Did you know that if you need a periodontal tooth cleaning that having a regular cleaning could actually be a disservice to the health of your teeth and gums? Yes that’s right! Many patients have questions about the difference in teeth cleaning treatments and today we are here to discuss the differences in these types of cleanings.

There are 3 types of cleanings, depending on how healthy your gums are. The term gum disease—or periodontal disease—describes bacterial growth that gradually destroy the tissue surrounding and supporting the teeth. X-rays give a clear view of any bone loss and tartar under the gum line.

“Periodontal” means “around the tooth” and hygiene probing measures the seal around the neck of each tooth. When you hear the hygienist calling out numbers during gum measurements, low numbers are the best. If the numbers are under 4, you will need a regular cleaning. If the numbers are 4 or above, then a deep cleaning may be required.

Healthy Gums & No Bone Loss

The Regular Cleaning

Gums are healthy. The regular cleaning removes tartar, stain and plaque from the enamel above the gum line.

Healthy gums appear pink, they do not bleed and they hug each tooth tightly. Shallow pocket depths are measured when probed. Normal is between 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters. No tartar or bone loss is detected on the X-rays and gums do not bleed!

Routine dental cleanings are recommended twice a year to keep your gums and teeth in a healthy condition. Gum disease is fast progressing and just because your gums are healthy doesn’t mean you should take them for granted.

Inflammed Gums but No Bone Loss

The Gingivitis Cleaning

If bleeding and inflammation are present, your gums have the early signs of periodontal disease. A gingivitis cleaning removes tartar, plaque and stain and deep tartar incrusted deep below the gum line. This takes more time than a regular cleaning.

Diseased gums easily bleed when probed because of infection and inflammation. They appear red and puffy and their pocket measurements are deeper. Pockets that measure 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters indicate signs of disease.

X-rays detect deep tartar under the gum line at the neck of the tooth, but the bone crests are still intact. Gums can return to a healthy state with frequent regular cleanings and consistent home care.

Bleeding Gums and Bone Loss

The Periodontal Disease Cleaning

Here your gums are forever in a diseased state, but still manageable. This cleaning removes deep tartar incrusted on exposed roots, as well as infected and inflamed bone and gum tissue. Anesthetics are used for comfort. Sensitivity occurs because exposed root is porous and no longer insulated by the dome of enamel. Diseased bone bleeds easily, pus is visible and root surfaces are exposed because of the receding gum and bone tissue. X-rays show bone loss advancing and deep tartar encrusted on the exposed roots.

Routine visits to the dentist may be recommended more often than twice per year. Dentist approved plaque-removal devices, such as special toothbrushes, toothpicks or water irrigation tools can improve your at home care. Prescribed anti-plaque, anti-tartar toothpastes and rinses can also help and maintain a healthy mouth.

There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for periodontal disease, depending on its severity.

Nonsurgical treatments include:

Scaling: The removal of tartar and bacteria from teeth and beneath gums. This is usually done in a standard professional teeth cleaning.
Root planing: Smoothing the root surfaces to discourage further buildup of tartar and bacterial toxins.
Antibiotics: May include topical antibiotics like mouth rinses and gels, or oral antibiotics.

Surgical treatments include:

Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery): Lifting back gum tissue, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and root planing. The underlying bone may be recontoured so that it will be easier to clean the area around the gums.
Soft tissue grafts: This reinforces soft tissue lost to gum recession. A small amount of tissue from the roof of the mouth is relocated to the gum line in order to reduce further gum loss, cover exposed roots and improve appearance.
Bone grafting: This is done when the bone around the tooth root has been destroyed and helps prevent tooth loss by holding the tooth in place. It also promotes bone regrowth.
Guided tissue regeneration: This promotes regrowth of bone through the use of a biocompatible fabric being placed between the bone and tooth. The material prevents unwanted tissue from growing so that the bone can grow back.
Enamel matrix derivative application: This procedure, another form of guided tissue regeneration, involves the application of gel to a diseased tooth root. The gel contains the same proteins that naturally exist in developing tooth enamel. Its application stimulates healthy bone and tissue growth.

Periodontal disease is something you have to monitor your whole life, kind of like your blood pressure. You can reverse gum disease in it’s early stages, but once the gum detaches, bone is lost and/or the root surface is exposed, you can only treat it to decrease further deterioration. Call Dental TLC at (404) 255-2273 today and schedule your next dental cleaning. It’s our priority to give you the appropriate cleaning to maintain healthy gums and teeth!

Most people don’t tend to place the same importance on dental health as they do on their medical health, though the oral cavity is a mirror that can reflect and unravel many of the human body’s internal secrets.  Systemic diseases can manifest oral symptoms at an early phase, which can be crucial for a diagnosis and timing of treatment. Depending on the condition, areas such as the soft palate, hard palate, tongue, gingiva, oral mucosa, the dentition, periodontium, or the salivary gland tissue can all be affected.

Just as there is a blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from toxins in the blood, there is a barrier between the gums and teeth and the rest of the body. This barrier breaks down a little bit every time there is inflammation or an infection in the mouth, triggering disease and dysfunction in other parts of the body.  It’s important to realize that your dentist sees much more than just your teeth!  Research shows that more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations.  A few health-related conditions that can show up in the mouth include:

Diabetes

High sugar levels in saliva can help because bacteria to grow in the mouth, meaning people with diabetes have a much higher risk of infections in the mouth from bacteria, viruses, yeast, and fungi. Trouble controlling blood sugar results in a higher risk of severe gum disease and tooth loss. Diabetes can also cause less saliva to flow, which also poses a risk for gum disease and tooth decay.

Cancer

Treatment for cancer can cause many oral health problems, such as bleeding, sores, and infections from yeast, fungus, or bacteria. It can also cause dry mouth, where there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps prevents infection, gum disease, and tooth decay. Dry mouth puts you at higher risk for these problems. The inside of the mouth can also become inflamed and sore (oral mucositis). This can cause pain and difficulty eating, tasting, swallowing, or speaking.

HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS virus puts patients at risk for dental decay, gum disease, and mouth infections, like oral warts, yeast infections, sores and blisters. Patients with HIV/AIDS are also at a higher risk for oral hairy leukoplakia, a white fuzzy growth on the tongue or insides of the cheeks or lips. The medications used for treatment can cause dry mouth, which raises the risk of tooth decay, severe gum disease, and infections in the mouth. Conversely, infections in the mouth can make controlling HIV/AIDS more difficult.

Hyperthyroidism

People with overactive thyroid have a higher risk of tooth decay and severe gum disease. They also have a risk of thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) in the jaw that help hold the teeth in place. And some people have burning mouth syndrome, a condition where the lips, tongue, or mouth feels hot.

Sjögren’s syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that is caused when the immune system (white blood cells) turns against the body’s own cells. It is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in dry eyes and xerostomia. The immune system attacks the moisture-producing glands and causes dryness and other problems in the body. This puts people with Sjögren’s syndrome at a higher risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.

Iron deficiency / Anemia

If a person has had blood loss or a health condition that destroys red blood cells, this causes anemia. With anemia, not having enough blood cells means the tissues of the body don’t get enough oxygen. In the mouth, this may lead to gum disease.

Leukemia

Leukemia, as well as subsequent chemotherapy, has a distinct effect on dental health, which means that dental hygiene should be a priority when a patient is fighting the disease. One of the first signs of leukemia can be gingivitis, or swelling and bleeding gums.

Eating Disorders (bulimia and anorexia)

Food restriction often leads to nutritional deficiency. Nutrients that promote oral health include calcium, iron and B vitamins. Insufficient calcium promotes tooth decay and gum disease; even if an anorexia patient does consume enough calcium, they also need enough vitamin D to help the body absorb it. Insufficient iron can foster the development of sores inside the mouth. Insufficient amounts of vitamin B3 (also known as niacin) can contribute to bad breath and the development of canker sores. Gums can become red and swollen—almost glossy-looking—which is often a sign of gingivitis. The mouth can also be extremely dry, due to dehydration, and lips may become reddened, dry and cracked.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The bacterium that causes periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, increases the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), leading to an earlier onset of the disease, and causes symptoms to progress more quickly. Doctors don’t know for sure how gum disease and RA are linked, but both diseases have inflammation in common, which may explain the connection. Inflammation is a protective immune system response to foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria. But with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly triggers inflammation even though there are no viruses or bacteria to fight off.

If you have any of these health conditions, work with Dental TLC to make sure your mouth stays healthy. Continue to take good care of your teeth and gums by brushing and flossing regularly. You also may need to see us more often for checkups, x-rays, and cleanings. Tell us about any concerns of your oral health you have, such as sores, white patches, pain, or other problems in your mouth. Together you can keep you and your mouth healthy.

Watch Dr. Simian explain how healthy teeth result in a heathy body:

Happy Valentine’s Day to our valued patients

Valentine’s Day is a holiday tailor-made for dental offices, don’t you think? And with all that hugging and kissing going on, who better to give you a few tips on keeping that kisser fresh and clean than us? Here are four tried-and-true ways to ensure you’re imminently kissable this February 14th! (Healthy Teeth= Healthy Body)

1. Floss and brush before you go out.
2. Brush your tongue, or use a tongue scraper as an added measure.
3. Stay hydrated. This one trick alone can help you stay fresh. So important!
4. Bring along some sugar-free Xylitol gum to cover you up in a pinch.

Try each one of these Valentine’s Day tips, and you’ll feel confident while close all day long!

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Please do not forget to use the #DentalTLCHalloweenCostumeContest2017

Dental TLC Halloween Costume Contest 2017

Legal Jaron:

UPDATE: The winners are…

Most Likes Winner: Jaren Sutton

Staff Favorite Winner: Kim Phelps Garrison

Congratulations!

Play for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

Take a funny selfie and post it on our Facebook Page with hashtag #dentaltlcselfiecontest for a chance to win a $100 gift card!

This contest BEGINS on June 7, 2017, and ENDS June 30, 2017. The selfie with the most likes by June 30, 2017 wins!

We will announce the winner on Facebook on July 8, 2017.

Steps to win:

1. Come into the office and snap a funny photo of yourself. Must be an in office selfie.
2. Post the photo on our Facebook Page with the hashtag: #dentaltlcselfiecontest
3. Wait patiently and hope you win

No go forth and be funny and keep it clean folks! Please don’t touch our office equipment!

Legal Jaron:

Dear Valued Patient,

We at Dental TLC thank you for being a part of our dental family and want to let you know that we value every minute of the time we get to spend with you!

Our goal at Dental TLC always has been – and always will be! – to provide outstanding dental care to our patients. Our TLC Team consists of only the most compassionate and talented doctors, hygienists, assistants, and office staff to ensure our patients get the very best care. We are also committed to treating our patients in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere in a state-of-the-art facility with high quality materials. We are Atlanta’s Fun Dental Experience!

The costs of providing the best care (like many other costs) have gone up over time. As a practice we must account for the increased costs in order to continue to deliver the exceptional, fun and comfortable service that you expect from us. We are changing the way people view going to the dentist. We will not compromise our high standards of service that you deserve.  Adjusting fees allows us to continue to provide an awesome experience for our patients.

In order to continue to provide the exceptional standard of care that brought you to our office, we will be increasing our fees for most services effective January 1st 2023.

The increase to our office fees will still keep us within industry standards and are in response to rising costs for supplies and great talent.  For industry fee examples you can visit https://fairhealthconsumer.org/.

The good news is that for most of our patients who have insurance and are currently NOT paying an out-of-pocket amount for their preventive and diagnostic appointments (your exams, cleanings, x-rays, etc), there will likely be no change for you at all!

For some of our patients whose insurance pays less than 100% for your preventive and diagnostic services, if you are on a fee schedule, or if you are a self-pay patient, there will be a slight increase to your out-of-pocket cost for services completed in our office. If there is a change to your out-of-pocket cost for an upcoming scheduled appointment, we will contact you in advance of your visit to communicate the updated amount that would be due at the time of your appointment.

For our patients without insurance we provide an in-office membership plan – Smile Advantage. The cost of our membership will go up at the same time as our office fees. For more information about our in-office membership go to Dental TLC Membership.  Sign up for the current Dental TLC membership plan and get a significant savings on your cleanings!

As always, we appreciate your business and loyalty! You are the reason we come to work every day! We want to continue providing you with Tender Loving Care here for many years to come!

If you would like to come in for your cleaning or treatment prior to the fee increase, please call our office and we will be happy to schedule you to make sure that you can take advantage of our current fees.

Watch Dr. Abbott break down them importance of dental x-rays!

Let me ask you a question.  Would you mind if your dentist was blind?

Of course you would! I know it’s a silly question but it’s actually not that far-fetched. You see, a dentist’s eyes can only see about a third of your tooth. Most dental problems are hidden in the blind spots between your teeth or underneath the gums where bone loss occurs. 

X-rays are a valuable snap-shot in time of your ever-changing dental health. Your dentist can look back in your X-ray history and compare for change.  X-rays are essential for diagnosing your present state of health or disease and they are also the standard of care!

People’s safety concerns about X-rays are subjective and are typically about radiation exposure. Check out our video to learn some interesting facts about X-ray radiation exposure or visit American Nuclear Society.

Dental X-rays are the lowest priced services on our dental care menu, yet they offer you the highest value that being early-detection, and prevention so problems don’t get worse.

X-rays are the best dollar you will ever spend at Dental TLC! An average filling will cost you a couple of hundred-dollars. If that small cavity grows into a root canal and crown, then you are looking at a-couple-thousands of dollars! Help us help you SAVE MONEY!

Please understand, we cannot provide you with our best without strapping on this vest!

Here are some hard facts from the American Nuclear Society that better communicate how safe X-rays are. 

For example, a round-trip flight from Atlanta to LA expose passengers and crew to more radiation than an average set of dental X-rays.

“And Airline crews fly day in and day out every single day, 365 days a year”.

Here’s another interesting fact.

International Safety Standards allow nuclear facility workers radiation exposure of up to 5,000 millirems per year.  That’s equivalent to 10,000 dental X-rays. 

It’s fair to say you won’t ever be getting 10 thousand dental X-rays in a lifetime

So it’s safe to say, you’re safe.

You can find out more from the American Nuclear Society and view the Radiation Dose Chart by going to ans.org.

Dental X-rays are the lowest priced services on our dental care menu, yet they offer you the highest value that being early-detection, and prevention so problems don’t get worse.

X-rays are the best dollar you will ever spend at Dental TLC!

An average filling will cost you a couple of hundred-dollars. If that small cavity grows into a root canal and crown, then you are looking at a-couple-thousands of dollars! Help us help you SAVE MONEY.

Please understand, we cannot provide you with our best without strapping on this vest!

Simply stated Dental X-rays are the best dollar you will ever spend at a dental office.

Dental X-rays are both safe for our patients and safe for Dental TLC.  Our staff is fully committed to clear communication with our patients.  To set clear expectations and the standard of care of what a dental visit entails and what your responsibilities as a patient are.

Yep, it’s true. Starting in January 2017 we began offering more opportunities for new and existing patients to make appointments for treatments and consultations!

We know people have very busy schedules and making a dentist appointment isn’t always an easy thing to do. Hopefully our new extending ours will allow people to ease their schedules and reduce stress while making oral health a priority.

We’re opening up earlier and staying open later Monday through Thursday and are opening brand new hours on Friday and select Saturdays. Even with opening earlier and later appointment slots during the week, it may not be possible to work an appointment into your schedule. So, we also going to be offering office hours during select Saturdays! Office hours during the weekend is pretty rare in any industry let alone dentistry. We are still closed on Sundays though…come on we have to sleep sometime!

New office hours:

Monday: 7:00am – 6:45pm
Tuesday, Wednesday: 6:20am – 6:45pm
Thursday: 6:20am – 6:45pm
Friday: 6:20am – 12:45pm
Select Saturdays: 10:00am – 1:45pm
Sunday: Closed

See our calendar for more info and holiday hours.

These new hours began on January 1, 2017. Hey, a New Year’s resolution to make that dentist appointment is a great idea! Book your spot before they fill up…Request an appointment now!

Are you a new patient? Take advantage of our New Patient Coupon and review the New Patient information before your appointment.