Blog - Periodontal Maintenance

It's hard to believe, but antibiotics destroyed Charlize Theron's baby teeth. "I had no teeth until I was 11," she says. Wow. Great smile now. How'd that happen? (Hint: Great dental care and flossing.)

For most folks, though, it goes the other way: As you get older you tend to neglect your teeth (one-third to one-half of adults in North America don't make their yearly dental check up, and only 36% of women and 14% of men floss even four times a week), which is a big reason why 75% of adults have some form of gum disease.

Gum disease increases the risk for kidney cancer by 49%, pancreatic cancer by 54% ...

If you have noticed that one or more of your teeth have lost some of the surrounding pink gum tissue so that part of the root surface is uncovered, that is an indicator of gum recession. Millions of American have some degree of gum recession, and fortunately, there are very effective methods of treating it.

While gum recession can be unsightly, there are more serious concerns. Tooth root surfaces exposed by gum recession can become sensitive to temperature and pressure changes and can decay or wear away. In very severe cases, teeth can actually be lost. That's because gum or "gingival" tissue, as it is medically known, is supposed to encircle ...

Kendall Bridgewater came to our office after a lifetime of hiding his smile. After a free consult with Dr. Perella, it was decided that veneers would be the best treatment for Kendall.

Here's Kendall's "Before" picture taken on March 12, 2013.

Numerous studies have already touted the possible beneficial effects of red wine on your heart and in preventing cancer, but researchers may have found yet another reason to sip merlot or cabernet--to prevent gum disease.

Polyphenols, compounds found in grape seeds and red wine, appear to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help to limit the amount of inflammation caused by bacterial infections of the gums, also known as gingivitis. Additionally, by reducing the inflammation, these compounds may also help prevent the progression of gum disease into a more serious problem, including periodontitis, a chronic infection of the gums that can lead to bleeding, tooth decay and even tooth loss.

"Our ...

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to make some changes. Whether it's your personal or professional life, let's face it...there is always room for improvement.

The hardest part is being brave enough to acknowledge that a change is needed. Then, the second hardest part, is sticking to whatever is needed to make that change. For some people, it's sticking to a diet, for others, it's practicing restraint. Whatever the mode of change is, it can be a challenge for us. (Which is exactly the point of trying to make change...it's HARD!)

We here at North Palm Beach Dentistry, have made resolutions to better both our personal and professional ...

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus, develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. ...