Periodontics & Implantology Blog

What is a gum graft? Gum grafts are a form of oral surgery where a periodontist typically takes soft tissue from the mouth and places it over the exposed tooth root. After it heals, graft will blend in with the rest of the gumline. This can help improve oral health. It is one of the most common periodontal surgical treatments. Gum grafts help cover up exposed roots and treat gum recession.

For those with damaged or missing teeth, a dental implant can be a positive solution. However though, there are many factors a patient will need to consider when assessing the possibility of getting dental implants.

Periodontal disease can be prevented through many different methods. There are three habits specifically that anyone can practice to prevent periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease covers several diseases that all affect the gums. All of the diseases are caused by bacteria from plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. Luckily, when caught in the early stages and with proper care, most periodontal diseases can be managed. From at-home care to more advanced periodontal cleaning, there are many habits and methods to help prevent periodontal disease. 

Going to the dentist regularly for cleaning is crucial for oral health and helps prevent many problems associated with teeth and gums, such as cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Periodontal cleaning can act as an extra step to preventing gum disease while providing a deeper clean.  

If you hate flossing, you’re not alone. In fact, only 32% of Americans floss every day, and 1/3 of Americans don’t floss at all! Though it’s comforting to know you’re not alone, this shouldn’t serve as an excuse to skip flossing. The choice not to floss comes with a whole slew of health complications. Considering the stats on flossing in America, it’s no surprise that 47.2% of adults over 30 have some form of periodontal disease. If you’re wondering if you can skip flossing, the short answer is no. There are many reasons to floss, and there are also plenty of ways to make flossing easier and more enjoyable. Read along to learn more!  

If you’re a person who has a mouth and who has ever eaten a meal with garlic or onions, it’s likely that you’ve had bad breath. The unpleasant, sometimes embarrassing experience plagues nearly everybody indiscriminately, affecting those with immaculate and poor dental hygiene alike. However, some people experience bad breath more intensely than others. Though bad breath is virtually inescapable, there are things you can do to combat it. Read on to learn our 5 fool-proof strategies for keeping bad breath at bay.

For many people, a problem in the mouth quickly becomes a source of stress, worry and sometimes pain. And that’s understandable, given what we now know about oral health and how that signifies other conditions in our bodies. Our mouths, filled with bacteria, are the gateway to other important parts, like the digestive and respiratory tracts. Generally, this bacteria is good, but without a good regimen of oral care - like brushing and flossing regularly - the bad bacteria that is in the mix can quickly overwhelm our health.  Loose teeth are a sign that something has gotten out of whack in the mouth. Good healthy gums and bones have a tight grip on the teeth that are anchored there. When those gums start to let go, it’s an urgent call to action - something that should be dealt with immediately. After all, your adult teeth are meant to last your lifetime. Let’s take a look at some of the things that can cause loose teeth.

In recent years, dental emergencies have constituted around 2.1 million of the nation’s emergency room visits. Periodontal health struggles are a silent epidemic; so many are affected, yet so few are talking about it. We don’t want you to suffer in silence any longer, so we’re stepping up to the plate. Let’s talk about the hard stuff, like why so many people neglect their dental health, what the consequences are and how you can turn things around when they’ve gone too far.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 30 percent of the U.S. population is moderately or severely impacted by gum disease. Unfortunately, serious gum disease has been directly linked to tooth loss and the need for dentures. This impacts all of us by increasing the costs of healthcare - a burden we all bear indirectly. And you might find it interesting to learn that your gender does make a difference: Fifty-seven percent of males, compared to 39 percent of females, are likely to have moderate to serious periodontal disease.

It seems like the whole world has spent the last year dealing with the virus known as Covid-19. Some places are more familiar with dealing with what we now know is a pandemic, but for many of us, this is our first foray into the terrifying world of an unknown and easily transmittable - and deadly - disease. We’ve learned a lot over the last year. And some of what we have learned has to do with how our bodies handle and react to a disease caused by a virus like Covid-19. We’ve always known that healthier bodies with strong immune systems are more likely to fight and win a battle against a foreign invader like a virus, but did you know that the state of your oral health plays a major part in the health of your body?

There is nothing better than a pretty, healthy smile. It can boost your confidence, help your overall health and relieve stress. Did you know that frowning uses more muscles and physical exertion than smiling? Even better, when you smile, your body releases serotonin which can help you feel happy, is a natural mood lifter and antidepressant. Smiling can also boost your immunities, help relieve pain and aid in the crippling effects of anxiety.

Many people don’t want to admit — and therefore refuse to deal with — that they have a missing tooth or missing teeth. There seems to be a level of shame associated with losing adult teeth, but this phenomenon is common and not shameful. The truth is, most adults have lost at least one tooth — 1/4 of people over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth, nearly 70 percent of people aged 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth, and tooth loss results from a number of factors ranging from injury to gum disease. What we’re trying to say is that losing teeth is a reality for many adults, and the real problem isn’t the lost tooth itself, but not doing something to fix it. Still not convinced? We invite you to read on to learn why you really should replace your missing teeth.

So, you’re missing some teeth. Despite the stigma surrounding this phenomenon, it is actually fairly common for adults to be missing some or all of their teeth. Don’t believe us? Well, nearly 70 percent of people aged 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth, and 1 in 4 people over 74 years of age are missing all of their teeth. The numbers don’t lie. It is important to recognize and address the issue of tooth loss, finding a solution that works for you and your needs. Tooth loss is nothing to be ashamed of, but neglecting to address the problem of missing teeth can have some very bad impacts on your oral and overall health.

Many people are choosing to undergo orthodontic work as adults, and a natural byproduct is that they are being given the complicated task of figuring out how to navigate the relationship between orthodontics and dental implants. So, are implants compatible with orthodontic work? The answer is... sometimes. It’s all up to your unique situation. We here at San Antonio Periodontics and Dental Implants want to help guide you in all of your dental endeavors, so we’re giving you some general best practices when it comes to navigating complex task of mixing orthodontics and dental implants.

There are a lot of reasons to be on top of your oral health — and especially your gum health. The obvious reason is that, as you get older, you become more and more vulnerable to periodontitis. This is an advanced gum disease that can cause bone and tissue deterioration and, if left untreated, tooth loss. You become more vulnerable to periodontitis with age; according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, an estimated 1 in 7 adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have some form of gum disease, and that amount rises to 1 in 4 adults by the time you reach the age of 65. In fact, the American Academy of Periodontology has stated that 20 to 30 percent of adults have gum disease that puts them at risk of tooth loss. To sum it up: gum disease is no joke!

This is a good question and one that you should investigate before making the sizable investment of dental implants.  Not everyone’s results are the same, so consulting with your dental professional and diagnosing your particular needs are necessary when making important decisions about your dental health. Modern dental implants have been a successful option for over 30 years.  They are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth – and even better, they allow these new teeth to feel, look and function naturally. Paired with the proper dental implant surgery, performed by an experienced dental implant professional, and a daily regimen of adequate flossing and brushing, your implant can potentially last a lifetime. With normal wear and tear, a crown or replacement tooth may last for about 10-15 years.  Excellent dental hygiene could extend this beyond 15 years.

Gum Recession is a bigger problem than most people think. A startling 88% of people age 65 and older have receding gums, and left untreated, there can be severe consequences. Gum recession happens when your gums become infected and start to pull back from your teeth. Maybe this sounds like a minor issue at first, but eventually your gums will expose your tooth’s roots, which leaves you dangerously vulnerable to infection and can even lead to tooth loss. Even scarier, is in most cases when gum tissue has pulled back and receded from around teeth, gums do not grow back.  But it’s not all bad news; you can stop and gum recession, but to do that, you have to know what to look for. For that you’ll find a few tips below. For more advanced dental care needs you may need our professional help with a scaling and root planing procedure. Gum recession has very subtle signs. In fact, the signs are so innocuous that they often go unnoticed, so it’s important to be vigilant; catching on early can mean the difference between successful or unsuccessful recovery.

Tooth loss is more common among adults than you might think; more than 35 million people in the United States are missing some or all of their teeth. Therefore, if, as an older American you are dealing with tooth loss, don’t feel alone or out of options. “But wait,” you might be thinking. “I don’t want to be stuck with the hassle of dentures for the rest of my life!”It’s true that many people report that life with dentures is full of strain and discomfort, especially when dentures rely on the support of something as unstable, tender and movable as your gum tissue. Luckily for you, dentures are by no means your only option. So, what if we told you that you can replace a whole arch of teeth with only four dental implants? And what if we told you that you could have a whole new smile in a mere day? No, it’s not too good to be true — all of this and more is possible with all-on-4 dental implants!

A large number of Americans are getting dental implants and that number is only growing with each year. While implants offer many solutions to periodontal complications and tooth damage, they also present the possibility for further gum-health issues. That means that if you’re going to get implants, you cannot slack off on your dental hygiene; in fact, you must be even more diligent about keeping your mouth clean and bacteria free.  You’re going to want to listen to us about this one — if you start to get lazy about your implant maintenance, you might leave yourself vulnerable to peri-implantitis. And yes, this infection is every bit as scary as its name makes it sound — it’s basically a big word for something that you never, ever want to happen to you. Peri-implantitis is an infection that causes inflammation in the gums around your dental implant and could lead to implant failure. If you’re thinking to yourself, “that could never happen to me,” you’re sadly mistaken. The truth is that this infection affects about 43% of those with implants. We know that you don’t want to be a part of that statistic, and you won’t be if you take the proper steps to keep your implants clean. There is good news: cleaning your dental implants is not so different from cleaning your natural teeth. You’ve already had a life’s worth of practice — you brush your teeth every day! You’re already the expert at keeping your teeth clean, and it only takes a few extra steps to keep your implants clean. A small amount of extra effort toward your dental routine can go a long way toward ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your dental implants. 

  In today’s day and age of health and wellness, we tend to be more concerned about our mental and physical well-being, completely dismissing our dental health.  Did you know that both gingivitis and periodontitis have been shown to raise your risk of illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer?  Understanding the symptoms and receiving proper treatment will help decrease those risks and result in overall better health.