearance stems from confidence issues. In these cases, a major renovation isn’t necessary as much as it is simply wanting to feel better about your smile and face.

In cases like this, teeth whitening may be the best solution for you. Teeth whitening won’t cost a lot of money relative to other cosmetic dentistry choices and, assuming that you have a healthy mouth, can be performed quickly and painlessly.

Chronic Headaches or Digestive Issues

Certain areas of oral care can occasionally bleed into overall health concerns, and one such example is when misaligned teeth cause pain in both the jaw and head. An abnormal bite can cause a huge amount of pain and discomfort, both from the strain on the jaw itself as well as from issues discussed in previous sections.

You may also be dealing with digestive issues based on improper chewing, which often traces back to problems with misalignment. If this is the case, you should see your dentist immediately to correct the problem before it worsens — there are multiple cosmetic dentistry procedures to help improve the bite.

For more on the signs that you might need cosmetic dentistry services, or to learn about any of our teeth whitening, dental implants or other dental solutions, speak to the team at Trimble Dental today.

Oral health is a continuous process that never really ends, and this goes not only for your original teeth, but for any kind of dental implant that’s used in your mouth for a variety of reasons. Just because you’ve had an implant placed in your mouth to help remedy some kind of issue, whether it’s tooth decay, infection or any other, doesn’t mean you’re simply done with it forever — proper care for the implant moving forward is vital.

At Trimble Dental, our dental implant services include not only providing these important procedures themselves, but also ensuring our patients are well-prepared for future care and upkeep of their implant and their entire mouth following any such procedure. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over some basics on how to care for your implant, including some tips on how to manage dental appointments in the immediate aftermath of the procedure.

Think of the Implant as a Normal Tooth

As we alluded to above, there’s a strange phenomenon where some people who receive dental implants somehow believe they’re wildly different from normal teeth. They may assume that a dental implant is virtually indestructible, or that it doesn’t require the same level of care. In reality, though, dental implants are just like any other teeth — they need to be brushed, flossed and taken care of just like the rest of your pearly whites.

This is doubly important given that, in many cases, dental implants are placed where there was a tooth previously. If that tooth was not well-cared-for, there’s a good chance the implant could become infected as well. In general, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once daily; if you’re unsure about how to properly floss around your dental implant, ask your dentist or hygienist for more information.

Keeping a Regular Checkup Schedule

Down related lines, it’s important to keep up with regular dental checkups even after you’ve had an implant placed. In fact, it may be even more important — teeth cleanings are vital for keeping your mouth healthy, and they allow your dentist to catch any potential problems early on.

At Trimble Dental, we recommend our patients come in for a cleaning and checkup every six months; during these appointments, we can give your mouth a good once-over and make sure everything is looking as it should. We’ll also be able to clean any hard-to-reach places around your dental implant that you may have missed while brushing at home.

In part two of our series, we’ll look at a couple additional important areas like hygiene and watching for signs of infection on your dental implant. For more on implant procedures, or to learn about any of our general dentist services, speak to our team at Trimble Dental today.

For those considering a cosmetic dentistry procedure, these can often be enormously beneficial. From having a whiter and more attractive smile to making teeth straighter and possibly several other areas, there are many reasons why you might consider cosmetic dentistry — and several questions you may be asking during a consultation regarding such an appointment.

At Trimble Dental, we’re here to provide the best cosmetic dentistry services you can find in Menomonie or surrounding areas. We’ll happily sit down with you to discuss your needs and desires for a cosmetic procedure, and we’ll take all of your questions here as well. What are some of the most important areas to inquire about if you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry? Here’s a primer.

What’s the Dentist’s Experience With My Desired Procedure?

First and foremost, you’ll want to ask how much experience the dentist has with your desired procedure. There are many different types of cosmetic dentistry, and while some practitioners may be experienced with all of them, it’s more common for a dentist to specialize in one or two areas. Make sure you’re comfortable with the amount of experience your practitioner has before you move forward.

In addition, you should ask about the dentist’s success rate with the procedure in question. This will give you a better idea of what to expect and whether or not you’re likely to be satisfied with the results.

Which Procedure is Best for Me?

The realm of cosmetic dentistry is a wide one, and there are many different procedures that may be able to help you achieve your desired look. Before you commit to one, it’s important that you understand all of your options and how each might be able to benefit you.

Your practitioner should be able to give you a rundown of each procedure they offer and help you decide which is the best fit. Perhaps you’re in need of teeth whitening, but you’re also interested in getting veneers. In this case, the dentist may recommend doing the whitening first to see if that’s enough to achieve your desired results.

What will the Procedure Entail?

No matter which procedure you ultimately decide on, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what will be involved. This includes everything from the actual procedure itself to the recovery process and any aftercare that may be required.

Your dentist should be able to give you a detailed explanation of what to expect before, during, and after your procedure. This will help you be better prepared for what’s to come and know what to expect in terms of discomfort, healing time and more.

For more on what to ask your dentist ahead of any cosmetic dental procedure, or to learn about any of our dental services to Menomonie clients, speak to our team at Trimble Dental today.