Dental Implants

At ENVISION Dental we are excited about the advances in dental implants.  They are one of the most signigicant developments in dentistry, and implants have enabled us to improve the quality of our patients' lives.  They are considered to be the "standard of care"!  Implants have been extensively researched for many years and have a very high success rate, often greater than 95%

Implants also have a very high retention rate.  There are now cases that have been in place for over forty years that are working as well now as they did at the beginning.  Patients become excited about implants because they can literally change the rest of their lives. 

After all, the mouth is one part of the body we use all day long- whether we're talking, eating, laughing or singing.  Even during the middle of the night your mouth and teeth are moving.  Implants help our patients feel more comfortable and confident.  

Some of our patients are pleased with the fact that implants are permanent, others enjoy looking better and feeling younger.  Still others are relieved that they no longer have to worry about loose dentures because the retention with implants is so strong. 

Implants are actually placed in the upper or lower jawbone where they bond with the bone and for many cases today, the patient can have a temporary crown placed on the implant the same day.  For others, the implants are allowed to heal and the final restorations are placed at a later date.  There are many options for the final restorations and Dr. Berard can offer you more specific information on which options might be best for you.

The best thing about dental implants is that patients who are missing teeth or suffering from ill-fitting dentures, and the associated discomfort, can now have a predictable permanent result that enhances their quality of life.

Pregnancy and Dental Care!

Dental care is often avoided during pregnancy.  YIKES!!!  This could be harmful to both mom and baby.  Every pregnant woman should be screened for periodontitist, counseled on proper oral hygiene, and treated for preventative and treatment procedures.  According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, dental procedures such as diagnostic x-rays, routine cleanings, periodontal (gum) treatment, fillings and extractions are safe and are best preformed during the second trimester of your pregnancy.  Appropriate dental care during pregnancy may reduce preterm births, low birth weight and infant cavities. 

Lynne
Your Dental Hygienist

To Pierce or not to Pierce...I think not!

The last decade (or two) has seemed to provide an ever increasing number of mostly young people, who are trying to show their individuality or express their personality through body piercing.  Mouth piercings in particular seem to be the most dangerous or have more potential risks than some others.  I was aware of the lip, tongue and cheek piercings, but was just recently enlightened to the uvula piercing that some people choose.  Despite the many reasons that people choose to pierce, I want to share some of the health/dental reasons to reconsider.

There are many potential risks to think about when considering a "mouth" piercing including; infection (sometimes serious enough leading to death), injury to the teeth and gums, damage to fillings, nerve damage, excessive blood loss during or after receiving a piercing, scar tissue, excessive drooling and saliva production as well as possible speech and chewing issues.

Because the mouth is a moist dark area, it is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.  This can cause serious infection of the piercing site and can include painful swelling, possibly to the point of closing off airways.
Sometimes bacteria from the piercing can lead to a potentially life threatening circumstance, such as inflammation involving the valves of the heart and heart tissue called endocarditis.  Anyone with a heart condition (known or unknown) is at risk for this infection and death can result as a worst case scenario.

Another serious risk of mouth piercings in particular is the possibility of nerve damage.  This damage is caused when a nerve is nicked or pierced causing problems that can be temporary or permanent.  Many reports of loss of the sense of taste and a general "bad" taste have been noted.   Some people also develop a hypersensitivity to the metal jewelry they use in these piercings and have a metallic taste in the mouth.  When the nerves of the mouth are damaged it is also possible to have issues with speech and mouth movement.     

Your teeth and gums also run the risk of being damaged with mouth piercings.  According to a dental journal study as reported on WEBmd, "47% of people wearing barbell tongue jewelry for 4 or more years had at least one chipped tooth".  These jewelry pieces worn through the lower lip can also cause your gum tissue to recede or disappear.  Barbell wearers are especially susceptible to developing gum disease, which is an infection of the gums that leads to bone loss around the tooth and eventually tooth loss if left untreated.  Use nylon jewelry if possible to prevent wear on the teeth and gums.

Another very serious result from piercings is the possibility of contracting blood borne diseases from unsterilized equipment.  These types of infections can include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B & C, Herpes Simplex Virus and HIV. 

If you are considering getting a piercing(s)  please make sure that you thoroughly research the facility and person doing your piercings and be aware of the potential risks. 

Sedation

If it has been years since you have visited a dentist or if you are fearful of going to see a dentist we may have just the solution for you, sedation dentistry.  With a small pill you are able to relax comfortably while your treatment is being completed.  Often in just one visit.

So, what does your smile say about you? 
Does it say "I'm confident and happy" ...or

Does it say "I'm embarrassed and uncomfortable"?

I want you to ENVISION your ideal smile.  What would that look like?  I'm guessing that it would include straighter, whiter and brighter teeth.  Right?

Your vision can happen!!  I know what I have mentioned is a little scary but I also know that some of you out there will have the courage to call the office to schedule that NO CHARGE Consultation you have been putting off for forever.  Come meet the Envision Dental Team today!!

Pregnancy and Oral Hygiene

What does Oral Hygiene and Pregnancey have to do with one another?

While Pregnancy can be a very exciting time in your life there are a lot of different changes taking place in your body and in your mouth as well. Good oral hygiene is very important during pregnancy because of the increase in hormone levels that can cause dental problems to be intensified.

During pregnancy one of the most common dental issues is a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. This is a condition that usually occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. The symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis usually include bleeding, red, tender and swollen gums.

Maintaining good oral health could also be very important to your unborn baby. Some research has suggested that the serious stage of gum disease know as periodontitis, could cause premature birth and low birth weight.

The following tips can help you achieve and maintain good oral health throughout your pregnancy.

* Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. This is the best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

* Brush your teeth properly at leat two times per day to remove plaque, focusing on the gumline.

* Floss your teeth daily. Flossing will remove food and debris from in between the teeth reaching areas that a toothbrush will not reach.

* Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help prevent gingivitis.

* Brush or scrape your tounge daily to help remove bacteria. Tongue scrapers can be found near the toothbrushes in your local drug store.

* Eat nutritious meals and healthy snacks. Remember that foods like cereal and crackers are carbohydrates and turn to sugar...that means more risk for cavities so at least rinse with water after eating these foods!

You now have the information to protect your oral health so sit back, relax and enjoy this special time in your life.

(Lynne, your hygienest at ENVISION Dental would love to help you achieve your optimum oral health).

P.G.A. Tour

I am so excited to share with you the latest news about Makkar Pure Power Mouthguards(R). Remember back to the Super Bowl this year and how the New Orleans Saints were wearing mouth guards that helped to increase flexibility, strength, balance and endurance? Well, these amazing mouth guards are now helping thousands of athletes improve their performance in their own field-of-play, be it football, baseball, skiing, hockey, golf or ANY sport requiring physical exertion. Just this summer the PPM became the official mouthguard of the PGA tour. Visit the PPM web-site at Makkaradvantage.com to see more about the PPM and to read testimonials from different professional athletes.

The PPM(R) is a custom-fitted appliance offered to everyone through a PPM certified dentist like Dr. Berard. Call the office today and we will get you on your way to your BEST physical performance.

Kyle and Janet had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of local golfers at the 2010 Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing in Traverse City last month and sharing the advantages of the PPM. Ever heard of the "pen test"? It's how we can help determine if the PPM will help improve your performance. And it's fun too!!!

Now "I don't have any headaches!"

"For nearly 20 years I suffered from sometimes debilitating headaches. As the years went by the headaches became stronger and more frequent in nature. Diagnosed as migraines, cluster headaches and finally "facial pain of unknown origin", no treatment was able to reduce or eliminate my headaches or provide significant relief. My painful headache episodes, which often involved pain lasting more than 48 hours, could only be somewhat relieved by narcotic pain medication. After numerous trips to various doctors, including neurologists and other specialists, (and being subjected to) CAT-Scans, MRI and other diagnostic tools, no definitive causes were determined. It was finally recommended to me by an ENT specialist that I seek out a doctor of dentistry familiar with the latest techniques in neuromuscular dentistry.

Much to my relief, I was able to find Dr. Thomas Berard right here in Traverse City! After a consultation with Dr. Berard, where he explained that 80% of headaches are caused by an incorrect bite or muscle tension relating to TMD (tempormandibular disorder). I availed myself of his services, and the virtually painless process of identifying the specifics of my problem and creating an orthotic to treat it were completed. Despite my suspicions, after so many years of suffering, I'm incredibly grateful to have been absolutely 100% headache and pain free since just a week or so after beginning to wear my othotic device! Dr Berard's treatment has radically improved my quality of life and I would enthusiastically encourage anyone suffering from migraines or other headaches, who are not finding relief, to consult with Dr. Berard and his Team at ENVISION Dental."

"The simple fact is that I just don't have headaches anymore!!!!! It feels like a miracle..."
Brian B.