On the thought of having started a new year, I figured it’s a great time for my first blog of 2012. This will be about an unbelievable service I love which is taking dentistry by storm!  Almost everyone has wished their teeth were straighter.  For years the options of braces have been available but come with many appointments, pain, food getting stuck, frustration, and perhaps most of all the daunting esthetic appearance.  It is important for me to provide patient knowledge and education about technological advancements and they are here.  As a Invisalign Preferred Provider, I am thrilled to announce I will be doing a virtual step by step video blog of new Invisalign Clear Brace Technology on myself, and will document and video record the step by step process from start to finish!  I will also be answering questions as the process continues on my blog and on facebook.

What is Invisalign exactly?  Imagine having braces which have virtually the opposite negative effects regular braces have! This technology includes being:

1)      Virtually invisible

2)      Removable

3)      More Tooth control

4)      Less appointments                                                      

5)      Virtual results before it happens

6)      Improved oral hygiene

Stay tuned for the beginning of this adventure coming soon!

As part of his continuing efforts to be a leader in his field, Dr. Seddon will be attending the American Academy of Implant Dentistry’s 60^th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The conference will be running from Wednesday, October 19^th to Saturday, October 22^nd and will be an opportunity for Dr. Seddon to meet with some of his colleagues from around the world to discuss the very latest in implant dentistry.  It will also give him a chance to hear talks from world-class presenters and to leave with clinical knowledge that he’ll be able to put into practice immediately.

Check out Dr. Seddon's Facebook Page to hear about his time in Vegas.

Read more on the iTero website.

Jessica and Sheela with the newest member of the team.

What are your numbers?

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

At your dental hygiene appointment, your dental professional measures the space between your teeth and gums to check for gingivitis or periodontitis (gum disease).  Bacteria can accumulate in this space and the surrounding bone causing pockets to form.  There may also be noticeable signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling or bleeding around your gums. Bad breath can also be present.

Risk factors for Periodontal Disease:

          Family history

          Smoking

          Diabetes

          Certain medications

          Pregnancy

          Grinding/clenching teeth

          Stress

In general, your numbers should be from 1 to 3 without bleeding. Numbers that are 4 and above need more professional care and attention for you to be able to achieve or maintain oral health.

There have been links shown between periodontal disease and heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Additional links have also been found between periodontal disease and pregnancy complications.

How can you prevent Periodontal Disease?

When you visit your dental professionals, they can assess your numbers and perform a professional cleaning (scaling and rootplaning) to eliminate harmful bacteria and foster a healthy oral environment.

In addition to maintaining your regular dental hygiene appointments, at home you can remove plaque through brushing, flossing and using antiseptic rinses.

It is very important to recognize the oral-systemic link and look at oral health as part of total body wellness. By knowing your numbers we can tailor an oral care plan that meets your individual needs.