Gum Recession: Causes & Treatment

Many people suffer from gum recession. It is more common than you may think. Most of our patients realize they have a problem with recession when they have symptoms including: sensitivity to hot and cold, sensitivity to sweets, and even tenderness when brushing. Luckily, there are treatments to help gum recession, and ways to improve your oral hygiene routine to prevent gum recession in the first place, or at the very least, keep it from getting worse.

Gum Recession Causes & Treatments:

-          Brushing too hard or used a hard-bristled toothbrush: Changing the way you are holding your toothbrush and using a soft or extra-soft bristled toothbrush can help keep gum recession at bay.

-          Periodontal Disease: Being properly diagnosed and treated for periodontal disease can help stop recession in its tracks. Unfortunately, it won’t repair what has already been lost, but can prevent it from getting worse.

-          Trauma to gum tissues: Trauma from sharp foots, playing sports, or the constant use of toothpicks can initiate recession.

-          Ill-fitting partial denture: A poor fitting denture can add unwanted pressure to the gum tissue, leading to recession.

-          Genetics- some people have thin or weak gum tissue: Genetics play a role in overall oral health, including recession.

-          Prominent tooth roots or crooked teeth – can push gums out of place: Orthodontics can help move tooth roots into the proper positions and prevent gum recession.

-          Smoking or other tobacco product use: Any type of tobacco product use is detrimental to oral health. Tobacco use and periodontal disease go hand in hand. Avoiding or discontinuing the use of tobacco can stop recession in its tracks.

If gum recession has progressed so far that gum grafting if necessary, seeing a qualified dentist to have the procedure completed is essential. Dr. Davis has performed many successful gum grafting surgeries and takes pride in using the highest quality products for the best results. 

Source: http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/ADA_PatientSmart_Gum_Recession.ashx

Top 5 Reasons 6 Month Dental Appointments Are Important

• Plaque and Tarter Removal: A dental hygienist does a much better cleaning job than we can perform at home. Using specialized instruments, he/she is able to remove hardened plaque (tarter & buildup) that can be detrimental to our oral health. 

• Oral Cancer Screenings: The dentist and/or the dental hygienist will perform an oral cancer screening. They will also routinely take a full mouth x-ray (panoramic x-ray) which is the only imaging currently available that allows dentists to detect oral cancer or other abnormalities. This is extremely important because if not detected early on, oral cancer can be devastating and even cause death.

• Irregular Cleanings Can Lead to Bone Loss: Irregular cleanings allow tarter and buildup to get down below the gums, and if left untreated leads to bone loss. Bone loss leads to tooth loss. Tooth replacement options can be costly, so it is best to stay on a regular schedule with your dentist. 

• Detection of Other Problems: Your dentist may be able to identify other health problems that present themselves through the mouth. Examples include; 

Eating Disorders- can be seen through symptoms or dry mouth and 

acid erosion along the tooth's enamel. 

Heart Disease- inflamed, bleeding gums and loose teeth could be 

signs of heart complications. Lack of proper hygiene can also

lead to heart problems because of the bacteria that is present.

Osteoporosis- receding gums and loose teeth are strong indicators 

an underlying bone issue. It won't necessarily show itself through

the teeth, but the bone supporting the teeth.

• Full Mouth Exam: The doctor will thoroughly review x-rays, and also perform an intra-oral exam to make sure there are no abnormalities in the tooth structure. He/She will determine the best form of treatment if any treatment is necessary. These routine examinations are essential to maintaining good oral health and preventing potential problems. 

Dr. Davis performing a thorough exam.

Here at Davis Dental we strive to give our patients the best care possible! We would love to give you an amazing dental experience! 

For more information or to make an appointment, contact Davis Dental at: 

(801)292-5812 or visit our website davisdentalutah.com

What is Composite Bonding?

Composite bonding is an alternative to porcelain crowns or veneers. For patients that are candidates for composite bonding, the overall cost is less, but the result is stunning! 

Here is a patient testimonial from our most recent composite bonding case. 

"I can't even tell you how relieved I am that I found Dr. Davis. I have had issues with bonding on my front teeth for 8+ years now and it has been frustrating to say the least. I was always fearful that something I would eat would chip or force the bonding to come out because it had happened 5+ times previously. On top of that, the bonding I had was always "off" in color. I could clearly see where my natural tooth was and where the bonding began. I was self-conscious of someone looking too closely at my smile for fear they would also notice. The last time I cracked my bonding, I was fed up - finally thinking I should see a cosmetic dentist. After searching on Google, I called Dr. Davis's office the first thing the next morning and Janet at the front desk rearranged the schedule to get me in (talk about customer service!). Dr. Davis mended the chipped tooth and we scheduled a follow up appointment to do a complete do-over. I cannot even tell you how awesome it was! He spent time on my teeth - wasn't rushing - striving for perfect color match so no one would notice that it wasn't an addition to my natural tooth. He added 7 layers of color to make sure it was a perfect match. My mind is completely blown at how much better my teeth look and am no longer worried/self-conscious about them! I simply love Dr. Davis and his staff - best. decision. ever."

(Patient's smile with previous composite bonding)

(Close up view of previous composite bonding)

(Patient's smile with natural tooth structure)

(Close up view of natural tooth structure)

(Patient's smile after composite bonding by Dr. Davis)

(Close up view of composite bonding by Dr. Davis)

For more information regarding composite bonding or other cosmetic procedures, contact Davis Dental at (801)292-5812 or davisdentalutah.com

We would love to give you that confident smile you've always dreamed of! 

The Truth About Bleaching Lights and Lasers

Many people believe that for in office tooth whitening to be effective, you must use a light or laser. In actuality, this is the main reason patients complain of sensitivity after a bleaching session. 

Dr. Rod Kurthy, D.M.D. was tired of his patients complaining about poor results and the pain associated with it. He decided to perform his own study to find out why this was happening to his patients. 

"In a 2005 clinical study by Rod Kurthy, D.M.D., subjects were treated with:

1. Various bleaching lights and lasers with no whitening gel applied to the teeth
2. Whitening gel applied to the teeth without the use of bleaching lights or lasers
3. The same whitening gels combined with use of these bleaching lights and lasers

What Dr. Kurthy found was zero sensitivity caused by bleaching lights or lasers alone. This finding refutes the cause of sensitivity due simply to the heat and/or dehydration caused by bleaching lights and lasers. He also found that use of only the whitening gel resulted in moderate to no sensitivity. However, the combination of bleaching lights or lasers and whitening gel resulted in several cases of severe sensitivity, as well as notably more cases of moderate sensitivity. "

These same findings were confirmed in 2009 and published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. 

"In a clinical study published in JOE (Journal of Endodontics) in 2008, the actual cause of this increased sensitivity was revealed. It was found that the combination of high concentration hydrogen peroxide with photon energy from bleaching lights and lasers causes pulpal neurons to produce significant levels of Substance P."

Substance P is a neuropeptide. The sole function of Substance P is to cause pain and inflammation. 

Here at Davis Dental, we don't want to cause our patients pain, so we use the KoR Whitening System. It offers amazing results and patients do not complain of sensitivity! KoR Whitening uses the latest in whitening technology and products, but does not use a light or laser because it does not enhance results. We want to offer our patients the best whitening experience possible!

For more information on KoR Whitening visit, www.korwhitening.com. If you're interested in a whiter smile, call our office for more information. We would love to give you the smile you've always dreamed of! 

Davis Dental- (801)292-5812 or www.davisdentalutah.com

Information gathered from www.korwhitening.com

 7 Healthy Foods For Your Teeth

The foods that you consume play a major role in your overall dental health. People who eat foods with a high sugar content are more prone to dental caries/cavities. Here is a list of the top 7 foods that are good for your teeth. 

• Cheese- Not processed cheese, but block cheese or string cheese are great options. The enzymes in cheese can help to balance the pH levels in the mouth and increase saliva production. This helps to lower your risk for tooth decay. Cheese also contains calcium and protein which strengthens tooth enamel. 

• Yogurt- Yogurt also has protein and calcium to strengthen enamel. It has probiotics, or good bacteria that can rid your gums of caries causing bacteria. The best yogurt choice is a plain yogurt because the flavored varieties have added sugar. 

• Carrots- Carrots are crunchy and full of fiber. Eating carrots increases saliva production which helps to "rinse" the teeth and prevent cavities.

• Leafy Greens- They are full of calcium which helps tooth enamel, but also contain folic acid which can possibly improve gum disease in pregnant women. If you don't enjoy leafy greens by themselves or in a salad, you could try sneaking them into other foods you do enjoy. Such as smoothies, or on a pizza. 

• Apples- Apples produce saliva in the mouth which helps clear away food debris, but the texture of an apple is similar to that of brushing your teeth. It definitely doesn't replace brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste, but is a good way to clean your teeth until you can brush them. 

• Celery- Celery is similar to apples and carrots. It is great for increasing saliva production and helping to rid your mouth of that pesky food debris. If you don't love plain celery, try it with some peanut butter to change it up. 

• Almonds- They are high in fiber and protein but very low in sugar. This helps to strengthen tooth enamel and serves as a great and filling snack. Almonds are great on their own or tossed into a salad. 

Here at Davis Dental, we want to help you find easy ways to improve your oral health. We hope these simple and healthy foods will get you headed in the right direction! 

For more information or to make an appointment, contact us at: (801)292-5812 or visit our website at davisdentalutah.com

Information for this post was gathered from colgate.com pictures were obtained from google.

Oral Health Impacts of Smoking and The Use of Other Tobacco Products

Many people do not realize the effects that tobacco use can have on their overall oral health. In dentistry, we see many of these issues arise when we have a patient who uses tobacco products. Here are 7 reasons you may want to quit. 

* Bad Breath

* Stained Teeth and Tongue

* Dulled Sense of Taste and Smell

*Slow Healing After a Tooth Extraction or Other Surgery

* Difficulty in Correcting Cosmetic Issues

* Gum Disease

*Oral Cancer

Quitting all-together is the only way to decrease your risk of oral and other health related problems. Here at Davis Dental, we are committed to giving our patients the best care possible. We want to give you all the tools, instruction, and advice we can to help you achieve optimal oral health. We look forward to seeing you! 

For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Jordan Davis, call us at (801)292-5812 or visit our website, davisdentalutah.com. 

Information gathered from mouthhealthy.com. Images taken from google.com

Importance of a Mouth Guard

Many kids and teenagers don't realize the importance of using a mouth guard while participating in sports. In their minds, "mouth guards are stupid", right? Mouth guards aren't only important for young children or teens, they are just as important for adults. Here are some reasons mouth guards are essential. 

• It protects your teeth, cheeks, mouth, tongue, and jaw from injury. Although a mouth guard is made of plastic or laminate materials, it can prevent over 200,000 oral injuries every year. 

• Injuries to the mouth or jaw can be expensive and very painful. Possible injuries include; broken or chipped teeth, biting the cheeks or lips, root damage, fractured jaw, and concussions. Many of these can be prevented by the use of a mouth guard. 

• Mouth guards don't have to empty the bank account. There are essentially three options when it comes to mouth guards. 

1.  Stock Mouth Guards. These are a "one size fits all". The biggest issue we find with this type of guard is that it doesn't fit well for everyone, and is not made to be adjusted to fit. Patients have complained that the stock guards are extremely bulky and tend to make hard or heavy breathing during game time difficult. They are very inexpensive, and can be picked up at any sporting goods store. 
2.  Boil and Bite Mouth Guards. These are a step up from the stock guards we talked about. With this type of guard, it requires you to boil the plastic material for a certain amount of time, then bite into it to give it a more customized fit. They are also inexpensive and can be molded in the comfort of your own home. The down side to this type of guard, is it also doesn't fit every person correctly. It tends to be bulky in the mouth, but is more comfortable to wear than a stock mouth guard.        
3.  Custom Fit Mouth Guards. This is a guard that we make in our office for you. We take dental impressions of your teeth, pour up this impression in dental stone, and then mold the plastic material to it. This type of mouth guard is much more comfortable to wear and will also protect your overall mouth better because it is molded specifically for you. 

Here at Davis Dental, we want to help you protect your smile for many years to come! Come in and see us for a custom mouth guard or for any of your other dental needs. We would love to give you the best dental experience you've ever had. We look forward to meeting you! 

Contact us at: (801)292-5812 or visit our website at: www.davisdentalutah.com

Information gathered from colgate.com