Family Dental Care Park Ridge

So, in today’s Word of Mouth Wednesday video, I must have set the point of focus on the camera to some other planet because watching the video is like looking at the world without my contacts or glasses on…blurry.  I guess I could say that I was trying to capture a dreamy feeling as I talked about missing teeth…but…no.  So, I apologize for the blurriness of the video.  Sigh.

That being said, today’s topic is not out of focus.  It is, in fact, spot on.  In today’s video I speak to what you need to think about when you have missing teeth.

Here is a list of what you need to know about missing teeth: 

1.) Prior to the extraction, spend some time talking with your dentist about what your replacement options are after the extraction

2.) Discuss with your dentist the possibility of “interim” replacement teeth to be used while you heal and while you make your decision about your final restorative choice

3.) When teeth are extracted and no replacement is made, teeth can tip in to “fill” the missing space but this tipping can create problems of it’s own including bone loss and periodontal issues

4.) When teeth are extracted and no replacement is made, the tooth on the opposite jaw can start to “super erupt” because there is no tooth opposing it to stop eruption from occurring.

5.) There are many options available today to replace your missing teeth.  Even if you have waited a long time after your extraction, there may be something that can be done to fill that open space.

If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth or about anything dental related, please feel free to give us a call or email us.  Dr. Carolyn Demas and Dr. Matt Demas love working with patients to maintain optimal oral health.

And remember, as always….we LOVE making you smile!

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First, a quick apology for not posting a Word of Mouth Wednesday video last week…May has been a very busy month and one of it’s highlights for me was the graduation of my daughter, Kirsten, from North Park University with her degree in nursing.  There was quite literally a lot of pomp and circumstance going on in our lives and so I took a break from my video blog.  But, I am back with some great new ideas for future topics.  If you have ideas and/or suggestions about Word of Mouth Wednesday topics for future video blogs, please feel free to email me with your thoughts and I will certainly give them consideration.

Today, I begin by acknowledging my video blog journey while sitting outside in the same spot that I filmed my first segment of Word of Mouth Wednesday.  The serenity of the location lends itself to our topic today which, at first glance seems like it might be a silly topic whose importance seems almost intuitive.  We are talking about the benefit and power of proper breathing.  Overall, in the freneticism that often is our life here in the United States, we take our breathing for granted…and in doing so, we tend to breath rapidly and shallow.  In an already chaotic life, rapid and shallow breathing can often accelerate our feelings of stress and anxiety.  If we step back a bit and learn to pay attention to our breathing and slow it down a bit, we will notice a reduction in stress and anxiety.  We will notice that taking in more optimal amounts of fresh oxygen will create a higher level of mental alertness.  Mindful breathing helps us to feel centered and gives us a better sense of well being.  It takes practice but because the results are so immediate, you will want to make it part of your daily experience.  Check out Claudia Cummins post on Yoga Journal about Breathing for Relaxation.  With time, we can teach ourselves to breathe more deeply and effectively without even having to think about it.

So, if situations bring you feelings of angst and anxiety, try to take some slow and calming deep cleansing breaths for a while and see if you don’t start feeling more relaxed.  Go ahead…give it a try.

And…remember…as always, we LOVE making you smile…

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On today’s segment of Word of Mouth Wednesday, Dr. Claudia Anderson will talk about the difference between biofilm and plaque and calculus (otherwise known as tartar) . You will find out that

• a biofilm is a sort of mixture of microorganisms such as bacteria that adhere to each other on are reversibly adherent to other surfaces
• plaque is a usually colorless biofilm of colonizing bacteria that attach themselves to smooth surfaces such as your teeth and is easily removable with adequate and accurate brushing and flossing
• calculus, often referred to as tartar, is hardened dental plaque that has adhered to the tooth surface in such a way as to not be removable without the use of special instruments

You will also find out what you can do to decrease the amount of plaque and calculus that accumulates in your mouth and what role prevention plays in your oral health.

If you have any question, please feel free to email us at info@ParkRidgeDDS.com or give our office a call. And remember….we LOVE making you smile!

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Did you know that the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors  National Children’s Dental Health Month during the month of February?  What exactly does that mean for you?

In this week’s edition of Word of Mouth Wednesday, ParkRidgeDDS ‘s Dr. Claudia Anderson will talk about what National Children’s Dental Health Month means and how you can help raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

And remember…we LOVE making you smile!!!

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