Did you know that one of the first areas affected by diabetes is your mouth? “But I’m not diabetic,” you think but ….are you sure? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that approximately 7.0 million Americans are diabetic but undiagnosed and that 79 million more are in a ‘pre-diabetic’ state.Diabetes is a growing problem in America. According to the ADA*, 25.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and 1.9 million more were added last year.Poor blood glucose makes your gums vulnerable to attack by the millions of bacteria currently inhabiting your mouth. Oral symptoms of diabetes include dry mouth, inflammation and poor healing. This infestation can start you on a path toward gingivitis and periodontitis as well as a whole host of systemic health problems including kidney disease and stroke.One way to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels is to have your dentist test you during your twice yearly oral examination. By making this a part of your regular cleaning, you can address current dental concerns while preventing potential future threats. Like an x-ray looks for decay, a simple blood test can be helpful in spotting those first signs of diabetes and pre-diabetes before they wreak havoc on your system.Ask us today about adding a simple blood glucose screening to your regularly scheduled checkup. *Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (released January 26, 2011) http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
Very few people have naturally perfect smiles. The rest of us need a little help. If your smile complaints are minor but bothersome, a technique called bonding could be just what you need to polish that smile.Bonding uses a strong color-matched material made from silicon and resin that can be used to restore or enhance imperfect teeth. Unlike a major restoration like a crown, bonding is best for small imperfections such as gaps, chips, spots and cracks.To prepare the tooth for bonding, we must roughen the surface so that the adhesive can get a good grip and then, add a conditioning agent. We apply the bonding material one layer at a time and use a special light to harden each layer. Once the resin is the correct thickness, we sculpt the material to the shape we need. The final step is to buff and polish the tooth.Caring for a bonded tooth is the same as caring for your natural teeth; however, an abrasive toothpaste can dull the shine and allow stains to develop on your bonded tooth. Frequent smoking, coffee, tea and other dark beverages can quickly stain bonding material. In fact, heavy alcohol consumption will damage the bonding within one year.With good care, a bonding will provide you with between seven to ten years of beautiful grins. Call us today for a consultation.
