What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a chronic disease that damages the gums and bone that support our teeth. It is the main reason why adult patients lose their teeth.

One of the earliest signs of periodontal disease is bleeding gums. Some people erroneously attribute bleeding gums to overzealous tooth brushing.  Gum tissues bleed and turn red because of the accumulation of   plaque, a soft film of bacteria, around our teeth. Inadequate daily oral hygiene allows this plaque to build up. When the plaque builds up over a prolonged period of time the gum tissue becomes inflamed. After several weeks the inflammation becomes chronic. Chronically inflamed gum tissue can become sensitive and is prone to bleed easily. While bleeding gums is one of the early signs of periodontal disease, bad breath is also a common sign due to the unpleasant odor of plaque.

The chronic inflammation of the gum tissue eventually elicits and auto immune response from our body which results in a breakdown and loss of bone surrounding the teeth. As the disease progresses the redness will increase. The gum tissue may appear swollen and might eventually recede. As the bone loss continues the teeth will become loose and shift position. Ultimately the teeth will be lost.

The good news is periodontal disease can be controlled. Daily flossing and brushing along with regular dental hygiene care can remove the plaque   that cause the problem and reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

What is Periodontal Dosease

Periodontal disease is a chronic disease that damages the gums and bone that support our teeth. It is the main reason why adult patients lose their teeth. One of the earliest signs of periodontal disease is bleeding gums. Some people erroneously attribute bleeding gums to overzealous tooth brushing.  Gum tissues bleed and turn red because of the accumulation of   plaque, a soft film of bacteria, around our teeth. Inadequate daily oral hygiene allows this plaque to build up. When the plaque builds up over a prolonged period of time the gum tissue becomes inflamed. After several weeks the inflammation becomes chronic. Chronically inflamed gum tissue can become sensitive and is prone to bleed easily. While bleeding gums is one of the early signs of periodontal disease, bad breath is also a common sign due to the unpleasant odor of plaque. The chronic inflammation of the gum tissue eventually jadfjelicits and auto immune response from our body which results in a breakdown and loss of bone surrounding the teeth. As the disease progresses the redness will increase. The gum tissue may appear swollen and might eventually recede. As the bone loss continues the teeth will become loose and shift position. Ultimately the teeth will be lost. The good news is periodontal disease can be controlled. Daily flossing and brushing along with regular dental hygiene care can remove the plaque   that cause the problem and reduce the risk of periodontal disease.

Poughkeepsie Dentist, Are Amalgams (Silver Filings) Safe?

In recent years some concern has arisen regarding the safety of amalgam (silver) fillings. Some small isolated studies seem to indicate that some of the mercury in amalgam (silver) fillings might   turn to vapor and be released in the mouth while chewing. The word amalgam is defined as a combination of diverse elements: a mixture. The silver fillings that dentists use are called amalgam. It is a compound composed of silver, copper, tin and zinc bonded together by mercury.

The few studies that seem to indicate that a possible health concern regarding amalgam are isolated studies. The results of those studies have never been duplicated in controlled environments with reputable scientist.

The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that upwards of 75% of dentist use amalgam to restore teeth. The ADA also states it believes amalgam fillings to be a safe. Along with the ADA, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the FDA believe amalgam is a safe an effective filling material. The only reason not to use amalgam is when a patient has demonstrated and allergy to the material.

Although the scientific evidence shows that silver fillings are safe many patients have expressed a preference not to use them. Some are still concerned about the mercury but most simply prefer the more esthetically pleasing alternative of composite or porcelain, the so called “tooth colored fillings”.

In our office we generally elect to use the tooth colored filling unless the situation calls for the need for some of the properties unique to the amalgam filling material.

For more information, please feel free to contact our office at (845) 471-4383.

Does Your Mouth Feel Like the Sahara Desert?

Does your mouth feel like it’s as dry as a desert? You are not alone. Over 25 million Americans suffer from dry mouth. The actual discomfort associated with dry mouth is not the only problem. Other problems that accompany dry mouth include difficulty chewing and swallowing, an increase in dental decay and gum disease and bad breath.

So why do so many people have to live with “cottonmouth?”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, over 400 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can lead to dry mouth. The list includes 8 of the 10 most frequently used prescriptions. It’s also caused by mouth breathing, dehydration and decreased salivary flow due to aging.

Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking are also among the leading causes of this problem. So if you need another reason to stop smoking and cut down on your drinking there it is.

There are several things you can do to reduce the damage caused by dry mouth:

1-Chewing gum that contains Xylitol (we discussed this in a previous blog)

2- Drinking  plenty  water to stay hydrated

3- Breath through your nose not your mouth (that’s a hard one)

3- Frequent brushing and rinsing with a  fluoride toothpaste and rinse

4- Daily Flossing

5- Using a room vaporizer to add moisture to the air in your home

Since dry mouth can also be a sign of a serious illness and cause an increase in cavities and gum disease, excellent oral hygiene and regular dental exams are a must. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us at 845-471-4383 to set up an appointment or visit our website at http://www.docwillo.com

You Have Better Things to Do with Your Time

I am sure you have better things to do then spend unnecessary time in the dental chair. If you have a tooth that is broken or severely decayed, it usually requires a crown. In most other dental offices that means one visit to prepare the tooth, take an impression and make a temporary. Then in about 2 weeks you must return for another visit to have the temporary removed and the crown  cemented into place. In my office we feel that’s wasting too much of your valuable time. We have invested in the CEREC restorative system. This is a chairside computer that allows us to fabricate   most of the crowns that my patients need, in about 1 hour. There is no need to return for a second visit. There are no  gooey  impressions. No temporaries to worry about falling off. Using a digital blue ray camera and CAD CAM technology we can make a beautiful all porcelain crown in about one hour. The fit is terrific and some people feel since it is bonded to the tooth that it is stronger then conventional crowns. All we do is take a picture of the prepared   tooth. Design the crown on the computer and send   it to the milling machine and that is it. All done in about one hour leaving you time to do the other important things in your life. So if you find that you need a crown and you don’t have time to waste, give our office a call.

Teeth Grinding Dr. Willoughby Poughkeepsie

Are Your Teeth Getting Shorter?

Take a look at your teeth.  Do they look shorter then they used to be?  Do they look worn?  Do the edges of your front teeth feel sharp?  If you answered yes to any of these questions you might be a bruxer or grinder.  A bruxer is someone who has an unconscious habit of grinding or clenching their teeth.  Most bruxers grind their teeth while sleeping and are unaware that they do it.  Unexplained headaches and facial pain may also be signs of a bruxism habit.  Over time grinding may cause fractures of the teeth or fillings.  It can also lead to teeth looking worn and give the appearance that a person is older then their actual age.  Some ware on teeth is normal.  However if you feel you might be an excessive bruxer, speak to your dentist about constructing a niteguard.  It won't stop the grinding but it can minimize the damages caused by grinding. 

For more information about teeth grinding, or to schedule an appointment please contact our office at (845) 471-4383.

Meet Dr. James Willoughby, Poughkeepsie Dentist

Teeth Whitening at Dr. Willoughby's Dentist Office Poughkeepsie

Teeth Whitening at Dr. Willoughby's Dentist Office Poughkeepsie

Teeth whitening has one of the highest patient satisfaction ratings out of any dental procedure and the amount of whitening that can be achieved is amazing.  I get many questions from my patients about the difference in over the counter whiteners and the whitening services that I offer in my Poughkeepsie dental office.

To start, there are many systems available to use to whiten your teeth.  All use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the whitening agent.  The difference in over the counter vs. our systems is that dentists can use and dispense higher concentrations of whitening agent.  Thus improving the results and shorting the time required to achieve results.

Some people have success with using over the counter whitening strips.  These strips seem to work well for some people and not so well for others.  The problem is that there is no way to tell before using the product, which patients these products will work well for and which patients they will not work well for. 

In my office we offer Venus White Ultra trays and ZOOM chair-side whitening.  Venus White Ultra trays are pre-filled trays that our patients take home.  The patient wears the trays on their upper and lower teeth for one hour each day for seven to fourteen days.  For patients who want to receive faster results we offer ZOOM chair-side whitening.  The procedure takes about two hours.  The patient sits comfortably in our dental chair while a light shines on their teeth activating the whitening agent.  Most patients watch TV or listen to their Ipods.  Both systems can achieve amazingly white teeth with no alternation to the tooth.  The chair-side procedure is usually a little more costly but the results are achieved much faster.  
The take home kits work very well but requires more time and commitment from the patient.

Please feel to call our office at anytime with questions regarding teeth whitening or to schedule an appointment to have your teeth whitened today!  We service the entire Hudson Valley and are located at 46 Fox St. in Poughkeepsie New York.

Dentist Recommends Chewing Gum!

Surprised that a dentist would recommend his patients chew gum?

Well it’s not just any type of gum. It has to be gum, or sucking candy, that contains a special sugar called Xylitol. Xylitol looks and taste like regular sugar and is used as a sweetener in a variety of gums and candies.

Most gum and candy contain regular table sugar. Regular table sugar is used as a food source by decay forming bacteria in our mouths. These bacteria release an acid byproduct that eats into the surface teeth and starts the decay process.

Xylitol is a sugar that decay forming bacteria ingest but cannot metabolize and therefore, they eventually die off.  This allows healthy bacteria to flourish and increase in numbers. Studies have shown that taking in 5 to 10 grams of xylitol per day can reduce acid forming bacteria by up to 95% in 6 months. So go out and have all the xylitol sweetened gums and candy that you want and see you teeth get healthier then they have ever been.



For more information on how to keep your teeth healthly, contact Dr. James Willoughby at docwillo.com.