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Springtime: Time for New Beginnings | Chicago Dentist

As the snow begins to thaw and the sun brightens our world on a more consistent basis, we know that springtime is afoot. The planet is beginning to come back to life and thus breathing new life into everything it touches, including us. There is just something about spring that makes us feel like starting over. The winter may have our resolutions, but it’s the spring that makes us really amped to get out and start fresh.

April 19th is National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, so while you are making your spring cleaning to do list, think about your dental health. It is important take a moment to not only evaluate our current dental hygiene practices, but make sure that our tools are also the most useful products we can have to maintain our pearly whites.

It is a good idea to change out your soft-bristled toothbrush every three months, or after we catch a cold in order to have a clean scrubber that can reach all of your teeth, even those in back. Because we need to brush for at least two minutes twice a day, having a frayed or hard-bristled toothbrush can cause harm to our gums. Not only do you want to keep your teeth clean, but you need to be gentle to your gums in order to prevent damage down the road.

When it comes to floss, toothpaste and mouthwash, these are products that depend on your own taste. If you have questions as to which are best for your particular smile, ask your dentist. Not only do they know which issues you may need to address, but they can also help improve your routine.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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DIY Orthodontics: Dream Come True or Too Good to Be True? | Chicago Dentist

We have all fallen victim to do-it-yourself projects and/or products that seemed incredible “at the time”. And more likely than not, we end up with a frustrated pile of what that project should’ve been or the product we swore was revolutionary up on a dusty shelf.

A popular trend that has slipped its way into our culture is DIY dentistry, but it has progressed further than tying a loose tooth to a door with string. No, now patients are forgoing their dentist and trying to straighten their teeth. The patient takes their own molds or goes to a local facility to have scans taken by non-dental personnel, who then produce clear aligners for their teeth.

Although it may seem like going to the dentist or orthodontist is a thing of the past, take a minute to really think about what is actually going on – it may not be what you think…

Because you do not consult a dentist or orthodontist, you may actually cause more damage because you are unaware of how teeth move. Moving teeth is a slow process and should never be rushed. If moved too quickly, your teeth’s roots may not be able to support biting pressure, in addition to loosened teeth, joint problems and headaches. And though your teeth straighten, if pushed outside of the bone, the result can be extensive gum recession and eventual tooth loss.

It may seem too good to be true, and that’s because it is. Your smile is important and should be taken seriously. Seek competent help and guidance from a well-trained dentist or orthodontist. It may seem like a shortcut, but may end up being more costly than the immediate benefits.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Flu Season Is No Joke for Our Smiles | Chicago Dentist

During the winter months, it is easy to catch a cold if we aren’t careful. Germs are running rampant and flu season is the worst, 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 the final months of the dreaded flu season, 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.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Diabetes and Oral Health: Closer than You Think | Chicago Dentist

Diabetes is a disease that runs rampant through our country. So much so, over 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes – and that’s just counting those that have 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. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Minimally Invasive Procedure in Soft Tissue Grafting | Chicago Dentist

It is important as a dental professional to give our patients the best experience we can, even when it requires a dental procedure that typically doesn’t have the best reputation – gum recession treatment. We are always looking for minimally invasive approaches for the correction of gum recession to ease the comfort of our patients.

Tunneling procedures have been around in periodontics for decades. These procedures are advantageous because small incisions, similar to the ones used in arthroscopic surgery, are also used to complete these procedures.

I had been working on this particular approach to this procedure for several years. In fact, it was featured at the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology. The procedure is carried out by way of a few small incisions above the area of recession.

One of the reasons this procedure is an advancement to the treatment of gum recession is because of the recovery time. Typically, gum recession treatment takes a long time to heal and requires additional visits to the dentist for follow-up treatment. With this variation, dissolvable sutures are used to stabilize the area, allowing the patient to return to their daily practices, such as brushing, very quickly. In addition to a speedy recovery time, the ability to place sutures that will dissolve at different rates is beneficial because there is typically no need to have them removed, making additional dental visits required only in the case of complications arising.

Gum recession is just a fact of life. It is nice to know that treatment doesn’t need to be an unpleasant one.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Soft Tissue Grafting When There Are No Teeth? | Chicago Dentist

Although most people concentrate on the teeth for an attractive, healthy smile, the appearance of the gums cannot be ignored. It has been said that the gums are the frame of the picture. You can have a nice picture, but an ugly frame will destroy the appearance. We will often use soft tissue to enhance the appearance of the tissue in conjunction with new restorations. The following case demonstrates one such example:

This case illustrates a 35-year old physician who was missing two teeth in the front and had a bridge placed many years ago. She did not like the appearance of the bridge and wanted to replace it. The before photos illustrate how an unsightly indentation in the gum tissue compromised the appearance of the bridge. In addition to replacing the bridge, we wanted to improve the appearance of the tissue in order to improve her “picture frame”. Utilizing minimally invasive tunneling procedures, a collagen graft was placed to build out the tissue and create an appearance that a tooth was present, but in actuality, it is missing. The improvement was seen immediately at the time of surgery, and after several weeks in a new temporary bridge, the result is even more apparent. As you can see, we have created the illusion that there are teeth present by simply reconstructing the tissue.

 

If you find that you have gums that are affecting your smile and self-confidence, soft tissue grafting may just be the solution you’ve been looking for. Not only will it improve the look of your gums, but will also give you a discreet way to bring back a reason to smile.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Recession and Permanent Orthodontic Retainers | Chicago Dentist

An important component of orthodontic therapy is retaining the teeth in their final position to prevent relapse. This retention is either in the form of a removable retainer or a fixed, permanent retainer. The latter is typically Used on the inside part of the lower front teeth by bonding a wire to the six front teeth. However, not all wires are passive. In some cases, the wire retains tension and will force the teeth out of the bone over time.

We have seen an increased number of cases over the past few years.

The first case (fig 4) shows the recession and the wire along the tongue side. The second case (5-8) shows severe localized recession due to the torqueing motion of the wire.

This patient reported that she had a failed graft done several months before. In reality, the position of the tooth made it virtually impossible for any graft to succeed. This highlights that the most Important part of any treatment is an accurate diagnosis. The third case reflects the same problem.

If you see recession it is time to visit a periodontist. As part of the comprehensive exam, Dr. Cabrera will check all factors that may be contributing to the recession. If a fixed retainer is contributing to the problem, Dr. Cabrera will inform you and make the appropriate recommendation.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.

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Understanding Gingival Recession | Chicago Dentist

We all want to have the best smile we can, but there are many factors that can take issue to cause it to become flawed. One of these issues that can affect our desire to show off our pearly whites is receding gums. And this is because what most people call gum (gingival) recession is really the visual appearance. In reality, there are a number of underlying factors that lead to the root becoming exposed. In order to have a good, long-term result, all factors need to be diagnosed and addressed. Unfortunately, the visual appearance alone is NEVER a diagnosis. One of the factors that can affect the long-term effect of a graft is whether the teeth are moving outside of the bone. The following case demonstrates one such example:

The patient is a 32-year old female who does not like to smile because of the appearance when she smiles. When the lips are retracted, we get a better understanding of how much recession there is throughout her mouth. In 2005, we successfully reconstructed the tissue that had receded using a minimally invasive approach with connective tissue grafts. The patient did not wear her night guard as recommended to keep her teeth from shifting.

She returned 5 years later because of an increased recession occurring on the front right central incisor. All of the other areas had remained stable except for this tooth. On closer inspection, we get a better understanding of why the one tooth continued to recede. Without the protection of the appliance, the front tooth continued to shift out of the bone, causing the loss of the supporting bone and leading to loss of tissue.

If you find that you are dealing with gum recession, it is important to contact your Chicago dentist as soon as possible to treat this issue.

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

Dr. Cabrera proudly serves Chicago and all surrounding areas.