Ouch! Root Sensitivity and Gum Recession

There are various reasons our teeth can hurt–such as decay, leaking fillings, fractured teeth or an abscessed nerve. However, root sensitivity is the most common culprit, as one-third of Americans are affected. Cold air, brushing, hot or cold foods can all cause pain if you have root sensitivity.  The roots are not covered with enamel like the top of the tooth. The [...]

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Wait – Don’t Pull That Tooth Yet!

Does your tooth really need pulling? You may want a second opinion. Some candidates for tooth extraction have visited my office and we were able to save the tooth using guided tissue regeneration (GTR), or just scaling. GTR enables bone to regrow around an endangered tooth. In the process, the root is cleaned and infected tissues [...]

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Biting Down on Gum and Heart Disease

Back when my father and grandfather were both general dentists, they taught me that the goal of dentistry was to keep the teeth for life. That is a goal that has now broadened to include controlling tooth and gum disease to prevent complications all over the body. My grandfather spent most of his career extracting [...]

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Shedding Light on Gum Disease

Kitsie Hendrix DDS Poor dental care leads to more problems than just a toothless smile. Consider these facts: Most people are not aware that untreated gum disease puts them at 10 times the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Statistics show that 69 percent of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one [...]

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