The Aftercare of Dental Implants | Chicago Dentist

Getting dental implants can be a nervous time for a patient, but with implants-in-a-day, a patient can have their flawed smile fixed in a single dental visit. Not only is it quick, but the results look natural and feel comfortable.

But once you leave the dental chair, what should you expect? After all, getting a new smile in a single visit must hurt. Quite the contrary – because dental anxiety is a real condition, the patient’s comfort comes into the design of these procedures. However, there is a healing process that will take about 3-6 months, or until the implant fuses to the bone (integration). So, how do you cope during this healing time? Here are some tips:

Physical symptoms. Prepare for some bleeding and swelling for the next 24-48 hours. Gauze will help with the bleeding; bite down on a gauze pad for about thirty minutes. If swelling occurs, ice packs will help to reduce it. Keep something cold on the affected area until the swelling goes down. Warm saltwater rinses are also great to reducing swelling. If you experience any pain, taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen will help the transition as the anesthetic wears off.

Diet. This one will be tricky for a while. The first day, limit your food to liquids and soft textures. As it becomes easier to eat, you can slowly move to your regular diet. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Moving around. You may think you won’t need downtime, but that’s not true. Oral surgery is just like any surgery – relax and focus on the healing process. Too much activity may cause bleeding or throbbing in the area.

If you would like more information about dental implant aftercare, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep with a Night Guard | Chicago Dentist

Failing to get a good night’s sleep is not just annoying, but it can lead to health problems down the road. If you find that jaw pain is coming along with your restless nights, you may be developing bruxism.

Bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding is a very common habit that can also be very destructive to your teeth and gums. Although it’s a good thing that night guards are there to help, as these custom-made oral appliances can help teeth from getting damaged or chipped from the constant grinding. While helpful, night guards need proper care and attention to make sure that you don’t just end up trading one dental problem for another.

Here are some essential night guard care tips that should come in handy:

Brush your night guard. Whenever you take out your night guard in the morning, brush it as you would your teeth. Preferably, use a different, soft toothbrush and a liquid antibacterial soap.

Use the case and keep it clean. You should always clean the storage case for your mouth guard as well. Use liquid antibacterial soap and feel free to use hot water this time around, as it won’t ruin the case in any way.

Take care of your teeth. Before you even think about putting your night guard in your mouth, make sure that you have brushed and floss first.

Have your night guard checked at your dental appointments. Every time you visit your dentist for regular exams and cleanings, be sure that you have your night guard with you so the dentist can examine it for wear and tear, as well as clean it. Although very durable, these oral appliances are not invincible and will need to be pleased eventually.

If you would like more information about night guards, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Dental Implants Can Replace Your Dentures | Chicago Dentist

It’s inevitable. As we progress in age, it is possible that many of us will require dentures, especially when we don’t practice good dental hygiene. Like they always say, “You don’t need to take care of all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.”

If you find that you are on the side of needing dentures, please realize that you may find that wearing dentures to be cumbersome, as they tend to need a lot of maintenance and have a tendency to shift around inside the mouth. This ill-fitting fix to our dental issues not only leads to discomfort and soreness but can even affect our self-confidence.

Thankfully, implantology has progressed to the point that denture issues are a thing of the past. Now dentures can be attached to the mouth with dental implants. During this surgery, your periodontist will place dental implants that vary in size depending on your anatomy. Patients can function well with two implants on the lower while more implants are typically needed on the upper as the bone is softer. This is especially beneficial to those that have difficulty wearing dentures due to their sensitive gag reflex. Upper implants allow the roof of the denture to be removed because it is fixed to the upper jaw.

Now for the advantages – not only will wearing dentures become a whole lot less cumbersome, but this procedure is affordable and minimally invasive. For best and long-lasting results, the surgery is performed by a well-trained surgical specialist, the periodontist in collaboration with your dentist.

If you are considering dentures to improve your smile, discuss your options with your periodontist. You could be the perfect candidate for implants.

If you would like more information about dental implants, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

What to Do When You Develop Receding Gums | Chicago Dentist

There is little more deflating to your smile than receding gums. Not only does it change the look of your smile, but it can also cause your overall demeanor to change as well. We all want a great smile to show off. But receding gums is a natural thing to happen as we age. Fortunately, there are solutions to this dental issue, and it doesn’t have to be as invasive as it once was.

The goal of correcting gum recession is to rebuild the lost tissues and where possible, cover the roots in order to prevent infection. It is important to fix this dental issue before more extreme issues, like infection or gum disease, arise in the future. There are many procedures to accomplish this. One of the earliest treatments published was the connective tissue graft introduced in the early 1990’s, and can be seen in an article published by Dr. Cabrera in The Journal of the American Dental Association in 1995 titled The Connective Tissue Graft, and later reprinted in The Canadian Dental Journal.

But what does this treatment option entail? A very small opening is created either on the roof of the mouth or behind the last upper teeth. The tissue is then secured to the area of recession with small (slightly bigger than a human hair) sutures (stitches). In most cases, recovery is uneventful, requiring no more than over-the-counter medication.

This approach has been refined over the years. Today, we also employ a number of procedures classified as tunnels, which use very small incisions to accomplish the surgery. As you can see, there is no reason to hide your smile with receding gums – visiting a dental professional can easily repair the look of your smile and the health of your gums.

If you would like more information about rececding gums, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt? | Chicago Dentist

It’s very unsettling when we get a toothache. Not only does the pain give you a major headache, but it likely means a visit to the dentist because, unfortunately, we can’t diagnose our oral pain. And there are many reasons your mouth may hurt. Here is a list of possible issues that may have caused your dental pain:

Temperature sensitivity. If you are feeling pain when you eat or drink hot or cold, it is due to worn tooth enamel or exposed nerves.

Gum recession. As we age, our gums begin to recede, and this causes our teeth roots to be exposed, making you more susceptible to gum disease or other oral infections.

Erosion. 12% of people develop “dentin hypersensitivity” because of a highly acidic diet or brushing too hard, which causes your enamel to erode.

Cavities. Poor diet and dental hygiene can cause your teeth to decay, causing cavities. This is why daily dental hygiene is so important.

Gum infection. 47% of adults over the age of 30 develop gum disease at some point in their lives. Keeping dental appointments is beneficial to stay on top of your mouth’s health.

Cracked tooth or crown. If you find that you’ve cracked a tooth or a crown, make a dental appointment as soon as possible to avoid major tooth pain.

Sinus infection. As your sinuses become inflamed and become pressurized, it can affect your teeth.

Jaw clenching. Grinding your teeth wears down your tooth enamel, which then causes your teeth to hurt.

Dental procedures. Dental work can leave you feeling sore. Take heed of your dentist’s recommendations for aftercare.

Teeth bleaching. While they do improve your smile, bleaching your teeth can cause you some discomfort. It’s temporary but avoid overbleaching.

If you would like more information about tooth pain, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Protecting Your Smile from Getting Sick | Chicago Dentist

During the winter months, it is easy to catch a cold if we aren’t careful because germs are running rampant. Add these chillier months are and flu season instantly turns into the worst season, especially for a family with little ones that love to share everything, even germs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children can catch a cold as soon as 6 months old. This is why it is important to take extra precautions during this time of year to keep the entire family happy and healthy. So, as we ride out flu season, and hopefully Coronavirus, keep these health tips in mind. After all, taking proactive measures is the key to prevention.

Eat and stay hydrated. Feed a cold, starve a fever is a general rule we all seem to follow, but saliva is one of our best defenses against bacteria. Staying hydrated will cause saliva production to rinse our mouths of these bad bacteria. Eating lots of crunchy foods like apples and carrots also keep our mouths bacteria-free.

No medications before bed. Lots of cold medicines and cough syrups are very sugary and thick in order to coat and soothe our throats. Avoid taking these remedies before bed as the sugar and acids will remain in your mouth, making homes in our teeth’s crevices and causing cavities and other dental issues as we sleep. Instead, opt for a pill form of medication during these times so there is no sugary residue left in your mouth to wreak havoc.

Remember, if you happen to get sick, make sure to replace your toothbrush afterwards to prevent any further spread of bacteria.

If you would like more information about staying healthy during flu season, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Imbalance in Gum Bacteria Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker | Chicago Dentist

Increases in “bad” bacteria and decreases in “good” bacteria in gums associated with amyloid beta

Older adults with more harmful than healthy bacteria in their gums are more likely to have evidence for amyloid beta—a key biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease—in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to new research from NYU College of Dentistry and Weill Cornell Medicine. However, this imbalance in oral bacteria was not associated with another Alzheimer’s biomarker called tau. 

The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, adds to the growing evidence of a connection between periodontal disease (gum disease) and Alzheimer’s. Periodontal disease—which affects 70 percent of adults 65 and older, according to CDC estimates—is characterized by chronic and systemic inflammation, with pockets between the teeth and gums enlarging and harboring bacteria.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study showing an association between the imbalanced bacterial community found under the gumline and a CSF biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease in cognitively normal older adults,” said Angela Kamer, DDS, PhD, associate professor of periodontology and implant dentistry at NYU College of Dentistry and the study’s lead author. “The mouth is home to both harmful bacteria that promote inflammation and healthy, protective bacteria.  We found that having evidence for brain amyloid was associated with increased harmful and decreased beneficial bacteria.”

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by two hallmark proteins in the brain: amyloid beta, which clumps together to form plaques and is believed to be the first protein deposited in the brain as Alzheimer’s develops, and tau, which builds up in nerve cells and forms tangles. 

“The mechanisms by which levels of brain amyloid accumulate and are associated with Alzheimer’s pathology are complex and only partially understood. The present study adds support to the understanding that proinflammatory diseases disrupt the clearance of amyloid from the brain, as retention of amyloid in the brain can be estimated from CSF levels,” said the study’s senior author Mony J. de Leon, EdD, professor of neuroscience in radiology and director of the Brain Health Imaging Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Amyloid changes are often observed decades before tau pathology or the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are detected.”

The researchers studied 48 healthy, cognitively normal adults ages 65 and older. Participants underwent oral examinations to collect bacterial samples from under the gumline, and lumbar puncture was used to obtain CSF in order to determine the levels of amyloid beta and tau. To estimate the brain’s expression of Alzheimer’s proteins, the researchers looked for lower levels of amyloid beta (which translate to higher brain amyloid levels) and higher levels of tau (which reflect higher brain tangle accumulations) in the CSF.

Analyzing the bacterial DNA of the samples taken from beneath the gumline under the guidance of NYU College of Dentistry microbiologist Deepak Saxena, PhD, the researchers quantified bacteria known to be harmful to oral health (e.g. Prevotella, Porphyromonas, Fretibacterium) and pro-oral health bacteria (e.g. Corynebacterium, Actinomyces, Capnocytophaga).

The results showed that individuals with an imbalance in bacteria, with a ratio favoring harmful to healthy bacteria, were more likely to have the Alzheimer’s signature of reduced CSF amyloid levels. The researchers hypothesize that because high levels of healthy bacteria help maintain bacterial balance and decrease inflammation, they may be protective against Alzheimer’s. 

“Our results show the importance of the overall oral microbiome—not only of the role of ‘bad’ bacteria, but also ‘good’ bacteria—in modulating amyloid levels,” said Kamer. “These findings suggest that multiple oral bacteria are involved in the expression of amyloid lesions.”

The researchers did not find an association between gum bacteria and tau levels in this study, so it remains unknown whether tau lesions will develop later or if the subjects will develop the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The researchers plan to conduct a longitudinal study and a clinical trial to test if improving gum health—through “deep cleanings” to remove deposits of plaque and tartar from under the gumline—can modify brain amyloid and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Additional study authors include Smruti Pushalkar, Deepthi Gulivindala, and Kumar Raghava Chowdary Annam of NYU College of Dentistry; Tracy Butler, Yi Li, Lidia Glodzik, and Karla V. Ballman of Weill Cornell Medicine; Patricia Corby of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine; Kaj Blennow of the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University; and Henrik Zetterberg of the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University, and UCL.

 This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (AG035137, AG032554, AG12101, AG022374, AG13616, RF1AG057570, R56AG058913), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (DE023139), and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1 TR000038), as well as the Alzheimer’s Association (NIRG-12-173937).

If you would like more information about the link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s Disease, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Starting the Year with a Beautiful Smile | Chicago Dentist

Now that we are about to start a brand-new year, we prepare to make necessary changes to live our happiest, healthiest lives. We plan to hit the gym, eat healthier and promise to improve all of the other aspects in our lives that need help. But is your smile on that list? If you are thinking of improving your grin, here is a list of healthy habits to achieve the best smile possible:

Proper dental hygiene. If celebrating the holiday season brings us anything, it’s delicious foods with people you love. But it is important to maintain proper dental hygiene when you do. Keeping bacteria that causes cavities, gum disease and other dental issues is not only done in a dentist chair but at home as well. Brush, floss and rinse frequently – the longer bacteria have to nestle into your mouth’s crevices, the worse off your dental checkups will be.

Don’t judge a tooth by its color. No two smiles are alike. And not having the brightest smile doesn’t necessarily mean that you have poor dental habits because teeth come in lots of different shades. But avoiding overconsumption of foods and drinks that stain your teeth can have an effect if dental hygiene isn’t practiced.

Take preventative measures. It is important that you don’t skip out on your dental visits. Not only does your dental professional give your pearly whites a deep cleaning that they need, but they also check your mouth for any issues that may be developing, including an oral cancer screening. If caught early, treatment can be given to eliminate the issue, so make sure to keep your appointments.

If you would like more information about improving your smile, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Diabetes and Your Dental Health | Chicago Dentist

Over 34 million Americans currently suffer from diabetes – and that’s not counting those that haven’t been diagnosed. Because of this, it is no surprise that many of us are focused on keeping ourselves healthy as much as possible. But did you know that diabetes is directly affected by our oral health, and vice versa? It’s true. Diabetes is a disease focused on sugar levels, and sugar is terrible for our oral health. See, how this can become an issue? Our mouths are the main line of defense to many of our illnesses, so if it becomes compromised, our overall health is affected.

November is National Diabetes Month, so to celebrate, let’s take a look at just how closely diabetes and our oral health is linked. One symptom of diabetes is being excessively thirsty. If you are thirsty, you are not producing saliva, the main defense against bacteria. These bacteria are left to create cavities and other dental issues like gum disease. Bleeding and inflamed gums are common symptoms of gum disease and because diabetes make it harder for wounds to heal, you are more susceptible to more issues if left untreated.

Thankfully, your periodontist will be able to help with this cyclical predicament, but it starts with an appointment. By treating gum disease, you are going to help keep your blood sugar levels in check much easier, as gum disease increases these levels but is rarely taken into account. Proper dental hygiene (including dentures), changing bad habits like smoking and poor diet, and in-office deep cleanings will keep your smiles healthy and diabetes in check.

If you would like more information about diabetes, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

Bridging the Gap: Choosing a Dental Appliance | Chicago Dentist

When it comes to missing teeth, the main goal is to return your smile to its original form. Thankfully, there are many options to choose from, depending on your particular case, and both you and your dental professional will discuss your treatment options before repairing the issues. But what are these dental procedures, and what are the differences between them? The following will break down each procedure and give you some pros and cons for each. Having as much information as possible will not only help your procedure go as smooth as possible, but will ease any apprehension you may be facing:

Tooth-supported fixed bridge. A traditional bridge involves grinding down adjacent teeth to support the bridge. It is a stable solution with good esthetics and function that is fairly easy to install. However, this alternative has two main disadvantages: continuous bone resorption in the edentulous area and sacrificing healthy teeth on behalf of the bridge.

Removable partial denture. This is not a permanent alternative to a lost tooth. It is unstable and loosely attached, which affects both function and comfort. A removable partial denture is made of plastic – a material that can’t create the same esthetic result as a ceramic crown. The benefits are few but do exist; adjacent teeth aren’t affected. It is easily and quickly installed and relatively cheap.

Resin-bonded bridge. This alternative has some clear advantages – it’s quickly installed, functions well and, since it is made of ceramic, it gives a high esthetic result. What’s even better, your natural, healthy teeth aren’t affected at all. Unfortunately, the issue with dental bridges is that they aren’t very permanent. The resin-bonded bridge will eventually come off after just a couple of years and will need to be reinstalled.

If you would like more information about missing tooth options, call Dr. Cabrera in Chicago, IL at 312-994-7939 or visit www.perioimplantchicago.com.

Dr. Peter O. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.