F.Y.I. - (For Your Information...)

Did you know that in a given week we see over 200 patients at West Bay Dental? With this many appointments being made and kept by you, we thought we should say "Thank You." Why? Because without you there would be no West Bay Dental. Without you being on time, we wouldn’t run on time for our next patient. Without you, we wouldn’t offer some of the latest techniques that modern dentistry has to offer after learning them in a continuing education course. So, when you look at it that way, you understand why we enjoy seeing you come through the door and smile at us. Without you, we wouldn’t have one of the greatest jobs in the world.

The Only Constant Thing is Change.

As a private, fee-for-service dental practice in Bay City we have many patients from our hometown. But did you know that many of our patients come from Pinconning, Auburn, Reese, and Standish? A couple dozen makes drives of over 2 hours while there are a handful that come to West Bay Dental from out of state! This far flung "empire" of patients has driven us to create a presence on the World Wide Web (WWW) so that all who want to know about West Bay Dental can do so and keep up to date with us easily and economically via this web site. You can also send us e-mail via our web form.

Moms and Dads, We Need Your Help!

Recent months have highlighted a continuing challenge for us at West Bay Dental: informed consent and health history updates. When you bring your minor child for dental work, there is the implication of informed consent by making the appointment and bringing them in for the visit. However, bringing in your child and not remaining in the waiting room leads to some problems. What if the procedure changes slightly? Who decides what is best for the child? What if we get done in 10 minutes instead of 30 because everything went very well? So, for children under 16 we ask that you remain in the waiting room if at all possible. If a caregiver (baby sitter, grandma, etc…) brought the child, please be sure they can make decisions regarding your child’s dental health. Turning down fluoride because they don’t know if insurance will pay is not in your child’s best interest. If they bring them, please be sure they know your wishes as well.

For children over 16, a bigger dilemma exists. While these children can drive themselves (and others) to their dental appointments, they are not old enough to give consent or to make decisions about treatment. If an under 18 year old is going to bring themselves to the appointment (perhaps with siblings in tow) please be sure to stop in during regular office hours BEFORE the appointment to update and give consent for the work to be done. This only needs to be done once a year or before a group of appointments so that the proper fillings or treatment is carried out for your child. Obviously, if something has changed within the health history that may alter treatment and update may be filled out at any appointment. Examples of items requiring an update would be: a change in medication, diagnosis of a life altering disease (diabetes, heart murmur, cancer), or diagnosis and/or treatment of an event leading to dental complications (surgical correction of a broken limb or pregnancy).

We are pointing this out not to be complicated in our treatment of your children, but to make sure that your children receive the appropriate care with your wishes followed. West Bay Dental prides itself in providing some of the top dental care you will ever receive, and we try to treat every patient as we would ourselves in the same situation. However, our beliefs and your wishes may not be identical and we have an obligation to meet your desires and respect them.

Gum Disease and Heart Disease Linked

Recently published research has linked the presence of gum disease with the risk for heart disease. There are many risk factors linked to heart disease such as smoking, heredity, and being male. However, smoking and gum disease is easily controlled by the person involved. So treat your gum disease today to have a better chance of living health tomorrow.

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Floss before you brush. Floss behind the last tooth of the arch, even though another tooth doesn't touch. Buy a toothbrush between your regular 6 month checkups. Chew sugarless gum, especially after meals when you can't brush. After getting teeth pulled, use bags of frozen vegetables as ice packs. They conform to your face nicely. To help tooth pain, use Motrin, Advil, or ibuprofen if you are able to. Aspirin is your second choice with Tylenol a distant third. If you lose a temporary crown, "re-cement" is with denture adhesive, vaseline, or sugarless gum until you contact the office for an emergency appointment. DO expect your dental work to wear out. Fillings are expected to last two to seven years; crowns seven to fifteen (with appropriate maintenance) before needing replacement. Expect dentures to become looser over time. The dentures don't change, you do.

DO NOT use Superglue for anything in your mouth. Even using it on dentures can make a repair difficult. Don't forget to schedule a regular exam for denture wearers yearly. Two reasons: 1) oral cancer exam; and 2) check the fit of the denture. Do not take anyone else's antibiotics, even if you have the same symptoms. When antibiotics are prescribed by anyone, take them as directed and take the correct number of days worth. If the bottle says finish it, then do so.

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You can have a healthy smile on the outside and have severe gum disease on the inside without even knowing it! In fact, gum disease is the chief cause of tooth loss after age thirty-five! That means gum disease can catch you by surprise unless you take steps NOW to prevent this serious dental disease.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is the destruction of the supporting tissues around your teeth. It is the most common, non-contagious disease in the world, afflicting over 75% of the U.S. population. Chances are, you may already have the beginning stages of gum disease!

Because gum disease is often painless in the early stages, it may go unnoticed until it's almost too late. That's why daily home care, regular dental checkups, and professional cleanings are so vital to prevent gum disease.

In its advanced stages, gum disease can cause the loss of perfectly healthy teeth. Yet, you'll be pleased to learn that most patients who use effective oral hygiene, combined with regular professional care before the disease advances, will never lose a tooth as a result of gum disease!

Modern dentistry has much to offer in the way of prevention and treatment of gum disease, including state-of-the-art techniques that weren't available to you even a decade ago. When you come in for regular dental checkups, we can help you prevent gum disease before it gets the best of your smile!

The primary cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque . Plaque is a sticky, transparent film of bacteria and salivary protein that accumulates on your teeth. When plaque remains undisturbed for more than 24 hours, minerals found in your saliva combine with plaque to form calculus (tartar) . That's why it's so important that you floss at least once a day and brush thoroughly at least twice a day (brushing after each meal is preferred).

The build-up of calculus acts as an irritant and wedges your gums away from the tooth root, forming periodontal "pockets." These spaces between the roots of the teeth and gums can become filled with more bacteria and food debris, paving the way for gum irritation and infection.

Healthy gums are usually firm and pink, and fit securely around each tooth to keep food and bacteria from reaching below the gum line. When the infection spreads to the supporting structures, then advanced periodontal problems start.

If you pay close attention to the health of your teeth and gums, there's no reason why they shouldn't last as long as you do. Recognizing gum disease in its early stages can make the difference between suffering premature loss of your teeth and keeping your natural teeth for a lifetime. We're here to help you win the war against gum disease and preserve your healthy smile. Don't let gum disease go unnoticed. Even if you have no noticeable symptoms, call and schedule your cleaning and periodontal charting today. If you wait until it hurts, it may be too late!

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