Periodontics & Implantology Blog

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.

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 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!

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.

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.

Is there a link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s? Can taking care of your gums and teeth also help protect your brain?  Studies show that there is a modest connection, but researchers are being cautiously optimistic before making conclusive statements.

As Alzheimer’s afflicts millions of our loved ones - more than 3 million US cases per year, many of us try to understand why and how this happens.  New research has found a link between gum disease, dementia and the bacterium found in both infected gums and brain tissue of Alzheimer’s patients.

A study published last year in the journal Science Advances, found that people with chronic gum disease for 10 years or more had a 70 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s than those without gum disease.

It seems like every day the public gets bombarded with tips and suggestions on how to be healthier. And sometimes, just when you’ve gotten into a new “healthier” regimen, the news comes out that new studies suggest that particular regimen isn’t so healthy after all! So, when your dental professional tells you that good oral hygiene is important to your health, you may be asking why.

Many people believe that dental work is painful, but with today’s technology and knowledge, beneficial dental work will most likely cause only minor discomfort, in most cases. At San Antonio Periodontics & Implants, our staff is trained to be gentle and to make sure your experience with us is as comfortable as possible.

Scaling and root planing, while sounding a little scary, is actually a very beneficial procedure that can help you keep your teeth is the best of shape. Scaling and root planing is not a surgical procedure, but more of a deep cleaning that is necessary when harmful bacteria-caused plaque begins to threaten your healthy teeth and gums.

Nobody really wants to hear that they need dental surgery. And when the surgery is associated with correcting things with scary-sounding names, like gingivitis and periodontitis, it can be even worse. 

At San Antonio Periodontics and Implants, we understand that the prospect of surgery can be scary. Our professional staff, Dr. Steven Maller and Dr. William Stalker, are experienced and caring. You’ll find that we can make your experience with dental surgery a less scary idea.

The New Year is upon us and we all know what that means. Lots of reflecting over the past year, fresh starts and New Year’s resolutions. Most resolutions are doomed to fail since people try to immediately implement major lifestyle changes as soon as the new year begins. Despite that reality, we’ve got a few potential resolutions that we think you’ll find a bit easier to integrate into your everyday life at whatever pace feels most comfortable to you. San Antonio Periodontics and Implants is here to provide you with the best information to maintain your dental health. We believe that a healthy smile goes a long way and some of these resolutions can be a benefit to you in more areas of your life than just one. 

Your teeth are an important part of you. Not only are they vital to your everyday functioning, allowing you to chew, talk, bite your nails, etc., but they also help you to brighten the lives of those around you by allowing you to flash a dazzling smile! Your teeth do so much for you, and you owe them the absolute best treatment possible, which means that choosing the right dental specialist for your complex treatments is vitally important. If you’re in need of dental implants, bone grafting or treatment for any periodontal-related issue, you can never go wrong with San Antonio Periodontics and Implants, where we are committed to providing you with the absolute best service catered to your individual dental needs. 

We get it. Going to the periodontist isn’t your favorite thing to do. Between balancing work, family, school and so on, making a periodontist appointment may be the last thing on your mind. You have to sit back in a chair with all of these foreign tools prodding your mouth, wait for the assistant to take her hands out of your mouth to answer a question and by the way, what does that tooth numbering system on the assistant’s computer even mean? At San Antonio Periodontics and Implants, we can promise that the benefits of our routine checkups far outweigh any concerns or hesitations for going in for a checkup. Your oral health is important to us, and we want to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile.

Most of us are sufficiently aware that plaque is a leading cause of gum disease. However, there are a multitude of other risk factors to consider, that can all contribute to periodontitis, or advanced gum disease. We’ve listed seven of these risk factors below to help you stay on top of your oral health and wellbeing!

Did you know that half of Americans have some form of periodontal disease? According to a CDC report from 2012, half of Americans (47.2%) aged 30 and older are afflicted with mild to severe cases. Although more common in men than women (56.4% vs. 38.4%), other factors related to a woman’s health and hormone levels may make women more susceptible at certain times in their life.

What is gum disease?

Periodontal diseases are infections or inflammation that affect the gums or bone surrounding and supporting your teeth. Gums can become red and swollen and bleed easily, and in the worst cases a tooth may loosen and fall out. This can be avoided by ensuring that plaque and related bacteria are removed through regular at home dental care, such as brushing and flossing, as well as regular visits to the dentist for semiannual cleanings.