Periodontal Disease: Serious but Highly Treatable in the Early Stages

Periodontal disease is a serious infection of the gums that if left untreated can lead to tooth loss. There are a variety of stages of this chronic bacterial infection that can affect from one tooth to many. The condition begins when bacteria-plagued plaque—the sticky, colorless film that regularly forms on teeth—isn’t removed via brushing and flossing.

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily. Generally, there’s little or no discomfort at this stage. The good news is if caught early, gingivitis is easily reversible with vigilant home oral hygiene.

If untreated, however, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body, in essence, turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth break down. Gums separate from the teeth and form pockets of infection. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Although this process has very mild symptoms, eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

The stages of periodontitis include aggressive periodontitis, in which patients who are otherwise clinically healthy experience rapid gum detachment and bone destruction.

Chronic periodontitis is the next level and results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive gum detachment and bone loss. This is the stage when patients often begin to realize they have a critical problem and seek treatment.

Lastly, necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and other immunosuppressive diseases.

For information about periodontal disease, dentures, dental implants or any dentistry-related subjects, call The Ferber Dental Group at 561-471-8285 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com/.

The Pros and Cons of Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied usually to the hard-to-reach back teeth of children, which are often prone to decay. They’re most commonly placed on the permanent molars, which erupt at about 12 years of age, and although the concept seems logical, they’re not as popular as one might think. The technology has been around since the 1960s, yet fewer than a third of children in this country get them. This can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the existence of dental sealants isn’t common knowledge.

Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs in the back teeth and hermetically sealing them does seem to help prevent decay. A 2009 study by the Cochrane Collaboration, a group that evaluates medical research, found that 5- to 10-year-olds who used sealants had less than half the decay on biting surfaces five years after treatment than those without sealant whose sole means of preventing cavities was regular brushing.

Not everyone benefits from dental implants. After an examination, your dentist can determine if the shape and size of the pits and fissures on the biting surface of your children’s teeth warrant sealing. Those kids whose grooves are deep and narrow will have a more urgent need for dental sealants than those whose grooves are naturally shallow and rounded.

Sealants can last five to 10 years, and while some researchers have questioned the safety of having sealants in the mouth for this extended period of time, the FDA has determined that these compounds are indeed safe.

To discuss dental sealants for your child or any other dental-related subject, including dentures, dental implants and periodontal disease, call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Dental Implant Types by Stages of Treatment (Part 3 of a 3-Part Series)

The final classification of implant types is determined by the number of surgical treatment stages needed to complete the procedure. Generally, implants require either one or two surgical phases.

Two-Stage Dental Implants

This is the most common type. During the first surgical phase, the dental implant is placed into the jaw bone so that the surface area of the implant and jaw bone are flush. The gums are then stitched to fully cover the implant. The dentist will wait a few months for the implant to anchor (osseointegrate) properly with the jaw bone.

During the second surgical phase, a small incision is made to the gum tissue to expose the top of the tooth implant and connect a dental implant abutment. After the gums have healed, the implant is ready for placement of the final restoration—either a crown, bridge or denture.

One-Stage Dental Implants

This type of dental implant is a relatively recent development and gives dentists the opportunity to provide patients with much shorter in-time implant treatments. The major difference is that during the sole surgical procedure, a longer implant is used, so when the gum is stitched, the implant already protrudes from the gum tissue and into the mouth.

Following osseointegration, no additional surgery is necessary, and restoration can begin immediately.  

For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.

Types of Endosseus Implants (Part 2 of a 3-part series about the types of dental implants)

There are three types of Endosseus (in bone) implants: the root form, plate form and Ramus frame. Each is used for very specific purposes.

Root Form Implants

Root form implants are the most popular among all types of dental implants. They consist of a cone- or screw-like structure that resembles the shape of the natural tooth root, and are designed to be surgically implanted inside the jawbone. A prong or screw-like protrusion that juts vertically from the implant out of the center of the jaw and into the mouth attaches to the restoration. If the jaw bone is of adequate size and structural integrity, root form implants can be used to restore one tooth, several and even a complete arch of teeth. If the jaw bone is not of adequate size or not in good health, sometimes bone grafting can be done in order to use this type of implant.

Plate Form Implants

Plate form (a.k.a. blade form implants) are used when the jaw bone is too narrow for root form implants and the area is not suitable for bone grafting. A less commonly used implant, a plate form implant consists of a long, flat metal bracket that’s attached vertically to the outside of the jaw bone. Prongs along the outside edge of the plate jut vertically into the mouth and attach to the restorations.  

Ramus Frame Implants

The Ramus frame implant is used for patients who have suffered severe bone deterioration in the lower jaw that interferes with the fit of dentures. The Ramus frame implant is actually a stainless steel bar that follows the curvature of the jaw line from the wisdom tooth area on the left side of the mouth to the same area on the right. It’s imbedded into the back sides of the jaw and into the front center, and is essentially a partial replacement of the entire lower jaw bone.

In Part 3, we’ll discuss the two-stage versus one-stage procedure for placement of dental implants. For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com/.

Dental Implant Types

There are numerous types of dental implants, each designed to meet specific patient needs. The following is the first part of a three-part series about the various designs and why they’re used. In Part 1, we’ll discuss dental implants by placement type.

Endosseous Implants

The first categorization of dental implant types is called endosteal or endosseous. These types of dental implants are surgically placed directly into the jaw bone to support the restored tooth as well as a nearby crown, implant bridge or implant-supported denture if needed. They can be of various shapes and implanted in a one- or two-phase procedure, depending on the condition of the jaw bone and surrounding tissue.

Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants consist of a metal frame placed on top of the jawbone under the gum tissue. Metal posts protrude through the gums, upon which the restorations are mounted. This type of implant is preferred when there’s not enough jaw bone to withstand the placement of an endosseous implant. 

Generally, subperiosteal implants are more costly to implant because they must be fabricated using impressions or CAT scans in order to custom fit each patient’s unique jaw shape. If fabrication of the subperiosteal implant is competed via CAT scan, the procedure can be done in a single visit. If the implant is fashioned using an impression, two visits are necessary: a first to expose the jaw bone and create the impression and a second procedure to place the implant.

In Part 2, we’ll discuss the three types of endosseus implants. For information about the Ferber Dental Group, dental implants, dentures or periodontal concerns, call 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com/.

Soaking or Brushing Dentures: Which is the Better Way to Go?

Keeping dentures free of plaque and regularly disinfecting them is the No. 1 way to avoid oral infection and bad breath. And while regular and complete hygiene of full dentures is always important, it’s paramount to wearers of partial dentures because the confines where the natural teeth abut with the false teeth are particularly prone to trapping food, which can lead to decay.  

However, dentists now are suggesting that brushing removable dentures with a paste product might, in fact, be a more thorough alternative to soaking in water, effervescent liquids or enzyme cleaning solutions.

However, studies suggest not to entirely replace soaking with brushing, but to supplement soaking with brushing as daily soaking prevents dentures from drying out. 

In addition, there are a number of “folk type remedies” continuing to circulate that are not recommended. They include: boiling dentures or heating them in a microwave often, both of which can cause damage and affect fit; and cleaning dentures with household bleach, which can cause discoloration of the gum-colored sections.

Inarguably, the best cleaning method is via ultrasound in the dentist’s office. Most dentists will happily oblige periodic ultrasound cleanings for their patients. There are also home ultrasound denture-cleaning units on the market now that, while not as effective as professional devices, can do a decent job of cleaning.

Considering dentures or dental implants? Call the Ferber Dental Group at 561-439-8888 or visit http://www.ferberdental.com/.

No Pain, All Gain at The Ferber Dental Group

Hello and welcome to the Ferber Dental Group’s new blog. The health of your teeth and gums isn’t something most folks dwell upon until it’s gone. Cliché? Sure, but clichés exist because they’re true.

At the Ferber Dental Group, our No. 1 concern is prevention. However, far too often, by the time we see patients, their condition has moved past the point of prevention and well into the need for cure. That’s why a great portion of our practice is devoted to dentures, dental implants and treatment of periodontal disease.

           

In our blog we’ll discuss the newest technologies in these three areas as they unfold as well as breakthroughs in other interesting areas of dentistry. We’ll share videos of various procedures, preventive dentistry and disease prevention that you can practice at home.
We’ll even break up the intensity with a little of the lighter side of dentistry. Take a look at this video, for example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBqY6cJD3CE. Bill Cosby in 1983 on visiting the dentist. It’s a hoot. Oh, and if you haven’t visited the dentist in a long time. Don’t worry; a lot has changed since Bill’s visit that must have inspired this bit.  

Thank you so much for your interest in our practice and in dentistry as a whole. We hope you’ll visit our new blog often and share it with your friends, family and associates.

The Ferber Dental Group provides high-quality, compassionate and affordable dental care by an experienced team of physicians that include Ivy League graduates and former dental school faculty. For information about the Ferber Dental Group, call 561-439-8888 or visit www.ferberdental.com.