Healthy teeth are important to our everyday life and overall body health. Recent news and research has perked my interest as a dentist regarding a sugar substitute called Xylitol. Xylitol was first discovered in the late 19th century by German scientists, however it was not until the 1970’s that its benefit for teeth was discovered. When Xylitol is introduced into the oral environment, it inhibits the bacteria in the mouth from producing acid. It is this harmful acid that is now the known cause for enamel destruction in the form of tooth decay. The bacteria that reside in the mouth, in plaque, and on the tooth surface are constantly being “fed” each time food and drink are ingested. After eating sugar, it takes 30 minutes for the mouth’s pH to return to a neutral pH. If sugar is eaten many times during the day, an “acid bath” will occur causing damage to the enamel thus causing tooth decay.
Adding Xylitol to your daily diet insures that harmful bacteria like lactobacillus and streptococcus mutans are reduced by as much as 90%, as well as, stimulating a healthy flow of saliva. The combination of reducing bacteria and increasing salivary flow drastically decreases one’s risk for dental cavities. The dental community including myself believe that 5-10g rather 3-8 pieces of Xylitol chewing gum is sufficient for caries prevention. Xylitol chewing gum should be used after meals or snacks for approximately 20 minutes or until the flavor is gone. Saliva tests and Xylitol containing products can be purchased at my Riverside Dental Wellness Office located off of Magnolia Avenue (951)686-3666.
Cosmetic Dentistry on a Budget, Financing, and Payment Plans:
With the economy in dire straights, many of us are cutting back spending whether it be from job loss or preparing for better financial stability. Unfortunately, we cannot always rely on our dental insurance to cover all dental procedure expenses. Financing issues are the main reason why men and women delay their dental treatment. Forgoing dental procedures over time leads to problems worsening and in many cases causes added expense to the patient. Due to our economy, many of my patients are turning to the various financing options that I offer.
All members of my Riverside Cosmetic Dental office team are knowledgeable about the financing options that our office offers. In-office payment plans, all major credit cards, and the Care Credit financing company are our office’s main financing options. During your visit, our dental team will help support you in making a financial decision that is in your best interest and is most comfortable for you. In addition, my Riverside Cosmetic Dentistry office accepts most PPO insurance plans, which allows patients more financial flexibility. My dental team and I understand that budgeting is extremely important, which is why our office offers various choices to meet your dental needs.
If you have a dental concern and are unsure if you can afford treatment, please call my Riverside Cosmetic Dental office located off of Magnolia Avenue (951)686-3666. A member of my dental team will assist you through the financing process and schedule your appointment.
Dental calculus or tartar accumulates overtime depending upon how much plaque is on one’s teeth. Plaque forms on the teeth in layers and if not removed frequently it hardens and becomes dental calculus. Dental calculus /tartar is composed of mineral salts, food, and other debris. Dental calculus is a hard (calcified) substance that appears on the tooth surface as a yellowish-white color or yellowish-brown color.
Dental calculus can form either above or below the gum-line. When the tartar forms beneath the gum tissue or at the gum-line it can be very dangerous. This accumulation of dental calculus/tartar is a resting place for bacteria that is harmful to the gum tissue and underlying bone tissue surrounding the teeth. If this tartar build-up resides at or below the gum tissue for an extended length of time it causes infection and bleeding. Over time, this leads to periodontal disease which is a disease that causes bone and tissue loss surrounding the teeth. Dental calculus/tartar forms in layers above the gum-line and if left for an extended amount of time can lead to cavities. The areas where dental calculus/tartar form quickly are; the tongue side of the lower front teeth and the cheek side of the upper back teeth. Tartar/calculus build-up occurs in these locations frequently because they are adjacent to 2 major salivary glands.
Frequent visits to the Dental Hygiene department at my Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office will help keep dental calculus at bay. My Dental Hygiene team has years of experience with dental calculus removal techniques as well as trained eyes to spot any beginning tissue inflammation. My team of Dental Hygienists’ will also provide you with education and tools to use at home to better assist you with your daily oral health. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness to visit our Dental Hygiene team at (951)686-3666.
Lasers are becoming increasingly popular in assisting dental hygienists with dental cleaning appointments. My dental hygiene team has extensive training in the prevention of periodontal disease using the periodontal laser. If gingival (gum) inflammation and bleeding is present during your routine cleaning, the periodontal laser is used to detoxify the infected areas. If periodontal pocketing is also detected with bleeding present, the periodontal laser is used to heal the infected area. Our dental hygiene team uses the periodontal laser to detoxify and heal the infected areas and in some cases use the laser to remove diseased tissue. Removing diseased gum tissue will allow your body to heal itself more efficiently. When the gum tissue is detoxified there is less bacteria present thus keeping the tissue healthy and free from infection. Our dental team believes in using non-invasive procedures to prevent and treat periodontal disease. Many other offices still use antibiotics as their first line of defense in treating gum disease. In most cases, treating periodontal disease with antibiotics is providing only a “band-aid” to the condition. Therefore, the periodontal laser is superior for its tissue removal and detoxifying abilities. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office for further information on treating gum inflammation and periodontal disease (951)686-3666.
Oral cancer is considered the sixth most common cancer in the world. Tobacco and alcohol use are considered well known risk factors in developing oral cancer. Recently, human papillomavirus better known as HPV is Typically, oral cancer manifests itself painless however by the time an individual feels pain, it is typically too late to treat. Our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office is dedicated to oral cancer prevention. Our dental team highly recommends all patients be screened once a year for oral cancer. Velscope technology is used along with a clinical examination to detect the early stages of cancer. The Velscope oral cancer screening is non-invasive and only takes a few minutes. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office for a complete oral cancer screening at (951)686-3666. Below are the most common areas where oral cancer manifests itself in the mouth.
- Tongue: The sides of the tongue are the most common locations when finding oral cancer. Typically, cancer on the tongue is found on the left side. Examine both sides of the tongue on a regular basis for red or white lesions.
- Floor of the mouth: This is the second most common area in the mouth for cancer. Cancerous lesions on the floor of the mouth look like a red-white patch or ulcer.
- Buccal mucosa: The cheek tissue can also get cancerous lesions that appear as a red-white patch.
- Gingiva: Cancer also can manifest itself along the gumline as a red-white thickening of the tissue.