Take care of your teeth, they’ll take care of you
Everyone needs dental care, but what each person needs to maintain a healthy, natural smile varies. Eating and drinking habits, wild cards like tobacco and coffee, and even genetics play a role. Consistent oral hygiene combined with routine professional checkup and cleaning appointments makes a lifetime of strong, beautiful teeth an achievable goal.
Oral hygiene treatment means we examine your teeth, take x-rays if needed, and coach you on brushing and flossing practices to keep your teeth bright, your gums calm (no inflammation!), and your breath fresh.
Laser Bacterial Reduction
Laser Bacterial Reduction is a completely safe treatment used to eliminate bacteria and disinfect gum tissue. Focused laser beams kill bacteria by penetrating deep into the gum tissue and vaporizing the bacteria, without harming the surrounding structure and tissue. The treatment is a quick, effective, and painless way to remove bacteria and prevent infections.
Why healthy gums matter
Healthy gums are your secret weapon in the fight for oral health. With cleanings from Life Dentistry and your determination to floss daily, plaque can become a mere memory in the rearview mirror.
Your gums are holding it all together. Hearty gum tissue is absolutely essential for keeping your natural teeth where they belong—in your mouth! (That’s why flossing is so important.)
Bad bacteria find ways to sneak into the bloodstream, and untreated gum disease is one of its most routes. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to more than 50 serious health conditions–including heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.
Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical treatment for gum disease. Also called deep cleaning, this procedure first removes plaque and buildup (scaling) and follows by smoothing the exposed tooth root surface (root planing).
Oral cancer is on the rise
About 10,000 Americans will succumb to oral cancer this year—and, as with any other cancer, early detection and prevention increase survival rates incrementally. Oral cancer screening is part of each routine adult Life Dentistry checkup with Dr. Duff. We want you to love your smile—but above all else, we want you well!
The leading risk factor for oral cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV). Smokers and alcohol users are six times more likely to develop oral cancer, but 25% of oral cancer patients have no risk factors.
Signs of oral cancer include numbness, loss of feeling, mouth or ear pain, chronic sore throat, voice changes, difficulty with mouth functions, or persistent sores that can appear on any surface of the mouth.
If something looks suspicious, Dr. Duff may refer you for testing after waiting a week or two later to make sure any questionable areas are healing on their own before recommending additional follow-up.
Protect your teeth from injury
Mouthguards protect the mouth by covering the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to teeth, arches, lips, and gums. About 2 million teeth are knocked out during contact and collision sports play each year. Mouthguards have even been shown to prevent or reduce the severity of concussion or injuries to the jaw.
The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom-fit mouthguards for many sports, including basketball, boxing, football, ice and field hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, and wrestling.
Non-prescription “stock” or “boil-and-bite” mouthguards are widely available, but they tend to be uncomfortable and do not wear well. As a result, they are often not consistently worn, so injuries are more likely to occur.
You only get one set of adult teeth, and we hope they remain in your mouth for life. If you’re an athlete, let Life Dentistry keep your smile safe and sound with a customized mouthguard.
Do you grind or clench your teeth?
You’re not alone! Teeth grinding and clenching–also known as bruxism–is estimated to affect 30 to 40 million children and adults in the United States. Most people are unaware of their bruxism, which often occurs while they sleep. Life Dentistry fabricates custom nightguards to lessen the effects of bruxism on your teeth.
Bruxism is frequently a sign of stress, but it can also be caused by bite misalignment. It can even be a side effect of medication. Other treatments may be recommended to accompany a nightguard.
Bruxism can cause damaged teeth, tooth sensitivity, tired and tight jaw muscles, headaches, disrupted sleep, ear pain, and other problems.
A nightguard can alleviate the negative effects of grinding and clenching your teeth, protect tooth enamel, and reduce severity of head and jaw pain.
Do you want all your teeth to match?
If you have old metal amalgam fillings that need updating, you may be considering a tooth-colored restoration that blends more seamlessly with your natural teeth. Life Dentistry can remove old mercury fillings and replace them with beautiful tooth-colored restorations for a more aesthetically pleasing smile–no more metal mouth!
If you have concerns about your metal amalgam fillings, Dr. Duff will be happy to address those with you. It can be a controversial topic of discussion, and he is very knowledgeable about all aspects of this issue.
The prevalence of tooth-colored materials in restorative dentistry has led to much less frequent use of metal amalgam. Dr. Duff stays informed on the latest research about metal amalgam use and the status of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s findings.
