Happy Heart: The Dental Connection!

Medical doctors and dental health professionals have debated over the connection between gum disease and heart disease.  While there may not be a unanimous consensus on whether there is a direct link - or the extent to any link there may be - several studies offer some interesting insights into possible correlations that may prove that there are some common factors that point to a likely correlation between the two.

THE LINK

Dr. Simone Ricketts reported on the findings of an Australian study that showed that 70% of the patients that participated in the study who needed heart transplants also had gum disease. A similar study also noted that patients that needed cardiac surgery procedures, were more likely to have dental problems.

Gum disease has been shown to increase the risk factor for blood vessel and artery diseases when those arteries supply blood to the brain.  This is especially important for strokes because they are a common cause of inadequate blood flow to the brain.  Interesting to note is that the gums of people
with gum disease and the blood vessels of people who had atherosclerosis tested positive for similar types of bacteria.  Also, both patients with atherosclerosis and those with gum disease showed the presence of inflammation in their bodies.

While there may be no guarantee that the absence of gum disease will prevent all heart related disease, patients need to understand the importance of taking care of their mouths and doing whatever is necessary to ensure or support heart health!

If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Memorial Day 2016!

Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service to our country. Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Today, while there is certainly an air of remembrance on Memorial Day, it has become more of a day to spend time with family, friends and loved ones. And, of course, the day is also heralded as the unofficial start of summer, with many schools finishing for the year around this time!

From community parades, backyard cook-outs, fireworks to formal ceremonies, Memorial Day is truly commemorated in many different ways.  No matter how you choose to spend this day, take a moment to remember all of those who have lost their lives in an effort to preserve our precious freedom!

God Bless,
DRT

Triggers: The Dental Connection!

Suffering from sensitive teeth cannot only be very frustrating, but it can also be a pain that is very difficult to deal with.  Tooth sensitivity can be unpredictable, so there is not necessarily a medication that you can take like you would if you felt a headache coming on.

However, there are certain things to know about dental sensitivity called "triggers." Attempting to identify these so called triggers can help decrease the discomfort.  Common triggers include:












Acidic Foods
















                                             Very Cold Foods












Very Hot Foods












                          Hard or Crunchy Foods

Other options to help decrease dental sensitivity include using a toothbrush made just for sensitive teeth, using a toothpaste that includes anti-sensitivity ingredients, and maintaining regular dental cleanings to decrease the concentration of bacterial acid contacting the tooth surfaces.  Finally, once your teeth are clean, there are some professional desensitizing agents that can also be applied with relatively good success for those patients that are debilitated by their dental sensitivity.

If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Atmosphere: The Dental Connection!

From your very first visit, our entire team strives to provide excellent treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.  Your thoughts matter, so we thought that we'd ask you, our wonderful patients: What do you like most about our office?  Did our team brighten your day?   With so many dental choices, what makes our office special and different than all of the rest?

Whether you've just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we'd love to hear your feedback. You can post your responses here, on our Facebook page or by giving us a call at 918-455-0123. We count it a privilege to be a part of your life, earning your trust, and appreciate the opportunity to improve your dental health!

Thank you!
God Bless,
DRT