General Dentistry

Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria.

Some bacteria in plaque are harmless, but some are harmful to the health of your gums.

If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing them, it builds up and irritates your gums. This can lead to redness with bleeding, swelling and soreness.

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum line that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. The three stages of gum disease — from least to most severe — are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.

Difference between Gum disease and Gingivitis

Gingivitis (gum inflammation) usually precedes periodontitis (gum disease).

However, it is important to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.

In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque build up, causing the gums to become inflamed and to easily bleed during toothbrushing. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. 

No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.

When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. In a person with periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form pockets. 

These small spaces between teeth and gums collect debris and can become infected. 

The body’s immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.

As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. When this happens, teeth are no longer anchored in place, they become loose, and tooth loss occurs

Signs of Gum Disease

• Bleeding while brushing or flossing
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Pain when chewing
• Receding Gums
• Swollen, red gums

Causes of Gum Disease

Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. However, other factors can contribute to periodontal disease. These include:

• Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and monthly menstruation, make gums more sensitive, which makes it easier for gingivitis to develop.
• Illnesses may affect the condition of your gums. This includes diseases such as cancer or HIV that interfere with the immune system. Because diabetes affects the body’s ability to use blood sugar, patients with this disease are at higher risk of developing infections, including periodontal disease and cavities.
• Medications can affect oral health because some lessen the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on teeth and gums. Some drugs, such as the anticonvulsant medication Dilantin and the anti-angina drug Procardia and Adalat, can cause abnormal growth of gum tissue.
• Bad habits such as smoking make it harder for gum tissue to repair itself.
• Poor oral hygiene habits such as not brushing and flossing on a daily basis make it easier for gingivitis to develop.
• Family history of dental disease can be a contributing factor in the development of gingivitis.

Conclusion

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

Always schedule a visit to your dentist the moment you notice irregularities in your oral health.

At Manhattan Dental Care, we can employ a variety of tactics to fight gum disease, including deep cleaning and preventive care.

Halitosis, or bad breath, can be unpleasant and significantly reduce your confidence. The good news is halitosis is preventable, and there are measures you can take each day to prevent bad breath from affecting your life.

What is Halitosis?

Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is characterized by a strong, unpleasant odor that a simple mint or mouthwash is unable to solve. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, over 80 million people suffer from chronic bad breath.

Halitosis is typically caused by the decay of food particles or other debris in your mouth, waste from bacteria, and poor oral hygiene. The decay of this debris, if not cleaned out through proper brushing and flossing, produces a sulfur compound which leads to the unpleasant odor. In most cases, the odor originates from the gums and tongue, but in serious cases, it could be a sign of something more serious.
Dental issues that can cause bad breath include cavities and gum disease, as these can give bacteria additional places to grow that are not easy to clean out while brushing or flossing. Sinus and throat infections that result in postnasal drip can also cause halitosis, as the bacteria in your body feeds on the mucus being produced by the infection.

Dry mouth is another major cause of bad breath and one that most people do not normally think of. Saliva is very important for breaking down bacteria and food in your mouth, and also serves to prevent cavities and infections. Dry mouth can be caused by medications, certain medical conditions, and even alcohol or tobacco use.

In addition to the multitude of negative effects caused by smoking and tobacco, it can also cause bad breath. Besides leaving their own unpleasant odor, they can dry out your mouth as well. In fact, smokers are more likely to develop gum disease and, as a result, suffer from halitosis.

Habits to Prevent Halitosis

Although halitosis can be difficult to get rid of, there are steps you can take on a daily basis to prevent the development of bad breath to begin with. The best way to do this is to build effective habits focused on good oral hygiene.

Good Dental Hygiene

Practicing good dental hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent halitosis. This includes brushing your teeth and flossing on a regular basis – with an added emphasis on flossing. Many people skip this part of their routine but flossing to remove the pieces of food and bacteria that your toothbrush cannot is essential in preventing bad breath. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash also effectively prevent cavities and gum disease, which are both causes of halitosis.

In addition to your daily dental hygiene routine, you should see a dentist and get a professional cleaning at least twice a year. This will get you an extra deep clean and give your dentist the opportunity to check for cavities and gum disease before they develop or worsen.

Preventing Dry Mouth

Another habit that can help prevent halitosis is proper eating and staying hydrated. There is less saliva produced when you have not been drinking enough water or eating on a regular basis, and as mentioned above, dry mouth is a leading cause of bad breath.

Similarly, your body produces less saliva when you sleep, so flossing and hydrating first thing in the morning is also imperative to keep away bad breath.

The same goes for alcohol consumption – if you’ve had a fun night out drinking, make sure to floss and drink some water when you get home so that you can prevent bad breath in the morning.

Whenever we think of a tooth extraction, most of us might think of wisdom teeth, but there are certain instances when a tooth extraction is necessary in cases of irreparable tooth damage.

At Manhattan Dental Care Studio we believe that it is the dentist’s job to be as conservative as possible, so a tooth extraction will only be an option we’ll consider when it presents the best possible solution for the patient’s long-term oral health plan.

Signs you might be in need of a tooth extraction procedure include:

• Moderate to Severe Tooth Pain
• Jaw Pain or Joint Stiffness
• Swollen Gums
• Gum Disease Affecting Surrounding Area

We might suggest a tooth extraction if a tooth has experienced severe decay, infection, to help clear a path for an impacted tooth, to prevent overcrowding, or as a method of treatment after an accident or trauma.

However, having a tooth extraction does not have to be a traumatic experience. We’re happy to provide options to patients needing tooth extractions in Los Angeles, CA.

What to Expect from a Tooth Extraction Procedure

We provide a comfortable ambience at Manhattan Dental Care Studio, where the focus is put on you.

We begin our tooth extraction procedure by applying an anesthetic, which will numb the mouth and minimize any discomfort. For patients who experience anxiety, we can provide additional sedation techniques geared toward making the procedure as comfortable for you as possible.

A certain amount of bleeding, pain, and swelling is perfectly normal and will resolve quickly. We’ll also provide all of the follow-up care you need to ensure the treatment is successful.

Same-Day Dental Extraction in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Manhattan Beach, CA

Contact Manhattan Dental Care Studio today if you believe that you’re in need of a tooth extraction procedure in Los Angeles. Schedule your consultation and we’ll get you back on the footpath to oral health success.

Science Advances recently published a paper linking Alzheimer’s (AD) to periodontal disease (also known as gingivitis).

More on Alzheimer’s (AD)

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia — a general term for memory loss or mental deterioration that can sometimes occur to patients later in their lifespan (during middle or more advanced ages). Alzheimer’s accounts for over 60% of cases of dementia and is the most common cause of premature senility.

More on Gum Disease and its Link to AD

Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) spurs an increase in amyloid beta production, which is found in plaque that has been linked to Alzheimer’s — this was found in lab animals orally infected with Pg.

The bacteria is believed to travel from the mouth to the brain while coinciding with two proteins that have also been associated with AD, ubiquitin and tau.

Gum Disease and its Link to Other Age-Related Conditions

The fact that your oral health is inextricably linked to your overall health is nothing new. Gum disease also contributes to other health problems in addition to AD, conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and more. There is also a noted link between periodontal disease and overall mortality rates in advanced stages of life.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Chance of Getting AD

Although there isn’t a study out there that says periodontal disease is the direct cause of Alzheimer’s, it’s worth mentioning that keeping a good oral health routine is your first line of defense against conditions that can really impede upon living a good quality of life down the road. Having healthy teeth and gums is an investment in your future, in more ways than one.

At Manhattan Dental Care Studio we believe in providing innovative oral health care, both general and preventive, that sets our patients up for a healthy, productive life.

By scheduling (and keeping) your biannual checkups and routine cleanings you’ll give yourself a much higher chance of advancing through the many stages of life with good health intact, which means you’ll save time, money, and hardship that comes along with living with a chronic condition.

Contact Manhattan Dental Care Studio today to schedule your consultation. We provide modern care for healthy gums and we have a long track record of keeping our patients healthy and well through our comprehensive dental treatments, services, and procedures.

At Manhattan Dental Care we’re all about transparency, which means that we’re always willing to take our patients and prospective patients behind the curtain about our practice, as well as the technology and techniques we use to help build amazing smiles.

We provide dental exams that help you stay on top of your oral health. When you come in for a dental exam, here’s what you can expect…

1.) A Custom-Tailored Experience

We customize our treatments and procedures to meet the unique needs of each patient.

2.) We Search for Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a serious matter that we never take lightly, because it can lead to infection, illness, even loss of teeth. We like to deal with tooth decay in its minimal state to avoid further damage. However, we’re also equipped to deal with tooth decay in advanced stages as well.

3.) We Check for Gum Disease

Also called periodontal disease, gum disease causes more people to lose teeth than cavities do. We check for inflammation in the gums and treat any underlying problems. After all, gum disease can lead to heart disease.

4.) We Evaluate Your Fillings

Did you know that fillings can get old or damaged? Tooth decay can also hide underneath your fillings, so we always make sure to check this through thorough examination and x-rays when needed. We’ll suggest replacement whenever it’s necessary.

5.) Finally, We Clean Your Teeth!

Even though you might brush properly and floss regularly, nothing beats a professional cleaning. We have the tools and expertise to stay on top of your oral health. During our cleanings we set your teeth up for success year-round.

6.) We Boost Your Home Care Oral Health Routine

We always let our patients know that great oral health, like so many things, starts in the home. We’ll give you advice and guidance when it comes to best oral health home practices during your exam.

When it comes to dental insurance, if you have it, use it!

Many dental insurance plans run on a traditional calendar year, and your benefits, unfortunately, do not roll over like minutes would with some cell phone plans.

If you take advantage of your remaining dental insurance benefits you can save yourself hundreds in spending.

Your dental benefits are going to reset at the beginning of 2019 anyways, so it’s important to take advantage now! If not, you’ll lose out on your unused benefits after 12/31/18. In short, this means that your dental dollars are going to disappear when your dental insurance plan renews at the beginning of the year.

Many Folks Aren’t Using their Insurance Benefits

In 2016 the ADA published a surprising study which found that almost 40% of individuals with dental insurance didn’t have a single claim within their respective year. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being wasted each year on insurance.

Don’t wait for an emergency to use your insurance. You can use your insurance for check-ups and routine cleanings that will help you avoid costly procedures, like root canals.

There Might Be Fee Increases!

The fact that your monthly fee might increase is another reason to maximize what you get out of what you’ve spent this year. Many dentists raise their rate at the start of each year to make up for cost of operation, increases in cost of materials, as well as increase in cost of equipment. These fee increases can often make your copay higher, too. That’s why you should make it a point to see your dentist while your copay rates remain where they are.

There’s also the undeniable fact that when you delay treatment, you’re opening yourself up to damage that can cause costly problems down the road.

The solution? Contact Manhattan Dental Care today to schedule your consultation. We’ll make sure you get the most out of your insurance before the year’s end.

At Manhattan Dental Care Studio we work hard to create lasting, beautiful smiles — which can open new doors for you no matter your age.

A part of what we do is provide reconstructive options that have experienced damage, trauma, or decay.

Onlays and Inlays

Dental inlays and onlays are two reconstructive options for teeth that have mild to moderate tooth decay. They are offered by some dentists as an alternative to crowns, which require manipulation of the natural tooth before being fitted in the mouth. Inlays and Onlays can also be used as an alternative to traditional fillings. In such instances, the inlay or onlays offers a stronger, longer-lasting solution for repairing tooth decay or similar damage.

Lab Manufactured to Fit YOU

Dental inlays and onlays are a type of premolded filling, manufactured in a lab to fit perfectly on or within your natural tooth. Restorations requiring the restoration material to be bonded within the points (cusps) of the tooth biting surface are called Inlays. Whereas restorations covering the one or more cusps of the biting surface is called an Outlay. These customized restorations can be made out of gold or a tooth-colored ceramic or resin. Once bonded to your natural tooth, your inlay or onlay not only restores the look of your natural tooth, but also provides structural reinforcement against daily wear and tear.

The Inlay and Onlay Process

The process of getting an inlay or onlay is very similar to the process for getting a dental crown. At your first appointment, your dentist will numb the area being treated and clean out the decayed area of the tooth, much the same way the tooth would be prepared for a filling. Ensuring that all decay is removed is essential for preventing further decay and possible infection after the inlay or onlay has been set. Once all the decay has been removed, your dentist will take an impression of the remaining tooth area. This impression will be used by the laboratory to create your inlay or onlay. A temporary filling will be installed by your dentist to last until your second and final appointment.

Once the laboratory has completed your inlay or onlay, you will return to the dentist’s office for your final appointment. During this visit, the dentist will numb the area, remove the temporary filling, and bond your permanent inlay or onlay to your natural tooth.

Inlays and onlays are strong, long-lasting, and require no additional care than any other tooth. With good daily brushing and flossing and regular professional cleanings at the dental office, your inlay or onlay restoration can last for years.