Blogging w/ Dr Lovda

Dental implants are a wonderful means to replace missing teeth, and have numerous advantages over more traditional options, such as fixed bridges and dentures.  However, like anything else related to the human body, they require constant attention when maintaining your oral health.  Brushing and flossing twice a day are still the gold-standard in preventing gum disease and tooth decay, but I have had numerous patients ask me the following questions...

"Dr Lovda, can dental implants get cavities?"

"If my dental implant is made of metal and porcelain, why do I need to brush it?"

"Can dental implants fail?"

All great questions so far.  The answer is YES!  While dental implants are made of metal and porcelain (both prosthetic materials), your body is still the "host" and must be maintained in a healthy manner.  A great analogy would be comparing a well-built house located on top of a sink-hole... causing the house to fall apart as it tragically falls into the developing sinkhole.  Your alveolar bone (i.e. jaw bone) and the supporting gingival (i.e. gums) tissue are still affected by bacteria and infections.  While it is true that bacteria cannot cause porcelain or metal to decay, the bone and gums around the implant certainly can, leading to an infection that can cause an dental implant to fail.

"Dr. Lovda, how do I prevent my dental implant from failing"?  Another great question.  For the vast majority of patients, dental implants fail due to lack of good home care.  Brushing, flossing twice a day are the gold standard and should never be put off.  Avoid drug use and consuming tobacco in all forms.  Maintain a healthy diet with minimal refined sugar consumption.  And lastly, visiting Lovda Family Dental every 6 months for a professional cleaning and check-up will put you at huge advantage in maintaining excellent health.

"What can break a natural tooth, can break a fake tooth."  There is immense truth in this statement.

Do you have dental implants?  Have you had a dental cleaning and check-up recently?  At Lovda Family Dental, my team and I take pride to explain, and if necessary, demonstrate the necessary oral hygiene skills needed to maintain excellent oral health.  Contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office today for a fresher, brighter smile tomorrow!

Till next time, keep brushing and smile on!

-Dr Lovda

As of January 1st, 2020, Illinois became the 11th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.  While the long-term effects of marijuana consumption is unknown at this time, I have instructed my team at Lovda Family Dental to take the appropriate steps in recognizing and understanding the known effects on an individual's oral health, as well as overall well-being.  I would like to share some information below that I feel will help our patients and local community of what I will be looking for when I perform various dental procedures and check-ups.

First, marijuana is most commonly consumed via smoking.  Smoking, whatever the substance may be, is very detrimental to the oral mucosa and salivary flow within the oral cavity.  Inhaling marijuana smoke results in high intraoral temperatures that can lead to damage on the cellular and molecular level.  Similar to tobacco, these changes can result in the abnormal tissue growth and cause delayed healing to an injured area of the mouth due to a lack of subsequent blood-flow.  For example, a patient undergoing a tooth extraction may experience a "dry socket" and/or an infection.

Secondly, the strength of marijuana is very hard to standardize.  According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, marijuana can be up to 30x stronger than just 20 years ago, and the degree of potency can vary between cultivators.  As a healthcare practitioner, this concerns me deeply in regards to informed consent, which I require before various dental procedures.  It is important that my patients understand the benefits and potential complications when I ask for their consent to start a procedure.  Therefore, if I feel a patient who is under the influence of marijuana cannot fully understand a procedure that is about to be performed, I will ask that the appointment be re-scheduled out of concern for patient safety.

To all my patients, both current and future, please don't hesitate to ask myself or my team at Lovda Family Dental at our Hoffman Estates, IL location any questions you may have regarding marijuana and its effect on dentistry.

Sincerely,

Dr Lovda Jr

The demand for dental implants is growing in the United States and throughout the world.  There are several reasons for this… such as increased public education, a maturing population, ill-fitting or poorly made dentures, and the high success rate of dental implants.  Several scientific studies conducted by the AAOMS (American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons) have concluded that 69% of 35-44 year-old patients have one or more missing teeth, and 25% of elderly patients will be completely tooth-less.  Add in the fact that the US Census predicts the US elderly population to double in size by 2050, and it is easy to see why dental implants are an increasingly in frequency.

At Lovda Family Dental in Hoffman Estates IL, we understand the priorities of our patients when replacing a missing tooth.  That is why our team provides the latest in dental technology when discussing, planning, and placing dental implants to replace missing teeth to ensure your smile lasts a lifetime.

Broken or Missing Teeth?  Call and schedule a consult with Dr. Lovda today!

Happy Holidays from Lovda Family Dental!

The holidays are notorious for sweet indulgences and acidic beverages that can turn a joyous holiday season into a painful dental emergency.  Fortunately, we at Lovda Family Dental have come up with some tips to protect your oral health throughout the festive holiday season.

1. Remember to drink water after enjoying champagne or sparkling wine.  We can help return the gums and teeth to a normal balance If we drink water immediately after consuming sugary beverages.  Also remember, purified water is much healthier than flavored, “enhanced” bubbly water.
2. Chewing gum is a great way to help clean the tooth surfaces after meals.  If done in moderation, chewing gum does not cause temporal-mandibular disorder, also known as TMD.  In fact, chewing gum helps the body remove remaining food particles and sugar off the surface of teeth, preventing tooth decay.  Xylitol-based chewing gum has been known to increase salivary production, a crucial part of maintaining a healthy smile.
3. Enjoy the sweats in moderation.  Dental decay is notorious for occurring during the holidays due to the presence of so many sugary treats.  While saliva does help clear sugar from tooth surfaces, frequent indulgences can easily overwhelm our ability to prevent tooth decay from occurring.
4. Brush your teeth!  This is obvious, but frequently overlooked when the stresses of the holidays slowly creep up.  Coffee, sugar, red wine, and carbonated beverages are all causes of dental decay, and can lead to tooth pain or fracture.  Once a tooth is fractured, dental implants are highly recommended to restore a healthy smile.
5. Do not chew ice!  This is frequently overlooked cause of cracked and broken teeth.  Ice is incredibly hard and when chewed, can put an enormous amount of force on the surfaces of teeth and cause fractures.  Again, once teeth are broken, dental implants are primary method for replacing teeth.

CONTACT US!

With the holidays upon us, contact our Hoffman Estates, IL office to schedule a check-up with our team at Lovda Family Dental!

Happy Holidays!