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This is How to Prevent Infection of Your Gums Around Dental Implants

Just like natural teeth there is no guarantee a person’s dental implant(s) will last a lifetime. Although they may look bionic in pictures, a dental implant still needs careful monitoring and regular care. True, they cannot decay like natural teeth – but they are subject to the same complications of gum disease and bone loss. Once a dental implant is placed, treatment does not stop there. If it does, there’s a high chance of a infection of the gums, even around implants.

If you’ve undergone treatment for periodontal (gum) disease, you know how involved it can be. If you have lost teeth to periodontal disease and have had dental implants placed, you know the great investment in time and money it takes. Naturally, you would like to protect your investment and keep your dental implant(s) for many years, if not for life! Even if you have had an implant placed due to decay or a cracked root or badly broken tooth, you need to keep the gum support around the implant health, just as you do for natural teeth.

Periodontal maintenance (PM) is important for all patients after treatment, especially those with dental implants. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles responsible gum disease, continue to grow again on your tooth and/or implant surfaces as it did before. Diligent, daily brushing and flossing will help to curb that development.

It is also important to keep up regular dental visits for advanced cleaning to remove hard to reach plaque and calculus. Patients prone to gum disease are usually prescribed three or four but for some other gum disease patients, six times a year, especially just after treatment. Many patients alternate visits for periodontal maintenance between a periodontal or implant specialist and their general dentist so that their periodontal condition is closely monitored, as well as the health of their teeth.

Our goal is to reduce the chances of infection of the gums, especially around a dental implant. To do this, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and any implants for signs of disease (as well as an oral cancer screening). This includes an assessment the health of your teeth and gums and to see how well you’re doing with plaque control and review your recommended customized daily oral hygiene instructions.

Overall, we want to prevent the occurrence of any future disease and treat it as soon as possible if it relapses. Keeping up with homemade and a routine periodontal maintenance schedule will help ensure your gums, and your implants continue to stay healthy.

If you would like more information on periodontal disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation 727-586-2681.

What you need to know about chronic dry mouth

Have you ever noticed bad breath due to dry mouth?

Do you experience pain or discomfort from dry mouth?

Have you had changes in your oral health – like sudden decay or worsened gum disease?

Do you get sores in your mouth or on your tongue frequently?

Does your dry mouth interfere with your sleep?

Do you avoid certain foods because they are too difficult to eat with dry mouth?

Do you have trouble swallowing due to thick mucus?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, be sure to ask your dentist about dry mouth.  Chronic dry mouth is a condition that can be painful, or even unnoticed by a patient sometimes because they have gotten used to living with the discomfort or incovenience of choronic dry mouth.  It can occur due to medicine, medical conditions, or even lifestyle choices.  It can lead to significant oral health issues like cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, or problems eating or wearing dentures.

 We have also found in our practice that different remedies help different patients combat chronic dry mouth. Here are some possible suggestions and options for patients with dry mouth:
1. Some patients find comfort from carrying water with them throughout the day and taking small sips.  Cold water may help soothe and calm fiery red tissues. For those without high blood pressure or an adversion to sodium, you can mix a pinch of baking soda in their water and swish and spit this mixture out throughout the day. Baking soda is alkalizing and can protect from decay.
2. A combination of over the counter Biotene products (gels, rinses, sprays, lozenges) used 5 times a day (A combination and routine of these products can usually be recommended by your dental health professional).  Many patients find Biotene Gel to be extremely comforting to their dry oral tissues, especially before bed time.  Patients using C-Pap appliances should use an oral gel as these devices often blow air which aggravates this condition greatly.
3. There is a product available via prescription called Neutrasal. Neutrasal works like saliva to help restore a healthy mouth. A powder pack is mixed and dissolved in one ounce of water, and swished for 1 minute before spitting.  It can be used 2 to 10 times a day, depending on what your dental health care provider recommends, and you should avoid eating or drinking for at least 15 minutes after use.
4. PerioSciences’ Anti-Oxidant Gel can also be helpful for our patients suffering from dry mouth.
5. Many patients with dry mouth should be on a strict caries prevention program, which can include prescription toothpaste, rinse, gel, trays, or in-office treatments.  Calcium and phosphate are often included in some of these products, which are minerals that help rebuild weakened enamel.
For more information, call us today at 727-586-2681 or visit our website at www.brittenperio.com
Dr. Britten, your dentist, or dental hygienist will review the cause of dry mouth, as well as your risks for periodontal disease or tooth decay.
Talk to your dentist about your dry mouth symptoms to see which dry mouth treatment is best for you!

What you can expect from a soft tissue grafting procedure

When recession of the gum tissue occurs, the body loses a natural defense against both bacterial penetration and trauma. When gum recession is a problem, gum reconstruction using grafting techniques is an excellent option.

“Tissue grafting is recommended when you have gum recession that has left the root of a tooth exposed, or you are at risk of root exposure due to recession. It is a common procedure that is intended to recreate your gum line and prevent further deterioration of the gums, enhancing the appearance of your smile.

Gum recession can be caused by:

  • Aggressive toothbrushing
  • Gum disease
  • Gum tissue that is naturally thin
  • Previous orthodontic treatments
  • Previous tooth loss

What are benefits of soft tissue grafting?

  • Prevention or reduction of sensitivity by covering exposed root
  • Protection from future cavities
  • Symmetry in your gum line, creating an improved smile
  • Creation of a suitable environment for implant placement

Why is thicker tissue better than thin?

Thick gum tissue is critical to maintaining a healthy gum line and mouth. It makes your gums more resistant to recession over time and is more comfortable to brush. Additionally, thick gum tissue is important for achieving aesthetic results.”

-Zimmer Dental

Clearwater Periodontist to Hold 4th Annual Veteran’s Day Event

In his Clearwater periodontal practice, Dr. Todd Britten sees veterans for periodontal screenings followed by a free day of surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment. He works with local restorative dentists who help provide fillings, crowns and sometimes dentures.

Dr. Todd M. Britten and the team at Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is gearing up for their 4th annual Free Dental Day for Veterans. The event is scheduled for November 9, 2018.

“Veterans make the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Dr. Todd Britten. “Many of us ask ourselves, ‘What can we do?’, ‘How can we make a difference?’” Dr. Britten said that is exactly what he asked himself in 2015. “I am aware that dental coverage for veterans was very hard to attain, so we hit the ground running trying to deliver periodontal care to as many veterans as we could.”

The inaugural year the Clearwater, FL based periodontal practice provided over $35,000 in treatment over the last 3 years’ events. Stated Britten, “Having local dentists involved enables us to provide more comprehensive care to our veterans. Being a periodontist, my specialty is really the surrounding structures of the teeth; roots, gum and bone. My job is to help with the foundation. Having restorative specialists involved helps us to treat the whole mouth and really deliver comprehensive care to these veterans.”

Britten Periodontics and Implant Dentistry is currently doing initial exams on veterans to get them scheduled for treatment. “If you know of any veteran in serious need of dental care, please get in touch with their office right away, as these spaces are filling up quickly,” says Ellen Byrd, a dental hygienist in the practice who helps plan the event each year.

Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten offers sedation dentistry. For more information, visit https://brittenperio.com

The entire staff at Britten Periodontics is so grateful to the men and women in the military that make so many sacrifices for our freedom. We are happy to host this annual event, and hope to do it for many years to come.

https://mailchi.mp/873cd7555ec8/clearwaterperiodontist4thvetdayevent

Improve your gum health with non-surgical periodontal therapy

Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy also known as scaling and root planing or “a deep cleaning” is often recommended as the first step in periodontal therapy. Treatment is done by one of our hygienists using local anesthesia to provide comfort for the patient as the root surfaces in deep periodontal pockets are debrided to remove calculus or “tartar” and to smooth the root surfaces to remove bacterial toxins. This may take more than one visit with the hygienist and is followed up with a visit with Dr. Britten in four to six weeks to re­evaluate the periodontal tissues.

For more information about options for periodontal treatment, contact us today at 727-586-2681 or visit www.brittenperio.com

Improved tooth replacement outcomes with ridge preservation

Jawbone is preserved through the pressure and stimulus of chewing. When that is removed through tooth loss, the bone “resorbs” (reabsorbs) into the body. In the first year after tooth extraction, normally 25% of jawbone is lost, and this bone loss continues on.

Careful management of extraction sockets after a tooth is removed prevents unsightly bone loss and provides a better cosmetic outcome for tooth replacement. To increase the possibility of future implant placement, and to prevent more bone resorption, a ridge preservation procedure may be recommended. Without the use of a bone graft and collagen barrier at the time of extraction, studies show that 30­-40% of the jaw bone is immediately lost. This is because your body perceives that once the root is removed, the bone is no longer needed and your body absorbs or removes it, creating a ridge deformity.

These ridge deformities leave you with inadequate bone and tissue thickness for either bridge or dental implant restoration. The defects may have been caused by trauma, developmental defects, periodontal disease, the wearing of dentures, or through previous tooth loss.

Ridge augmentation procedures have been shown to greatly enhance the cleansability and appearance of your restorations. They increase your chance for long term successful dental restoration, both esthetically and functionally. Ridge augmentation procedures may be performed with gum tissue and/or bone grafting materials.

For more information about periodontal regenerative procedures, ridge augmentation or dental implants, contact us today at 727-586-2681.

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Root Canal: What is it?

From Colgate.com

“A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term “root canal” comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth’s root.

What to Expect During a ROOT CANAL
If you think you need a root canal, consult your dentist. There are a number of steps that occur over a few office visits.
X-ray – if a dentist suspects you may need a root canal, he will first take X-rays or examine existing X-rays to show where the decay is located.

Anesthesia – local anesthesia is administered to the affected tooth. Contrary to popular belief, a root canal is no more painful than a filling.

Pulpectomy – an opening is made and the diseased tooth pulp is removed.

Filling – the roots that have been opened (to get rid of the disease pulp) are filled with gutta-percha material and sealed off with cement.”

We work with some wonderful endodontists and general dentists that perform root canals and the procedures required following this procedure. Sometimes a root canal is necessary before or after a periodontal procedure. For more information, visit our website at www.brittenperio.com or call us at 727-586-2681

Tooth Defects: What you need to know about how they happen

Abfractions and abrasions are nearly identical, their treatment options are often the same, and bruxism (tooth grinding) and improper alignment of the jaws and/or teeth (malocclusion) must be ruled out for both.
 
An abfraction is an angular notch at the gumline caused by bending forces applied to the tooth.
An abrasion is a rounded notch at the gumline that are generally not as angular and sometimes have more of a saucered appearance.  With abrasions, it is believed that heavy toothbrushing forces applied to exposed tooth roots may cause a rounded notch at the gumline.  Abfractions, on the other hand, are caused by one of two things:
 
  • Chronic heavy forces on teeth, such as may be produced by clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxing).
 
  • Normal forces on teeth which are improperly aligned (malocclusion).
 
Abfractions that have been present for awhile may become rounded through the abrasive movement a hard toothbrush agressive brushing and if the teeth are continually exposed to an acidic environment, which is known to soften tooth structure.

For information on prevention and treatment of tooth defects, contact us today at 727-586-2681
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Options for Replacing a Missing Tooth: Fixed Bridge

Replacing a missing tooth with a fixed bridge requires preparation of at least one of the adjacent teeth on each side for a crown. It is important to still care for the teeth on each side of the bridge to prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay. This will require careful plaque control with brushing, using a floss threader under the bridge, and sometimes the addition of a rubbertip stimulator to clean under the margins of the abutment teeth (the teeth supporting the bridge which will now have full coverage restorations cemented on them).

Sometimes a bridge is the best option for a replacement of a missing tooth, but other options include a dental implant, which will not include reducing the structure of any other teeth, or a removable appliance, or partial denture. For more information, contact us at 727-586-2681 www.brittenperio.com

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How a cavity can form into a dental abscess

Dental decay, or a cavity, is the bacterial infection of a tooth. When decay is small and limited to the enamel (outside layer) or dentin (second layer of tooth), it can be repaired by a filling or by an inlay or onlay, or crown if necessary. When the decay reaches the pulp (where the nerve and blood vessels are located), the pulp becomes infected and an abscess may develop at the edge of the root. A dental abscess often requires root canal treatment in addition to a crown on the tooth.
 
It is important to note that cavities and abscesses may develop slowly without causing any pain. Sometimes the infection gets trapped within the tissues with no way out, or if a live nerve of the tooth becomes exposed, it can cause swelling and a lot of pain. The best way to detect a cavity or an abscess is by undergoing a dental exam with x-rays. Catching tooth decay in its earliest stages will avoid more extensive treatment. #brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist

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