Dental Blog

Your oral health is essential for so many reasons. You want to take care of your teeth to talk, chew, and have a beautiful smile. Your oral hygiene is also crucial to prevent conditions such as cavities and gum disease.  But did you realize your oral health is also important for cancer prevention? There is an undeniable link between cancers and gum disease. Studies have shown that gum disease not only affects your oral health, but if gum disease progresses, it can be linked to different types of cancers. What is Gum Disease? The infection in your gums is termed periodontal gum disease or gum disease for short. The gums hold your teeth in place. There is a healthy layer of gum tissue surrounding the teeth, the more swollen and inflamed gums get, the less protection your teeth have.  The gums will start to have less coverage on the base of the teeth. When there is less coverage, it is called gum recession.  Gum recession is a stage of gum disease. As the inflammation and infection continue, the gums start to recess. This gum recession exposes your teeth more, which makes the teeth more vulnerable.  As gum disease progresses, if there is minimal gum protection on the teeth, the damage can become irreversible. At this later stage of gum disease, tooth loss can occur.  Gum Disease Symptoms Gum disease starts with mild inflammation, known as gingivitis. You may notice that…

That is right, the sugar is not technically rotting your teeth. The bacteria residing in your mouth are the known culprits. As the bacteria builds up and multiplies in the mouth, it aids in the formation of a thin layer called plaque. This film of plaque build-up is comprised of bacteria, food particles and more. As the plaque thickens and solidifies, the tooth will start to dissolve. Prevention is the key; brush away that plaque with proper oral hygiene. Plaque As described above, plaque is a thin biofilm comprised of food, bacteria, and other particles. Everyone has plaque and it starts as a thin, colorless layer on the tooth. The plaque is constantly forming in the mouth. If plaque is not removed with proper oral hygiene, over time, it will develop into a thicker film known as tartar. Tartar can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. Dental plaque can be comprised of more than 300 different strains of bacteria.  The major component in oral hygiene is the prevention of plaque build-up. Sugar Bugs Most children who have been to the dentist will have heard of sugar bugs. It’s a great description of the oral bacteria residents. These sugar bugs love to eat… sugar! You guessed it. Although technically they do not cause the teeth to rot, they are a key player. They feed on the sugar and food particles in your mouth. If the bacteria do not have a food…

Ancient Egyptian mummies were found to have suffered from cardiovascular disease. This means that over 3500 years ago, Egyptians were plagued with the same disease as the modern man, atherosclerotic heart disease.   The autopsies performed on the ancient Egyptians showed plaque adhering to their blood vessels. This is quite remarkable that the same disease has been affecting mankind throughout the ages.   The diet and lifestyle of the modern man are thought to be the blame of the world’s number one killer, heart disease. However, if heart disease affected the Ancient Egyptians, then other risk factors must be involved in atherosclerotic heart disease besides the Western diet and American lifestyle.  Thirty-Seven Seconds Every 37 seconds someone in the United States dies of heart disease complications. What is Atherosclerotic Heart Disease? Atherosclerotic heart disease affects the blood vessels due to chronic inflammation.  This inflammation is caused by fatty plaques entering the vessels, mixed with the dysfunction of the vasculature wall. This combination causes the narrowing of the arterial blood vessels.   When your blood vessels are narrowed, they aren’t able to function properly.  The plaque build-up in the blood vessels is comprised of fat, cholesterol, calcium deposits, and other substances which cause the formations to adhere to the inner blood vessel lining.   Known risk factors for atherosclerosis and dysfunctioning blood vessels include high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain bacterial infections. Diet and lifestyle choices are strongly correlated to the aforementioned…

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into the patient’s mouth at any time. They can give the patient a fully functional smile that has a completely natural appearance. Sometimes the patient can damage the dentures in which case he needs to seek treatment.  If you’re getting dentures for the first time, it is normal for you to be nervous. When you first get dentures, there are some common problems that people face. While damage to dentures is almost inevitable, we can help our patients in the prevention of possible damage and other issues by going over some great methods for effective denture use before receiving the dentures. Following is what to expect when you start wearing dentures, what problems can occur and how to solve them. Slipping Dentures Unlike normal teeth that are secured into your gums, dentures need some muscle power to keep them in place. Your dentures might slip out of position occasionally. Your tongue, cheeks, and lips can kick your dentures out of place. This can happen when you are talking, eating, coughing, laughing or smiling. How to make your dentures fit better? If your dentures happen to slip out of place you should try to gently reposition them by swallowing and biting down, and after some time you will learn how to hold them in place with your tongue and the muscles in your cheeks. What can…

Your beautiful smile uses approximately 12 muscles when it shows off your pearly whites.  When you smile, you boost your mood and you can promote happiness to those around you. Your smile is contagious.  That smile of yours plays a big role in the rest of your body; not only did this just show a link from your mouth to your mood, but your oral health connects to your overall health in more ways than you may realize. The Systemic Connection  When you have good oral hygiene, it can make you feel more confident. Your smile is one of the first things people notice when they meet you. Your psychological behavior and social confidence are both positively impacted by your oral health. This self-confidence is warranted, as you should feel great about the preventative measures you have taken to manage gingivitis, tooth decay, bad breath, and systemic conditions. Oral hygiene helps not only with your teeth but the rest of your body. There is a systemic connection to periodontal health and oral hygiene. Oral Health Connects to Systemic Disease There are many ways your oral hygiene is connected to your systemic health.  Below are eight different conditions that are highly linked to the inflammatory conditions associated with poor oral hygiene.  Although this is not a complete list, it is quite a substantial list showing your oral hygiene health affects your entire body system. Gum Disease Preterm Labor Pneumonia Heart Disease…

With the high caloric intake of sugar and the bad rap corn syrup gets, it is no wonder the sugar substitute market has boomed in the United States.  Monk fruit, stevia, erythritol, agave, sorbitol, and xylitol are amongst the most popular of the sugar substitutes.  The Questions  What exactly are these sugar substitutes? Where do they come from? How do we know if they are good for us? If they are sugar-free, can they cause tooth decay?  Answering each of these questions can lead to a better understanding of the connection between oral health and sugar substitutes.  Monk Fruit: What is it?  Monk fruit or luo han guo was originally derived from China and Northern Thailand as a medicinal plant. Chinese monks were found cultivating monk fruit in the 13th century for medicinal purposes. Monk fruit was historically used for inflammatory conditions and ailments associated with high fevers.  In the United States, monk fruit was introduced as a zero-calorie sweetener once the fruit of the plant went through a pureeing and extracting process to allow the monk fruit extract to have zero calories per serving. This extraction process has morphed monk fruit into a more palatable sweetener which is known to be 100-400 x sweeter than sugar. The Food and Drug Administration has regarded the monk fruit as GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe. Monk fruit became prevalent in multiple healthy food products and amongst those who were looking for a safe…

This is something that all dentists have dealt with at some point or the other: eager to get the best possible dental care, many first time patients are quick to ask our clinic staff whether they “specialize in cosmetics or repair work”. While we are always eager to celebrate empowered patients who are willing to check everyone’s credentials (because you should!), there seems to be a general understanding that cosmetic and restorative dentistry are neatly defined specialties that oppose each other. The truth is that, rather than seeing them as opposing professional paths, these are just two legs of the same table. Restorative Dental Work: The Bread and Butter of Ocala Dentists Restorative dental work is the one that aims to cure or treat diseases or injuries in the teeth, gums, or mouth. It is not actually a specialization within dentistry, as it covers much of the preventative and common fixes that dentists see on a day-to-day basis. This includes: Cavity fillingsBridgesRegular cleaningCrown modeling and installationReplacing teethPeriodontitis procedures Cosmetic Dental Work:  the Finishing Touches That Make a Masterpiece Despite what the name may seem to imply, cosmetic dentistry is rarely limited to just making things look better. At its most basic, it does encompass whitening treatments ­­– but it also deals with many procedures meant to make crowns and prosthetics look more natural and feel more comfortable, such as: BondingCenteringVeneeringChip repairing Why They Should Never Stand Alone Nowadays, almost every…

Society may place a huge emphasis on the ability to flash a “million-dollar smile” as one of the keys of likeability or business success. This may stem partially from the general disconnection between Hollywood types and the general public: the American College of Prosthodontists estimates that at least 200 million Americans suffer from tooth loss or edentulism. However, the current abundance of tooth replacement options also plays a major part in keeping this epidemic hidden. A quick look at listings for local dentists is bound to show countless banners offering half a dozen different procedures, which often does little but increase confusion. Is Tooth Replacement Really Necessary? Losing a tooth often occurs as a result of deep cavities, out of control periodontitis, or traumatic accidents where the jaw bone is damaged. Long-time patients at VIPCare Dental know that all our restorative dentistry interventions are meant to prevent definitive tooth loss from ever happening in the first place – but factors such as osteoporosis and chronic metabolic conditions often get the best of us. As this tends to happen mostly to older patients, it is easy to fall into the trap of dismissing tooth replacement procedures as a purely cosmetic concern. However, leaving gaps open in a patient’s mouth after extraction can progressively worsen their oral health: this will increase the chances of gum disease, create small pockets for infection to thrive, and even cause the surrounding teeth to shift. Tooth Replacement…

VIPcare Dental — Dentists that Accept Medicare in Ocala Florida Each year thousands of Americans are eligible to receive dental benefits through health insurance provided to them by their employer or other dental health groups, however, finding a dentist that accepts Medicare in Ocala Florida can be challenging. If you’ve been searching for search phrases such as ‘dentist that accept Medicare near me ’or ‘ what dentist takes Medicare? then look no further! At VIPcare Dental we understand that dental procedures can be costly, which is why we accept Medicare dental coverage so that you can enjoy all the dental discounts you are entitled to. Do all Dentists Accept Medicare Dental Insurance? Dental Insurance is very valuable, which is why it’s essential to find a dentist that accepts your policy so that you can get the full dental benefits offered by your health insurance plan. Two people can receive the same service but pay very different prices if they are not covered by Medicare or another provider, and unfortunately, not all dentists accept state-funded programs such as Medicare dental coverage making dental procedures very costly for some patients. At VIPcare Dental we will work with you to ensure that you get the most value from your Medicare dental coverage so that you can maintain excellent oral health and cut back on out-of-pocket expenses for dental procedures. Our friendly dental staff will assist you in analyzing your health insurance policy and…