Category Archives: Affects Health

HELP! MY GUMS BLEED WHEN I BRUSH

HELP! MY GUMS BLEED WHEN I BRUSH

Written by Dr. Alice Vessel Do you spit out blood with your toothpaste when you brush your teeth? Are your gums swollen and red no matter how much you brush? You may have gingivitis. GINGIVITIS Gingivitis is inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth. It can be acute or chronic and is a response to…

Read more

KING FOR A DAY! WHAT IS MY CROWN MADE OF?

KING FOR A DAY! WHAT IS MY CROWN MADE OF?

Written by Dr. Alice Vessel Your dentist may prescribe a crown, often called a “cap”, for various reasons. Generally, a crown replaces decayed or broken tooth structure to restore the form and function of the tooth. Then you are hit with a smathering of choices—PFM, gold, ceramic, zirconia… yada, yada, yada. Let us explore the…

Read more

MY DENTIST SAYS I HAVE “DEEP POCKETS” BUT I’M ALWAYS BROKE!

MY DENTIST SAYS I HAVE “DEEP POCKETS” BUT I’M ALWAYS BROKE!

While “deep pockets” are a blessing in the financial world, they are a curse in the dental world. Discovered by using a small instrument with 3-millimeter increments (a perio probe), the measurement is used to diagnose periodontal disease. WHAT IS A PERIODONTAL POCKET? Our teeth are anchored in boney sockets. When a particular type of bacteria…

Read more

THE ROOT OF EVIL

THE ROOT OF EVIL

Nothing in dentistry conjures up fear and anxiety as the mention of a ROOT CANAL. Hallmark would make a mint on condolence cards for those who have to endure a ROOT CANAL. WHY DO I NEED A ROOT CANAL, ANYWAY? When a tooth experiences an insult, such as decay, that invades the tooth, the nerve…

Read more