Diabetes and Tooth Loss

The experienced prosthodontists of the Oyster Bay Family Dentists have provided many people with dental implants and dentures. Even if a person suffered from periodontal disease and their teeth become loose as a result, it may be possible to provide them with a second chance at oral health. But gum disease has some complicating factors we want our patients to be on the look-out for, and one of the most common of these is diabetes.

People with diabetes have elevated levels of inflammation and more difficulty fighting off infections. Inflammation is the immune system’s way of isolating disease-causing bacteria and of providing white blood cell support to an infected area. But it also causes pain and discoloration, and when there are bacteria in the gum pockets, it often causes gums to bleed. Gingivitis literally means “gum inflammation” and is usually caused by bacterial infections. If an infection progresses, it could turn into periodontal disease (also called periodontitis), which describes the recession of gum tissue from around tooth roots. This causes teeth to come loose and could result in their falling out.

There is some evidence that gum disease and uncontrolled blood sugar influence each other. People with gum disease have higher glucose levels, and people with diabetes have higher rates of gum disease than the general population. But the relationship also works in reverse; when people with periodontitis are treated, their blood sugar tends to be better regulated. We hope that people with diabetes will understand how important it is for them to maintain their oral hygiene and to continue to see us for regular cleanings.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Oral Systemic Health Connection

Oral systemic health is the connection between oral health and overall health. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted that prove if a patient has poor oral health or a lack of an oral care routine, they have a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. The health of your teeth and gums is critical to maintaining healthy organs. Your best form of prevention is visiting The Oyster Bay Dentists twice a year for routine exams and professional dental cleanings.  

According to numerous studies, there are three ways that oral disease may affect your overall health. First, bacteria from the gums will enter the saliva and from there may adhere to water droplets within the air you inhale each time you breathe. These bacteria may be aspirated into the lungs, and may potentially cause infection. Additionally, periodontal disease that is left untreated can become so aggressive that bacteria may enter the bloodstream and lead to further complications. To keep a healthy body, maintain a healthy mouth by brushing for two minutes at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions or concerns about oral-systemic health, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Post-Operative Swelling

We do a lot of restorative work and extractions at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Some of our procedures can get pretty involved, but tooth extractions are usually a simple process. Following any kind of surgery, some swelling is expected, which is why patients should know what to expect and how to handle it.

The body’s inflammatory response rushes white blood cells and nutrients to the site of an injury. It will usually be more severe following complicated procedures. However, even a simple extraction will result in noticeable swelling within twenty-four hours. Patients should minimize this by using cold-packs. A cold pack can be held against the skin for fifteen minutes at a time, and then removed for fifteen minutes. If all goes well, swelling will peak within thirty-six hours, and patients can then work to reduce it by applying the same procedure with hot packs.

If the swelling continues to get worse forty-eight hours after the procedure, the patient should inform us. We also need to know if the skin turns black or white, as that could indicate infection. For many procedures, patients’ lips are anesthetized. Biting down on them when they are in this state could lead to a lot of swelling, but swollen lips will usually get better on their own unless the skin is broken and they become infected.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

Dental Instruments

We hope all our patients feel comfortable at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. We use a lot of interesting instruments to provide the best healthcare possible, but we recognize that they may be a source of anxiety for some people. Because regular dental cleanings are so important, we thought it would be helpful if patients felt they had the vocabulary to talk about our instruments.

For regular cleanings, our hygienists use handheld mirrors and explorers. The explorer is the hooked metal instrument we use to break up hardened bits of tartar. We also use it to test the sturdiness of enamel and determine whether there is an active infection. Explorers come in many shapes, and some are also called “probes” in reference to how they are used to test whether there is decay in the gum pockets. If there is, a flattened hook called a scaler can be used to clean decay out.

When tooth decay is identified, we have other specialized tools for repairing it. Localized anesthetic is delivered through a syringe and the drill site will be kept under running water to prevent heat damage. The material for the filling will be applied and contoured using a blunt-tipped instrument called a burnisher. Suction hoses called evacuators are used to remove broken up tartar and decayed enamel.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.