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5 Dental Myths That Are Killing Your Smile

January 30, 2018

Filed under: Blog — Tags: , , — wemakeyousmile @ 10:00 pm

Dentistry isn’t unlike other forms of medicine in that are a number of ways to treat one issue. While we dentists and doctors appreciate feedback and numerous sources of information, some information out there — especially online — isn’t credible.
George A. Hoop, DDS, PA our Fort Myers FL dental office and North Naples FL dental office can assist you in keeping your mouth healthy forever. We have a great dental hygiene team that can assist you in the office and help you build a great at-home hygiene routine. There are dozens of little things you can do to improve the help of your teeth, but here are some dental myths you need to avoid for the better.
You can call us right now at 239-734-7737 to schedule your first visit with us. Here are some dental myths dispelled so you can decipher fact from fiction.

1. Bleeding Gums Are No Big Deal. MYTH

Having bleeding or swollen gums is no small problem. Just because this is a relatively common problem doesn’t mean it’s not a serious problem. Bleeding or swollen gums are the first sign of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and we now know that periodontal disease is connected to serious problems health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
We can reverse gum disease in its early stages, but advanced gum disease is not curable. You’ll need treatment for the rest of your life. That’s why it’s important to catch this problem as early as possible.

2. Sleep Apnea Isn’t Dangerous. MYTH   

Sleep apnea is one of the most misunderstood problems in dentistry. It’s often lumped into the category of harmless snoring, but the truth is that sleep apnea can be deadly. Sleep apnea occurs whenever you experience pauses in breathing. That alone can be damaging to your health, and it’s even possible to stop breathing entirely. People with severe sleep apnea can experience 30 or more pauses in breathing every hour.
There are two forms of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs whenever soft tissue blocks the airway during sleep. Sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP. People with sleep apnea often find this form of treatment unbearable, so they don’t treat the problem.
Leaving sleep apnea untreated can increase your risk of overall health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and even stroke. We know that many patients with sleep apnea cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, and that’s why we’re offering a special sleep apnea oral appliance. The custom appliance positions the lower jaw forward to help patients struggling with obstructive sleep apnea. The appliance is custom, and unlike a CPAP, it’s easy to travel with.

3. You Don’t Need to Floss. MYTH

Last year, the medical benefits of floss was called into question, but the news reports mostly scrutinized the studies relating to floss not the act of flossing. We dentists still maintain that floss is one of your best defenses against periodontal disease.
And if you’re still not convinced, consider this fact: Only about 65 percent of the tooth is above the gum line. Brushing will clean the surface of the tooth, but flossing can clean the area beneath the gum line. So, when you neglect floss, you’re neglecting about 35 percent of the tooth and possibly putting yourself at a higher risk of gum disease.

4. A Root Canal is Dangerous. MYTH

Having a root canal is easily the most feared procedure in dentistry, but we believe it’s just misunderstood. A root canal is needed whenever decay has reached the nerve or whenever an abscess has formed at the root of the tooth. We call this a root canal, but it’s really “root canal therapy,” as we clean out the roots to make the tooth healthy again. Once the root canals are cleared, we’ll fill the canals and then generally restore the tooth with a crown.     
Root canal therapy saves the tooth from extraction. There are some who claim root canal therapy is dangerous, but that is an unfounded medical theory. This theory developed more than 100 years ago, and the dentists who started this myth was an advocate for extractions. Despite the rumors and myths, root canal therapy isn’t painful and it’s successful more than 98 percent of the time. In many cases, root canal therapy can keep the tooth healthy for the rest of your life.

5. A Denture Works Like Your Natural Teeth. MYTH

Removable dentures are the oldest type of replacement tooth option. While dentures have evolved over the years to be more lifelike than ever, removable dentures can still not match the function of natural teeth. Plus, dentures can change shape over time because of changes in the jawbone after the tooth are lost. People with removable dentures often complain about a bad denture fit or not being able to eat the food they love. And denture patients even have to worry about their teeth coming loose while they speak.  
In our office, we’re offering dental implants to replace missing teeth or to stabilize dentures. Our dental implants nearly match the function of your natural teeth. With dental implants, you can eat whatever you want again, and you’ll never have to worry about your teeth falling out while you eat, laugh, or smile.

Don’t Fall For Bad Dental Advice!

We only get one set of permanent teeth, so it’s important to keep our teeth healthy and strong. Following bad dental myths or avoiding your dental visits will only cause more frustration and heartache down the road. For great preventive and restorative dental care, give us a call today at 239-734-7737.

Ease Your Jaw Pains, Headaches at Our North Naples FL Dental Office

January 18, 2018

Filed under: Blog — Tags: , — wemakeyousmile @ 9:00 pm

As a long-time general dentist, I have treated patients of all dental complications. I take pride in ensuring that my Fort Myers FL dental team and North Naples FL dental team are updated with the latest technology and treatments.
At George A. Hoop, DDS, PA, we study every possible way to give you a better smile and help you feel better. One area where we’re making huge gains is helping patient relieve jaw pains and headaches. These two problems can hugely affect your everyday life, and they are often related to the temporomandibular joint.

What is the TMJ?

The TMJ is a joint that connects the jaw bone to the skull. Like any joint, there are muscles and tendons around it. These muscles and tendons are responsible for allowing you to open and close your mouth. We open and close our mouths thousands of times a day, whether we’re eating or speaking. When the joint and muscles are not working together, you can have a problem known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
About 15 percent of adults have TMD, and it occurs more often with women between the ages of 20 to 40. A few common signs of TMD are:

  • Clenching or grinding teeth
  • Change in your bite
  • Pain while chewing
  • Tooth pain (sometimes similar to nerve pain)
  • Headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Earaches
  • Stiff jaw muscles

TMD will not go away on its own, and it typically gets worse with time. Not only will the pain sometimes increase overtime, but having TMJ problems can sometimes increase the likelihood of wearing down the enamel of your teeth or chipping or fracturing teeth.

How We Diagnose TMD

Some people have TMJ and have no idea they have a problem. Or, they might have daily headaches but have never considered a jaw problem to be the source of the problem. We assess every patient who comes to our office to see if they have any jaw problems. We conduct this short assessment by moving the jaw around and checking out your bite.
We also feel for inflammation around the joint and jaw muscles. In some cases, a patient with TMD will experience clicking, popping, or even grinding of the jaw.

Treating TMJ Problems

Because TMJ often causes patients a great deal of pain — whether with headaches or jaw pains — some people turn to medications to combat the pain. It’s not uncommon for dentists who treat TMD to see patients who have used medication for years. Our treatments do not require medications.
There are a few common ways dentists want to treat TMD: orthodontics, full-mouth reconstruction, or surgery. The first two solution focuses on correcting the bite, while the third option targets the jaw joint. These are all expensive and often invasive ways to treat your issues.
There are some jaw exercises  we can show you to stretch out the muscles and tendons, but we’ve found that an oral appliance can help many patients with TMD overcome their issues. The TMD appliance, known as a splint, is a small mouthpiece that fits over the lower jaw and keeps you from clenching or grinding your teeth. This mouthpiece protects your teeth while taking the pressure off of your jaw joint and muscles.
If you have any of the TMD signs listed above, give us a call at 239-734-7737. We’d love to meet with you and discuss some solutions for your dental problems.
 

New to North Naples FL? Try Dr. Hoop's Dental Office

January 10, 2018

Filed under: Blog — Tags: , , , — wemakeyousmile @ 7:26 pm

Our North Naples FL and Fort Myers FL dental team teams love treating any patients, but we have a soft place in our heart for help anxious or fearful patients get the great oral care they deserve.
At George A. Hoop, DDS, PA, we are proud to offer compassionate and comfortable care for every patient. We’re relieving dental anxiety by offering nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation that help take the edge off during your dental visits. These forms of sedation can be extremely helpful if you need to have longer visits in the office.
Of course, easing your dental fears is just the first step. We’re able to fix dental problems because we first focus on patient comfort. Take our patient Barbara. She was new in town and needed some extensive dental work. She came to our office, and now she is smiling with confidence again.
Here is more about Barbara’s story. If you or someone in your family needs dental work or is fearful of the dentists, understand that you will never be judged at our offices. Give us a call today at 239-785-1992 to schedule your visit.

5 Things You Gain From Dental Implants

January 5, 2018

Filed under: Blog — Tags: , , , — wemakeyousmile @ 6:59 pm

Losing a tooth or missing a tooth can be traumatizing. This major change can take a toll on your social and personal life.  At George A. Hoop, DDS, we understand the hassles and frustrations that come with having missing teeth, and we’re constantly looking for new and exciting ways to fix your smile. That means offering durable restorations that will restore your mouth so you can eat whatever you want and look great again!
Today I have some information about what you can gain from dental implants at our North Naples FL dental office or our Fort Myers FL dental office.
Dental implants have become the most popular option in America for replacing missing teeth. Dentists have used bridges and dentures for literally hundreds of years. The materials have evolved over the years, but the basic concept has stayed the same. But today, losing a tooth or many teeth no longer means that you’ll need dentures or extensive bridgework. Dental implants are the NEW WAY to replace missing or failing teeth.
Here are five things you can gain from having dental implants in our office!

1. Eat Whatever You Want Again With Dental implants!

“I hate my denture because I can’t eat what I want.” This is main complaint for people who wear dentures.
Dentures rest on the gum line. No matter how great the dentures look, it’s impossible for traditional dentures to match the power of your natural teeth. Many studies show us that dentures only match the power of your natural teeth by about 25 to 50 percent. And the longer you wear the denture, the more the biting power fades away — due to bone regression. With less biting force, you have to eliminate many foods from your diet. Denture wearers struggle eating hard foods like apples or even steak. Dental implants nearly match the power of your natural teeth, so you’ll be able to eat whatever you’d like.
We can place dental implants for patients who have a single missing tooth or to stabilize your replacement teeth. If you have no remaining teeth and rely on dentures, we can place a few implants around the mouth to stabilize your denture. We can also fit a implant-supported bridge if you have a section of missing teeth in your mouth.

2. Our Dental Implants Preserve the Jawbone

Whenever the teeth are lost, you’ll start to experience other changes in the mouth as well. The jawbone will begin to recede in the location of the missing teeth. Most people don’t know this until after the teeth are gone. Jawbone deterioration can happen within a few months of losing the teeth, and the jaw will continue to erode with time. Some patients experience a large amount of jawbone loss shortly after the teeth are lost, while others see a more gradual change.
Dental implants stop jawbone recession in its tracks. Our implants are made from titanium, which is biocompatible and actually fuses with your jawbone after they are placed with oral surgery. So, as the implant heals, it literally becomes part of your body. It’s as if we have placed a new root into the jawbone.

3. There is More Than One Type of Dental Implant

Dental implants first came into dentistry a few decades ago. The most common form of dental implant is now the root-form implant. Our office is offering traditional root-form dental implants and mini dental implants. The difference between the two implants is the size. We mentioned jawbone recession above. Some people have such severe jawbone recession that they are not candidates for regular dental implants.
We can build up the jawbone with bone grafting, but not everyone wants to go through such an extensive procedure. The mini dental implants are smaller in size and can be placed for patients with jawbone recession. Then, just like traditional implants, the mini dental implants hold the restoration in place so you can eat whatever you’d like.

4. Dental implant placement is a highly successful procedure

Dental implant placement is oral surgery, but don’t let that one fact scare you off. This treatment has been highly perfected over the years. Today we can place dental implants with about a 98 percent success rate. A few things help us in effectively placing your implants. For one, we make sure the treatment is correct for you. Are you in good enough health? Do you have enough jawbone to support the implant? These are all questions we ask before your treatment.
Our offices are also using 3-D imaging to find the best placement for the implant.

5. You Can Use Our Discount Dental Saving Plan for Your Implants

Instead of dealing with the hassle of dental insurance companies, you can buy a plan directly from us. It’s our own Direct Dental Savings Plan, and it’s ideal for patients of all ages and dental complications. You can purchase the plan for just for $420 a year!
The plan does NOT have:

  • Maximum annual limits
  • Deductible payments
  • Waiting periods
  • Treatment exclusions

As part of the dental plan, you can save 20 percent on your dental implant services.
George A. Hoop, DDS helps people all the time dealing with missing teeth. Dental implants can absolutely change your life. You won’t have to worry about your dentures sliding around, and you can eat whatever you want.
Give us a call today at 239-734-7737 to schedule an appointment. You can also use our online form to book a consultation.