| Gum Grafting: What You Need to Know |
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Gum grafting is a name for periodontal procedures dedicated to strengthening certain areas of the gums in order to cover up an exposed tooth root surface. These exposed roots could be the result of gum recession due to gum disease, bite overload, or poorly positioned teeth. This procedure is quite common, and while the name might sound scary, it is performed routinely and provides for excellent results.
Benefits of Gum Grafting
There are a few great benefits associated with gum grafting:
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Improved appearance of your smile. Root exposure and receding gums can make your teeth look longer than normal, giving you a toothy grin. Grafting can improve this issue, making your smile look more symmetrical.
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Better oral health. Gum disease can destroy your gum tissue quite quickly, but grafting can halt bone and tissue loss. This can prevent against future problems.
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Reduced sensitivity. When the roots of the teeth are exposed, it can be pretty painful to drink or eat foods that are especially hot or cold. Grafting can cover the exposed root permanently, helping with your discomfort. |
What Happens during the Procedure
During your grafting procedure, you’ll be given a local anesthetic to help with your discomfort. Then, a tiny incision will be made at the site of the graft, creating a small tunnel to accommodate the new gum tissue. The gum tissue will be sutured into place so that it won’t shift, and the healing process will take about six weeks to complete.
If you have any questions about the procedure and whether you might be a candidate, please contact our office. |
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| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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 Wow another year has come and gone! It’s crazy how fast they seem to go each and every year. I hope this time of year for each and every one of you is filled with tons of love and family and friends. Did you know that our years used to be even SHORTER?! The early Roman calendar was founded by Romulus and only had 10 months with 304 days. King Numa Pompilius later added January and February (Januarius and Februarius back in the day), but the days fell out of sync with the sun so in 46 BC Emperor Julius Caesar decided to fix the problem and consulted with the best astronomer and mathematicians at the time and created a new calendar – the Julian calendar, go figure – and they decided upon January 1st as the beginning of the new year. This was mainly to honor the Roman god Janus, which was the god of beginnings. Just some fun facts for ya’ll as we head into Christmas and New Year’s. Could be a fun conversation piece, you never know! Love you all, Merry Christmas and I’ll chat with you again next year! |
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| Getting Enough Calcium When You Suffer from Lactose Intolerance |
It can be difficult to get enough calcium when dairy cannot be a part of your daily diet. For those who suffer from lactose intolerance, this can be a regular issue. Calcium improves overall health, including oral health. If you need to add more calcium to your diet but cannot have dairy in your diet, consider these foods:
• Fish like sardines and canned salmon are good sources of calcium.
• Beans and other legumes, like black-eyed peas, are also abundant sources of calcium.
• Leafy green veggies are also a great option, such as bok choy, turnip greens, and kale.
• Seaweed gives your body a ton of nutrients, including large quantities of calcium.
• Oranges and orange juice provide a lot of Vitamin C and a good amount of calcium.
By adding some of these foods into your diet, you will have several sources of the calcium your body needs.
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