Supportive & Prophylaxis Treatments
Bad Breath Treatment
Possibly one of the most embarrassing subjects people face is talking about bad breath.
Recent studies have shown an estimated 65% percent of Americans have bad breath. Ninety percent of all halitosis (bad breath) is of oral, not systemic, origin.
Bad Breath Treatment
What causes bad breath?
Bad breath is caused by a variety of factors. In majority of the cases, it is caused by food remaining in the mouth – on the teeth, tongue, gums, and other structures, collecting bacteria. These bacterias expels is sulfur compound creating your breath to have an unpleasant smell. Some foods play a role in bad breath, such as garlic and onions.
However, aside of foods, periodontal disease is one of the main causes for people to suffer from bad breath. If you have a foul taste or smell in your mouth, it may be coming from the gums. Gum disease is caused by plaque which contains thousands of bacterias. Dry mouth or xerostomia is also a cause of bad breath due to decreased salivary flow. Saliva cleans your mouth and removes particles that may cause odor.Tobacco products cause bad breath, stain teeth, reduce your ability to taste foods and irritate your gum tissues.Bad breath may also be a sign that you have a serious health problem, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment. Our office specialty is treating the gums so you avoid having bad breath.
Oral Cancer Exam
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 40,000 cases of oral/pharyngeal cancer are diagnosed each year, with over 7500 of these cases resulting in the death of the patient. Fortunately, oral cancer, if caught early, can be more effectively treated.
Oral cancer may first appear without producing any symptoms, making it hard to recognize without an exam. There are many types of oral cancer, including adenocarcinoma and melanoma, but the most common form of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. The most common site for oral cancer is the tongue, though it may also appear in other areas of the mouth and throat, including under the tongue, both major and minor salivary glands, as well as the gums, and lips. In recent years there has been a notable increase in the occurrence of oral cancers in younger patients, related to the prevalence of HPV virus among sexually active adults.
Oral Cancer Exam
What to Expect
The oral cancer examination is completely painless. Drs. Pollack, Odrich or Sarmiento will look and feel around the mouth and tongue for abnormalities such as unusual bumps, and red and/or white patches. Sores which fail to heal can be indicative of cancerous changes. Leukoplakia is a hardened white or gray, slightly raised lesion that can appear inside the mouth, and may be cancerous. Signs of these will be examined as well. Finally, soreness, lumps or the general thickening of tissue anywhere in the throat or mouth can signal pathologic signs, and will be examined.
If abnormalities, lesions, lumps, or leukoplakia are apparent, Drs. Pollack, Odrich or Sarmiento will discuss with you appropriate options for care. Some lesions may need to be biopsied, though we also use the Brush Biopsy as a simple and painless screening tool for lesions with a lower degree of suspicion. We also work with a number of highly qualified specialists if you need referral for a more serious or concerning problem.
It is also important to note that over 75% of oral cancers are linked with avoidable behaviors such as smoking, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Drs. Pollack, Odrich or Sarmiento can provide you with literature and options about quitting dangerous behaviors such as tobacco use.
Supportive Periodontal Therapy
How important is it to have your teeth cleaned?
Although you may brush and floss at home it is important to see your periodontist and dental hygienist at least twice a year to professionally clean your teeth. During your hygiene visit Dr.Sarmiento will always do a comprehensive periodontal examination which includes a full exam of the gums, teeth, tongue, salivary glands, TMJ and the muscles of mastication. By doing so, any initiating disease may be diagnosed and treated without the need of a periodontal surgery. Once cleared by Dr. Sarmiento, our dental hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth in areas you may not have access to with your floss or tooth brush. Hygiene recall visits vary on how much plaque, tartar and bacteria you accumulate in a given time and/or in the presence of a periodontal disease.
Supportive Periodontal Therapy
What’s the difference between a deep cleaning and a regular cleaning?
A regular cleaning is designed for the maintenance of healthy gums. Healthy gums have a small, shallow space between the teeth and gums. The treatment for healthy gums require the removal of plaque and bacteria above the gum line and polishing of the teeth. A deep cleaning (or “scaling and root planning”) is needed when there is a larger amount of tartar and bacteria under the gums causing a periodontal pocket. These pockets can become harmful to the surrounding bone and overall health of the body. This procedure requires local anesthesia and may take up to four visits to fully accomplish the removal of all undesired debris. After scaling and root planning, we allow 4-6 weeks for the gums to recover and get healthy prior to a reevaluation.
How important is it to have your teeth cleaned?
Although you may brush and floss at home it is important to see your periodontist and dental hygienist at least twice a year to professionally clean your teeth. During your hygiene visit Dr.Sarmiento will always do a comprehensive periodontal examination which includes a full exam of the gums, teeth, tongue, salivary glands, TMJ and the muscles of mastication. By doing so, any initiating disease may be diagnosed and treated without the need of a periodontal surgery. Once cleared by Dr. Sarmiento, our dental hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth in areas you may not have access to with your floss or tooth brush. Hygiene recall visits vary on how much plaque, tartar and bacteria you accumulate in a given time and/or in the presence of a periodontal disease.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory response of your gums due to bacteria and plaque. The gums may become red and swollen and depending on its severity, may be called gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gums due to an excess of plaque accumulation on the teeth. Signs of gingivitis include red, swollen gums, or gums that bleed easily when you brush your teeth and is often reversible. By contrast, periodontitis has progressed to more serious gum disease. One key sign of periodontitis: the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, creating pockets where additional bacteria can build up and cause an infection. Many people do not notice symptoms of gingivitis, but signs of possible periodontitis include red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath, pain when chewing, poor tooth alignment, receding gums or pockets between the teeth and gums, sores on the inside of the mouth, and loose or sensitive teeth. Gingivitis if left untreated, may develop to periodontitis and cause an irreversible destruction of the jaw bone.
What if I have dental implants?
Dental implants require the same attention as teeth. Implants need to be professionally cleaned every 3 months. Their maintenance should to be done by an office to which is experienced and properly equipped with the instrumentation to do so. Dr. Sarmiento and the Hygienists go above and beyond to provide and guide you with a healthy, maintainable and long lasting experience with your dental implants.
What should I do at home to keep my teeth clean?
Brushing and flossing 3 times a day will maintain healthy gums. Supplemental tools such as a waterpik, mouth wash and rubber tips may be used to compliment your hygiene. If you notice plaque is accumulating more than usual call our office to schedule a cleaning to help protect your gums from acquiring a periodontal disease.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
A wisdom tooth or third molar is one of the three molars per quadrant of our dentition. It is the most posterior of the three.
Wisdom teeth generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Most adults have four wisdom teeth (a third molar in each of the four quadrants), but it is possible to have fewer or more, in which case the extras are called supernumerary teeth. Wisdom teeth commonly affect other teeth as they develop, becoming impacted or “coming in sideways.” They are often extracted when this occurs.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Do all wisdom teeth need to be extracted?
Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted. When a wisdom tooth erupts through the gums without any complications, pain or compromising the adjacent tooth, the wisdom tooth can be retained in the mouth with little concern as long as the person is able to brush, floss, and clean it thoroughly. However, the removal of the wisdom teeth is usually performed if the tooth during eruption is causing inflammation and/or an infection of the surrounding tissues.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth depending on their location and angulation will usually need a surgical procedure to extract them. Dr. Sarmiento uses CBCT technology to computer guide him during the surgery. The use of this option allows him to see your wisdom tooth in a 3-dimensional view and have more accuracy during removal. Post operative discomfort is also minimized as any complications can be foreseen prior to surgery.
