How Do I Talk to My Senior Parent About Going to the Dentist?
Your parent may be interested to know how going to the dentist contributes to overall health and longevity. Recent studies show that bacteria from the mouth has been linked as a cause for an increase in heart disease, pancreatic and colorectal cancer, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Regular dental cleaning visits in addition to proper home care limit bacteria in the mouth. As teeth are lost and chewing power decreases, there is an increase in memory loss. Not to mention, if they can't chew, it will limit the healthy foods they can eat. Dental implants allow for the same chewing force as natural teeth, and we've restored implants on patients up to 87 years old. Even if nothing is bothering your parent, a comprehensive exam and necessary X-rays can reveal what, if left untreated, could cause problems in the future. If the root of their hesitance is a fear of the dentist, they are not alone. One in ten people have some fear of the dentist and we specialize in making our patients feel comfortable. The dental hygienists and Dr.'s Gordon will not rush your parent and will answer any questions they have. Click to schedule an appointment or call 301-258-1998.
Which Halloween Candy Is Worst for My Teeth?
Whether you purchased more than you ended up handing out, or your children brought home massive bags of treats, most of us find ourselves with leftover Halloween candy. And you might be wondering: Is it all the same, or is some worse for my teeth than others? As far as your teeth are concerned, sticky (taffy, caramel) or hard candies are some of the hardest on your teeth. Chocolate is often preferable. Of course there are two other things you'll want to keep in mind. First, it's one thing to eat a lot of candy on Halloween night, but if you continue to consume the leftovers all month long, you'll be exposing your teeth to more sugar. Second, anytime you eat candy, you want to make sure you properly brush and floss your teeth.
What Should I Do if My Dentist Retires or Sells His Practice?
The answer to this question depends on how you felt about your previous dentist. 1. If going to the dentist always was unpleasant or you felt there might be a “better dentist out there” who understood your needs or could deliver dentistry that was more comfortable and looked better, then now is a perfect time to make a clean break. A lot of people will be transferring their records, so you can find a new dental home that you are comfortable with. 2. If you have been seeing your dentist for a long time and love the practice, try out the new dentist at a cleaning appointment and see how you feel. (You may find the new dentist is trying to recoup the money they used to buy the practice with an aggressive filling or crown philosophy.) If you suddenly experience an uptick in dental work that you are told “needs to be done” by the new dentist, call Gordon Center for General and Advanced Dentistry for a free second opinion. Our dentists have close to 50 years combined experience. They only recommend what needs to be done. Click here or call 301-258-1998 to schedule an appointment.
Why Do They Call Dental Implant Surgery “Teeth in a Day?”
The term “Teeth in a day” refers to complete tooth replacement with the All-on-4™ dental implant technique. Traditional implant surgery often meant multiple surgeries, gum surgeries, or bone grafting and could take many months. With the All-on-4 dental implant procedure, a patient gets teeth fixed and screwed into their upper and/or lower jaw the same day as their implant surgery. Call 301-258-1998 for a free consultation.
What Sort of TMJ Pain Relief Is There?
Our dentists know the most up-to-date treatment for pain or headaches related to TMJ (the Temporomandibular Joint). Initial treatment may involve eating soft foods, anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxer medication, and a bite guard to reposition the jaws. Final treatment may involve adjusting the bite or braces in order to keep a healthy, correct, pain-free bite. For particularly advanced cases, we can connect you to a trusted specialist. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Can I Get Dental Implants if I Have Diabetes?
The short answer is yes. There are two health criteria that must be met in order to have dental implants placed--and once the implants are fused to bone they are usually fine even if the two criteria become uncontrolled: 1) The diabetes must be noted by your physician as being in a “controlled “ state. 2) The HemaglobinA1C should be 7 or below. 7-8 would depend on other factors including overall health status. Over 8 depends on other factors plus the experienced implant surgeon's comfort level. At Gordon Center for General and Advanced Dentistry, we select an implant surgeon for you based on many factors. Our expertise, and knowledge of great practitioners nearby allows us to choose the implant surgeon that is the correct match for you. Call 301-258-1998 or click here to schedule your free dental implant consultation.
What Are Some Signs I Should Ask for a Second Opinion?
There are three main reasons to search for a second opinion: 1) You need to switch practices: Perhaps you moved, or maybe your dentist sold his practice to someone else--and the new dentist proposes a lot of new dental work that “needs” to be done. The second opinion is to see if the work is needed. 2) Your dentist proposes a lengthy, expensive, esthetically complex treatment plan: In this case, a second opinion is to see whether different options can achieve the same results, or if another clinician can show you, from their experiences and work, a more pleasing or favorable result. 3) You get a gut sense that, “something doesn’t seem right”: With insurance companies reimbursing participating dentists, in-network dentists may develop a more aggressive philosophy in order to produce more dentistry from the available pool of patients At Gordon Center for General and Advanced Dentistry, we evaluate patients’ needs from an experienced, time-developed view point. Since we are non-participating providers, we develop treatment or non-treatment based on current research. Over the years, our patients often wind up receiving less dental treatment and consequently incur less out of pocket payments. Call 301-258-1998 or click here to schedule a free second opinion appointment.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
The short answer is yes. When placed by a skilled implant surgeon and restored by skilled restorative dentist, implants are safe. At Gordon Center for General and Advanced Dentistry, we have patients with dental implants dating back to 1983. Our experience allows us to exceed the average for implant survivability and have a 98% dental implant success rate. Our up-to-date knowledge of dental materials allows Dr.’s Leonard and David Gordon to fit the implant with the most lifelike, longest-lasting post and crown known to dentistry today. Moreover, we only use FDA-approved implants and parts. Call 301-258-1998 today or click here to schedule your free dental implant consultation.
How Can I Prevent Gingivitis, Periodontitis, and Oral Cancer?
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums in your mouth. Proper brushing, flossing and seeing your dentist and dental hygienist every six months for a dental cleaning will treat or prevent gingivitis from occurring. Periodontitis is destruction of the bone under the gums due to buildup of calculus (tartar) and caused by a colonization of a destructive type of bacteria. This is due to lack of (or improper) brushing, flossing, and a failure to have your dentist or dental hygienist remove the calculus on a three-to-six month basis. Some reports detail that the destructive bacteria can be transmitted through kissing or an infected person's toothbrush. Here again, the solution is keep your regularly scheduled dental hygiene appointments. Oral cancer can occur on the tongue, gums, cheeks, roof of the mouth, and throat. Increased risk to get oral cancer has been attributed to the Papilloma virus, smokeless tobacco, alcohol and cigarette use, cigars, and ill-fitting dentures or partial dentures. At every dental hygiene appointment, we do a gum diseases and oral cancer screening. We welcome new patients, so even if it’s been a long time since you’ve seen a dentist, call 301-258-1998 to schedule an appointment so we can help you get back on track.
What Can I Do if a Dental Implant Crown Breaks?
At Gordon Center for General & Advanced Dentistry, we use the latest technology. With the newest screw down Zirconia crowns, the probability that the crown will break is almost non-existent. We collaborate with the finest surgeons who collectively do thousands of implants a year. Moreover, Dr. Leonard Gordon lectures nationally to other dentists on how to properly place a crown restoration onto the implant. If you received an implant crown somewhere else at an earlier time and you notice it’s chipped, cracked, or worn; it's possible the implant wasn’t properly placed or the crown on top of the implant wasn’t properly done. If you’re facing this situation, call us at 301-258-1998 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We will give you options as to the most effective way to fix your problem so that you don’t wind up losing the implant.