2012 is almost here and most dental insurance benefits renew in January. Now is the time to schedule if you were waiting for your insurance benefits to roll over. As an added incentive, just for scheduling a sedation appointment for the month of January, you will receive a

FREE WHITENING KIT!

Please call at your earliest convenience and we will review your individualized treatment plan when we schedule your appointment. We look forward to serving you in 2012 and we thank you for your continued loyalty.

If you have outstanding dental treatment or are due for your routine cleaning and exam, please call the office today (575) 359-1011 so that you don’t get caught in our holiday crunch and lose your benefits.

In addition to filing your claims, we also offer flexible payment options for necessary work not covered by your plan. We believe that money should never stand in the way of your good health. Ask about our interest free and extended term payment plans.

Have a great day!

Peter L. Thompson

Good oral hygiene is important, not only for looks, but for general health as well. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of dental and medical problems such as gum disease, infection, bone loss, heart disease, strokes and more. Following, are ten important reasons to maintain our recommended schedule of dental cleanings.

1. To Prevent Oral Cancer
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer, every hour of every day in the United States alone. When you have your dental cleaning, we also screen you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.

2. To Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. If diagnosed early, it can be treated and reversed. If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage of gum disease may follow. Regular dental cleanings and check ups, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are key factors in preventing gum disease.

3. To Help Maintain Good Physical Health
Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene. A dental cleaning every 6 months helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.

4. To Keep Your Teeth
Since gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, regular dental check ups, cleanings, and brushing and flossing are vital to keeping as many teeth as you can. Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.

5. To Detect Dental Problems Early
Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable. If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available.

6. To Maintain Good Oral Health
A visit to our office will help to ensure that you are maintaining your good oral health by allowing us to visualy examine your mouth and compare your previous dental check ups. If you are falling off track with your oral hygiene we will help put you back on the right path.

7. To Use Your Dental Insurance Plan
Dental insurance plans usually pay for all or most of the cost of dental cleanings and check ups every six months. Take advantage of this and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly dental procedures that can result from poor oral hygiene.

8. To Create a Treatment Plan
If we diagnose any problems in your mouth, we will reccomend a treatment plan. This treatment plan will have the cost of each procedure that you will need, so that we can discuss financial arrangements to accommodate the cost of getting your mouth healthy again.

9. To Have a Bright and White Smile
Our hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains. During your cleaning, we will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine. The result? A whiter and brighter smile!

10. To Prevent Bad Breath
Dental studies show that about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis have a dental problem that is to blame. Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing bad breath. Regular check ups and cleanings are the best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

Have a great day!

Peter L. Thompson

What is balanced occlusion?
Dental occlusion is another name for the way your teeth meet when you bite together. In a normal closure, all teeth should come in contact with one another simultaneously (occlude) with minimal force. When this does not happen, your occlusion is unbalanced and serious problems result.

What types of problems can develop because of poor occlusion:
• Damaged restorations (crowns, bridges)
• Implants – excessive force can lead to early failure
• Your teeth may be tender to bite on or may ache
• Teeth can become loose or gums may recede
• TMJ – Clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly
• Flattened, worn teeth
• Continual sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change

How can the bite become balanced?
The T-Scan provides a clear, objective rationale for the treatment of this common clinical situation. Occlusion can be balanced and analyzed only with the aid of this technology, which instantaneously pinpoints problem areas.

An occlusal exam is very easy. You simply bite down on a thin sensor, which is comfortably shaped to fit the arch of your mouth. Vivid graphics display tooth contact data immediately and accurately, highlighting each tooth and the force level exerted on that tooth during occlusion. This allows you and your dentist to immediately visualize problem areas before you leave the chair that day! T-scan helps you get an accurate view of any occlusion problems and get the proper treatment to improve your day-to-day comfort.

Ask us if the T-Scan is appropriate for you!

What Is It?
Typically, implant-supported dentures are made for the lower jaw because dentures tend to be less stable in this area, while dentures for the upper jaw usually do not require this added stability. However, implant-supported dentures can be made for either areas of the mouth and are easily removable.
The dentures are made with an acrylic base to look like the gums of your mouth with porcelain or acrylic teeth attached to look like natural teeth.

The Implant Process
Implants, used to support the denture are placed in the jawbone at the front of your mouth. The number of implants needed to support the denture varies based on individual factors, which we can discuss with you in a consultation.
The time frame to complete the implant process also depends on many factors. The shortest time frame from the implant process to placement of the denture is approximately five months for the lower jaw and seven months for the upper jaw. However, in some cases the entire process could take up to a year or more.

What Can You Expect From Your Implant-Supported Denture?
Initially you will notice first how much more stable the implant-supported denture is versus a regular denture. You will also have an easier time speaking with less worrying about the denture coming loose and falling out of your mouth as well. Generally, you are also able to eat foods that you could not eat before, with exception to hard or sticky foods that can cause damage to the denture.

With upper jaw implant-supported dentures, you will also notice the more natural feel because the denture will no longer need to cover the roof of your mouth.

Contact us today to find out more about implant-supported dentures and to schedule a consultation.

The Mayo Clinic along with the Center of Disease Control lists the top two threats to men’s health as heart disease and cancer. Dr. Thompson is making a commitment to his patients to be aware of the risk factors and how to protect friends and family.

Many issues involving overall health can be detected, monitored, and treated in the mouth. The American Heart Association cites that the bacteria that can enter the bloodstream from the mouth can be the cause of several types of cardiovascular diseases, including clogged arteries, stroke, and heart disease. By staying on top of the latest in preventative care and dental technology we are able to provide comprehensive evaluations and ensure patients recieve a proactive approach to long-lasting oral and overall health.

The use of advanced technology can reveal early stages of diseases allowing treatment to be most successful. Dr. Thompson and his team are hoping to create awareness of preventing men’s health afflictions by encouraging their community to keep scheduled health care visits and by inviting any patient scheduled this month to bring the men in their life in for an oral health screening.

For additional information or to schedule an evaluation for the men in your life, contact our office.

Perhaps it has something to do with a previous bad experience or a distaste for fluoride, no matter how strongly the hygienist insists it is “cherry flavored”. But whatever the reason, there are many people (young an old), who have dental anxiety.

For your teeth’s sake, there are ways to combat dental anxiety, a condition sure to cause cavities. If positive reinforcement, learning to control fear and other behavior management techniques don’t do the trick, dental sedation could ease your mind and allow you to get your mouth healthy.

Sedation can occur through inhalation (nitrous oxide aka laughing gas), intravenously or orally through a pill or liquid. All of these are safe and can address most forms of dental anxiety by allowing you to get dental work done and simultaneously relieving the anxiety you feel inside. Usually these forms of sedation do not relieve pain, so a local anesthetic is still needed. They do however relieve stress and allow you to have a healthy smile without all of the worry.

I am pleased to now offer all three forms of conscious sedation in our office: nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV conscious sedation. Call my office today and find out how I can make the smile of your dreams a reality.

Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during November and December each year, and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. We feel grateful to be a part of this community and welcome this opportunity to give back.

We will be collecting toys from now until December 19. For the entire month of December, we are offering $50 off on our Zoom Whitening with a donation in our office to Toys for Tots. Creating smiles is our passion and we invite our community to join us in creating smiles for those in need!

to be lost, tipped or crowded and create subsequent problems. Also, there are the obvious problems of poor appearance and loss of self-esteem caused by one or more missing teeth.

Dental implants should always be considered as an option to replace a failing or missing tooth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment choice. Treatment is Considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are substitutes for the roots of missing teeth. They act as an anchor for a replacement tooth or “crown” or a set of replacement teeth.

Am I a candidate for a dental implant?

Implant patients are of all ages and implants may be the right choice for anyone missing one or more or even all of their teeth due to injury, disease or decay. They are especially practical for patients who can no longer wear removable dentures. Your dentist can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical history.

Are there different kinds of implants?

There are many shapes, sizes and brands of implants available. Your trained implant dentist will know which implant is the right one for you.

Do I have enough bone?

It is important for a patient to have enough bone to support the implant. If you do not have enough bone, there are many safe and effective ways to correct bone deficiency. Your dentist will assess this and advise you if additional bone material is needed.

Will this take a long time?

Treatment time can vary greatly depending on your needs. Each situation needs a separate evaluation; your dentist will be able to give you an approximate timetable.

Article Courtesy of American Academy of Implant Dentistry

Please call to see if an implant may be right for you.

Every October, Dr. Thompson joins dental professionals across the country to promote the importance of dental hygiene and the connection between a healthy, balanced diet, and good oral health. There are several preventative measures that can be taken to minimize the risk of tooth decay or damage. While the candy alone is not necessarily harmful to teeth, sugar consumption, types of treats, and your dental hygiene routine can protect your sweet tooth.

Frequently eating chocolates, candy, and other sweets can create an ideal environment for decay causing bacteria and lead to toothaches, sensitivity, and cavities. Plaque is a sticky substance that is made of bacteria that thrive on sugars and carbohydrates that are left in the mouth and produce harmful acid that attack your teeth. “This attack by bacterial acid, lasting 20 minutes or more, can lead to a loss of tooth mineral and, eventually, to cavities,” according to the American Dental Association. Candy that is sticky or hard tends to remain in the mouth for a longer period of time and can be more harmful than softer candy such as chocolate which washes away easier with saliva. Also, sticky and hard candy can actually cause damage to teeth, dental work, braces, and retainers. Choosing treats that are sugar free or non-candy treats such as stickers and toys are a better choice for your dental health. Also certain cheese and the calcium from dairy can help to increase salivary production and help to neutralize acids and was away any remaining sugars.

Thanks to the advancements in dentistry, protecting your teeth from decay-causing bacteria and cavities has become much easier. Sealants, fluoride treatments, CariFree Appliances can all minimize bacteria and decay. Routine visits along with proper brushing and flossing can stop decay in its tracks!!!

Remember, Halloween doesn’t have to be frightening for your teeth. Have a happy and safe month!