Month: October 2014

Throughout the course of a woman’s life, she undergoes several changes in which her hormonal levels fluctuate dramatically. During these times, the body, and the mouth, is affected in a variety of ways. At my Holland dental office, we’d like let all of our patients know the oral health complications that can occur during phases of a woman’s life.

There are five major occasions when female hormones fluctuate and can cause oral health concerns like gum disease and other serious problems. This makes visits to your Holland dentist and a proper at-home hygiene routine even more important for women than men, especially during these key moments in a woman’s life.

Puberty

In the adolescent years, girls start the process of puberty where a lot of bodily changes occur because of hormonal differences. But these fluctuations in hormone levels not only affect the body, they affect the mouth as well. During puberty, the levels of estrogen and progesterone soar. This can cause an increase in blood flow to the gums and even a change in how the tissues react to bacteria and plaque, resulting in red, swollen gums, and often, bleeding during brushing and flossing.

Monthly Cycles

After puberty, women begin to experience a monthly menstrual cycle. During these few days each month, the mouth is actually at increased risk for irritable gums and even periodic gingivitis. The increase in progesterone that occurs at these times can result in red, swollen, bleeding gums, swollen salivary glands, and canker sores. It’s also not uncommon for women to experience menstruation gingivitis, which develops a day or two before the cycle starts, and typically clears up within a few days.

Birth Control Pills

As women grow, they may decide to use, or medically need, birth control pills. In fact, certain types of oral contraceptives can contain progesterone, which, again, can cause gum inflammation and irritation. This is a result of the body’s over-response to bacteria and plaque.

Pregnancy

Even later in a woman’s life, she may decide to start a family. During pregnancy, dental care is extremely important since progesterone is again increased. This surge in the hormone can result in gum disease, typically any time between the second and eighth month. When this occurs, it’s called pregnancy gingivitis, and you may require more frequent cleanings and visits to help keep this condition away.

Menopause

During menopause, hormones change yet again and can cause altered taste, increased sensitivity, and dry mouth. Dry mouth is of particular concern since saliva is not being produced, which means it’s not helping to remove bacteria or neutralize acids. This can lead to both gum disease and tooth decay. Additionally, during menopause, women tend to experience a drop in estrogen which is directly related to loss of bone density. This is worrisome especially if bone loss is in the jaw, as it can lead to tooth loss.

Throughout a woman’s life, and especially during these important stages, it’s important to keep regularly scheduled appointments at my dental office in Holland. If you’re overdue for your hygiene appointment or exam, or if you’re at one of those peak stages of your life, we’ll make sure your mouth is healthy and work with you to keep it that way.

Welcoming patients in Holland, Saugatuck, and Zeeland.

Your teeth were created to last for a long time. But sometimes, gum disease, decay, and even accidents can cause your teeth to fall out. Millions of American suffer from tooth loss caused by a variety of problems, but at my dental office in Holland, we’d like to talk about how you can replace your missing tooth, or teeth, with the strongest and healthiest treatment available – dental implants.

For many years, the only tooth replacement options available were dentures or bridges. But as dental technology improved, a new and stronger solution became available. Dental implants are the superior tooth loss treatment not only because they replace your tooth, but also your tooth’s root. This is important for a variety of reasons. By replacing the tooth and the root, you’re able to restore your mouth to full function. Additionally, dental implants are a healthier solution: unlike bridges or dentures, they help to keep your jaw bone intact and offer additional benefits.

Besides being a permanent, strong, and stable solution for missing teeth, dental implants have multiple advantages. Some of them include:

• Improved appearance, speech, and comfort. Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. This means that you don’t need to adjust your speech the way you may have to with a bridge or denture. They also fuse with your bone, so they’re a permanent part of your mouth. This eliminates discomfort that’s sometimes associated with removable dentures.
• Easier eating. With implants, there’s no restrictions on what you can eat. Occasionally, dentures can slip while you’re eating, making chewing difficult and even allow food particle to get under the appliance which can cause some pain. You won’t have that problem if you choose implants.
• Better oral health. There’s no soaking or removal necessary with dental implants. You can continue to brush and floss as normal. Also, a dental implant does not require your dentist in Holland to touch other teeth, meaning that the strength and integrity of the remaining teeth are unaltered, which can improve overall oral health.

So what’s the process for getting dental implants? You’ll begin with a consultation during which your individual goals will be discussed and your treatment plan will be developed. After planning is complete, your titanium implant post is placed into your jaw bone. This is the piece that will replace your missing tooth roots. During the healing process, your bone will fuse with the metal creating a strong base. Once healing is complete, an abutment will be added to the post. Your dental team will then craft a custom crown that matches your other teeth in shape, size, and color. The crown is then attached to the abutment and you’re ready to start showing your smile to the world.

If you think that dental implants may be right for you, give my Holland dental office a call. We’ll evaluate your individual situation and discuss all treatment options available to you. We’re focused on providing all of the knowledge you need to make the best decision for your smile.

Accepting patients in Holland, Saugatuck, Zeeland, and surrounding areas.