Preventive Dentistry

Every six months or so you come into our dental office in Sparks to have your bi-annual teeth cleaning. This typically means a little bit of gentle scraping to remove plaque buildup, a thorough flossing, and a finishing polish. While one purpose for these hygiene visits is indeed to get your teeth super clean, there are several other reasons why these twice a year appointments are so important.

X-Rays Provide a Detailed Picture

Your dental hygienist has a trained eye and knows what to look when performing your cleaning, but the human eye can only see so much. That’s why we rely on dental x-rays to get a closer view at your teeth and jaw bone. These images, often produced by safe, low-radiation x-rays, allow both your hygienist and your dentist in Sparks to see any cavities that are still too tiny to see with the naked eye. Some types of x-rays can also show any problems lurking below the actual teeth such as an abscess or bone loss.

We Look at More Than Just Teeth

At each one of your appointments, your hygienist and dentist aren’t only looking for any dental problems, they’re also on the lookout for signs of several systemic diseases. There have been many studies that support a link between oral health and overall health. In fact, sometimes diseases that can affect the whole body are first identified at a dental visit, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. These diseases may include diabetes, oral cancer, and heart disease.

It’s the Best Time to Ask Questions

Over time, teeth may shift, gums may recede, or tooth sensitivity may increase. Your bi-annual dental hygiene appointments are a great time for you to discuss any changes to your oral health or any concerns you may have with your dentist. It’s also when you may choose to talk about any cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry treatments you’ve been debating on for awhile.

Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene at Home

Regular cleanings and exams are a great way to catch and treat any problems before they become larger, more serious issues. But these cleanings alone won’t keep smiles healthy for long. It’s still important to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine at home. This means brushing twice a day and flossing once a day for optimal oral health.

We understand that sometimes it’s difficult to go to the dentist, especially if you aren’t experiencing any pain or suspect any problems. But regular appointments at our Sparks dental office can help prevent those issues from occurring the first place.

If it’s time for your dental cleaning, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

The process of measuring gum pockets, also known as periodontal charting, is pretty simple and should be painless as long as there is no infection. At our dental office in Sparks, when we do a periodontal charting, you’ll hear us call out several numbers as we gently poke along the gum line. These numbers represent how deep the gum pockets are in millimeters. But why are those measurements so important in evaluating overall oral health? We’re glad you asked.

What is a Gum Pocket?

Before we discuss why periodontal charting is important, we should first cover some terminology. When looking at the anatomy of the mouth, it would appear as if the teeth and gums attach along the gum line. However, there are actually six small spaces in between each tooth and the gum tissue. These areas are known as the gum pockets.

What do the Measurements Mean?

As your Sparks dentist measures each gum pocket, you’ll hear several numbers being called out, usually ranging from 1 to 7. You want to hear smaller numbers as these mean a shallower gum pocket and, normally, healthier gums. Check out the guide below for an idea of what each depth can indicate.

• 3 mm – 5mm with no bleeding can be a sign of very early, moderate gum disease

• 3 mm – 5 mm with bleeding is usually a strong indicator of gum disease that’s still pretty moderate.

• 5 mm – 7 mm with bleeding typically guarantees gum disease is active and may have started to deteriorate bone.

• 7 mm+ with bleeding indicates aggressive gum disease that will need treatment or surgery to fix.

Why is Knowing Important?

Since gum disease is a serious problem that can lead to tooth loss, other oral health problems, and even whole-body diseases like heart disease and stroke, diagnosing and treating gum disease early is always ideal. Gum disease treatment can not only make your mouth healthier, it can make your overall health better, too.

Other Signs of Gum Disease

Periodontal charting isn’t the only way to detect gum disease. You should also keep an eye out for:

• Chronic bad breath
• Bleeding gums (it’s never normal!)
• Red, swollen gums
• Loose teeth

If you recognize any of these signs, contact our Sparks dental office as soon as you can.

Using tobacco products of any kind can not only have a detrimental effect on your overall health, there are multiple oral health diseases and problems that can also occur from the habit. Smokeless tobacco, also referred to as, dip, chew, spit, or snuff, is no exception. During this Oral Cancer Awareness Month, the team at our Sparks dental office would like to share some of the risks associated specifically with smokeless tobacco.

Oral Cancer

By now, everyone knows that smoking can cause all types of cancer, including oral cancer. But a lesser known fact is that using smokeless tobacco can also increase the risk of oral cancer. If not diagnosed and treated early, oral cancer can lead to death, which is one reason you should visit your dentist in Sparks at least twice a year. It’s also why you should know the signs of oral cancer, even if you don’t use tobacco. If you notice any of the signs below, call your dentist as soon as you can.

Signs of Oral Cancer

• A white, scaly patch on the inside of the cheek or lip
• Sores or lumps in the mouth or throat
• Trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking
• Sensation of something being stuck in your throat

Receding Gums

Chewing tobacco is typically done by placing a pinch of tobacco in the mouth between the teeth and lip or cheek and leaving it there. This can cause the gums to recede. Gums normally protect the roots of the teeth, but once they recede, the roots and the nerves in those roots are exposed. This makes the chance of developing cavities much more likely. Not only that, it’s also common for people with receded gums to suffer from tooth sensitivity pain.  

Tooth Discoloration

Using any kind of tobacco tends to transform teeth from bright and white to a more yellowish appearance. It’s due to in part to what’s in tobacco products, and also because of how often those addicted to tobacco use it. Nicotine and tar, which are commonly found in tobacco products, are a dangerous duo for several reasons, including discoloring teeth. While nicotine is colorless on its own, when it combines with oxygen, it takes on a yellow tint. When exposed to teeth, the tar and nicotine can penetrate tooth enamel, causing the teeth to appear yellow.

At our dental office in Sparks, we care about the health of our patients. And while we encourage each and every one of them to avoid tobacco, we understand that the habit may be difficult to break. If you’re looking for help trying to quit, we’ll be happy to help. Or head over to the American Cancer Society website to get started today.

Wisdom teeth are often first seen on x-rays conducted during regular appointments at our Sparks dental office. Most often, we can see them as they’re beginning to erupt through the gums. It’s also when we’re most likely to recommend that they be removed. In fact, about 90% of Americans get their wisdom teeth taken out. But why can’t they just stay there?

“It’s Crowded in Here!”

The #1 reason wisdom teeth need to be removed is that there isn’t enough room in your mouth for these four back molars, or “third molars,” to fit. We can typically tell if this will be factor from your x-rays. This is one reason regular visits to your dentist in Sparks are so important. If your wisdom teeth erupt and there’s no room in your mouth, they can become “stuck” in your bone. When this happens, your wisdom teeth are referred to as being impacted. Surgery to extract impacted wisdom teeth can be more complicated, so it’s best if we avoid it by catching any potential problems and removing the teeth early.

Bacteria Love Them

If your wisdom teeth do fully erupt and don’t appear to be causing any problems, meaning there’s no overcrowding, pain, or changes in the function of your bite, they may still need to come out. Why? Wisdom teeth are hard to brush and floss properly, which puts you at increased risk for cavities and gum disease. If any potential problem is lurking in the dark corners of your wisdom teeth, extraction may be recommended in order to keep your smile healthy.

When to Leave Them Alone

It’s rare, but sometimes wisdom teeth grow in just fine and there’s no reason to have them removed. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, positioned so as to not inhibit proper bite or neighboring teeth, and are able to be cleaned properly, it may be best to leave them alone. Additionally, some people may never have to worry about whether to leave their wisdom teeth or get them removed because sometimes, the teeth just aren’t there.

Regular visits at our dental office in Sparks help get and keep your mouth healthy and can also catch any potential problems with your wisdom teeth before they arise. If your wisdom teeth are already causing pain, or removal wasn’t recommended in time before they erupted, call to schedule your appointment today. We’ll make sure to recommend the best option for you and your wise molars.