Dr Gatti's Blog a Lawrence Dentist Reflections

In today’s world dental implants are no longer considered exotic or experimental treatment. The fact of the matter is that they are now a routine part of dental treatment. If a tooth is lost there are many options available. There are many reasons to consider a dental implant as the first choice. To begin with, an implant will help preserve the bone structure. When a natural tooth is removed, the bone surrounding the area remodels and collapses. An implant will prevent this collapse from occurring. Secondly, if an implant is placed there is no need to alter the natural teeth on either side of the extraction site. Additionally, the final result can be highly functional and appear completely natural.

Often times the ideal time to place an implant is at the same time as the removal of the natural tooth. Depending on the circumstances, it may be that several months will need to pass before the placement of the implant. There are a number of different scenarios that can occur so, it at all possible, it is best to have a plan in mind prior to the removal of a hopeless tooth.

A dental implant can be utilized for the replacement of one tooth or multiple teeth. Additionally, implants have become the treatment of choice to help retain full dentures, particularly lower dentures. In the past, successfully wearing a lower denture was highly unpredictable and long term functional stability was questionable at best. With the placement of two to four implants we can now make it so a lower denture literally snaps into place. This eliminates the denture from slipping or coming out in unintended situations. The long term comfort and predictability can be a real gift for denture patients. We recently completed a case for a woman who was unable to retain her lower denture due to very little bone structure. I received a wonderful note thanking us for making it possible for her to comfortably eat a meal for the first time in over five years. Talk about life altering –  it was truly a wonderful experience for all of us that were involved.

We look forward to discussing the possibility of a dental implant for you, a friend or a family member in the future if the need arises.

At the studio most of your records are acquired digitally and they are all stored in a digital format. What is the big deal you may ask? Well, for starters, acquiring digital x-rays are not only quicker, they require up to 80% less radiation when compared to conventional x-rays. Additionally, once acquired we can highlight, enhance or enlarge areas of concern for better assessment and viewing. Furthermore, we can enlarge the image in order for you to actually see what we are looking at, therefore making it easier for you to understand the situation at hand.

When records are stored in a digital format it then becomes easy and almost instantaneous for us to transfer records to other practitioners. If you have a consultation with a specialist, we can send the radiograph instantly and thus avoid having to hand carry the x-ray or record. Furthermore, it allows the specialist and Dr. Gatti to view the same document and discuss it over the phone if needed.

The digital record benefits our clients in countless ways. If you are moving or are out of town and a dental emergency occurs we can forward the information to another dentist immediately. This insures that the proper information is sent and we don’t have to worry about it being destroyed in the mail. In order to transfer any records it is often necessary for you to provide us with a records release. This can also be accomplished in a rather painless fashion. For your convenience we have a release form located on our website. Go to HYPERLINK “http://www.gattidds.com” www.gattidds.com – scroll down to the Contacting Us tab and then scroll to Release Authorization Form. Once you have completed the form, simply return it to us with the information of where your records need to be sent and it will be handled.

The technology we utilize at the studio is designed to improve treatment so we can better serve our clientele. The digital record is just one more way this technology ultimately enables us to serve you with the highest quality care possible.

Brushing and flossing may help you have better overall health, not just in your mouth. Inflammation of the gums caused by the accumulation of plaque and bacteria above the gumline is called gingivitis. This is an early phase of gum disease and, if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more serious and damaging stage of infection and inflammation. An association between periodontitis and certain systemic diseases has been shown in recent studies. These diseases include stroke, diabetes, low birth weight and heart disease, Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women? Indeed, heart disease has been shown to be four times more prevalent in people who also have periodontitis! More research is needed and is underway to better understand the correlation and impact serious gum disease may have on these and other systemic conditions.

Removing oral bacteria and fighting gum inflammation associated with gingivitis and periodontitis is a simple step that people can incorporate into their daily routines to help keep their mouths healthy and to have a positive effect on their overall health. Please let us know if you would like more specific information on this association between your mouth and the rest of your body or if you would like us to help you with techniques to better remove the oral bacteria from your mouth.