What's New...
Hi everyone! Well holiday season is already upon us and it's time again for holiday parties and fun.just remember to floss and brush after the Halloween candy and holiday snacks!. Congratulations to one of our hygienists, Gina! She is pregnant with her second child. Gina and Amy both have 1 year olds and they are growing up fast!.Diane's son, Michael, just graduated from pilot training in the US Air Force and will be continuing his program flying F-16's!! Dr.MacKnight's son, Eric, is in his senior year at Ohio U. He will be co-oping in electrical engineering winter quarter..We hope Rainey, Tina's friend, continues to recover from his surgery. We also welcome new central sterilization assistant, Margaret, who has lots of dental experience. Karen, our receptionist, recently vacationed in Disney World with her family.

Did you know you may have a chronic silent disease lurking in your body? Did you know that even though this disease may not have any noticeable symptoms, it can affect many other organs or health problems in your body? And did you know it is the number one threat to oral health? The culprit.Periodontal Disease!

Yes, it IS possible to have this disease and not even be aware of it. While gum disease affects as many as 74% of the North American population, it is a treatable and preventable disease. Gum disease occurs in two forms: Gingivitis, which is usually the initial stage of the disease, is the most common form. Gingivitis is caused by plaque and calculus (tarter) building up on the teeth and under the gums. It forms daily and will accumulate if you don't brush at least twice daily and floss on a daily basis. Missed areas can occur even with the best home care, so regular dental cleanings and oral exams are a must at least every six months, and sometimes more frequently if periodontal disease is detected. Its symptoms are usually red, puffy gums, which may be totally painless or not visible. This leads to bleeding gums, which may be the first sign of gum disease that the patient may notice in the form of a "pink toothbrush" or spitting blood in the sink after brushing. This does not happen in a healthy mouth. Gingivitis can usually be easily treated in the dental office with cleanings, and sometimes followed up with prescription rinses. It will return, however, if the patient doesn't floss and brush daily, have a healthy diet, and have regular cleanings and checkups.

Periodontal disease is caused by the same plaque that causes gingivitis. Gingivitis, if left untreated develops into periodontal disease. Bacteria grow on the plaque and calculus and they secrete toxins, or poisons, which damage the gums. These toxins break down the connective tissue which holds your teeth in their sockets. As the tissue and bone slowly dissolve, more bacteria get in these crevices, accelerating the bone loss, and eventually causing tooth loss. That's bad enough. But as Paul Harvey says, here's "the rest of the story". Scientists are finding that gum disease can be a risk factor, aggravating certain conditions such as heart disease, hardening of the arteries, stroke, diabetes, pre-term births, and osteoporosis. They have studied for years the connection between bacteria in the mouth and the risk of heart valve infections and now we are learning that many conditions and diseases can be affected by poor oral hygiene. It is another risk factor for these diseases, just like smoking and obesity. Former Surgeon General of the United States, Everett Koop once said "A person is not healthy without good oral health". The good news is. you can prevent gum disease! Don't put off untreated dental care and keep your regular preventive check-ups.

The First Dental Implant Was Done In Ancient Times!

It was reported in 1998 that French anthropologists found the remains of a metal tooth
in the skull of a man who lived 1900 years ago. The man was estimated to be 30 years old when he died in the first century A.D.. He was buried in a Gallo-Roman grave in France. The iron implant appears to have been heat-hammered into shape, then pounded with a hammer into the empty tooth socket. The implant appears to have successfully fused and healed to the bone! Wow.surgical technique has changed a lot since then!

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