Menopause is a phase of life all women must go through, yet many of the symptoms are seldom discussed. In this post we want to address the impact menopause can have on women’s oral health. Around 3,000 women reach menopause every day, but the manifestations of menopause in oral health are far less widely discussed … Read more
Your hygienist has probably discussed periodontal disease with you, they take measurements of the gums at least every 12 months to aid in determining what stage of health your gums and bone are at. This is part of the periodontal assessment which includes but is not limited to: pocket depths, recession, bleeding, mobility, and root … Read more
Recreational cannabis (marijuana) consumption has been legal in Washington State since 2012. With the increase in cannabis use since it’s legalization, we are better able to see the effects it has on oral health. As health professionals, we understand the benefits cannabis use can have to treat a variety of ailments, but we also have … Read more
While tooth decay and periodontal disease are the most common risk factors in oral health, there are some less common dangers to look out for. One of these being tooth resorption. Resorption is the process by which a material is reabsorbed. Resorption of teeth can be a normal physiological process (exfoliation of primary teeth) or a pathological … Read more
Sjogren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack glands that produce tears and saliva. This affects your body’s ability to produce moisture. This of course makes the most common symptoms of this disorder, dry mouth and dry eyes. The issue for oral health occurs when the saliva glands are affected and … Read more
A major factor in our oral hygiene is our age. By 2030 the last of the Baby Boomers will turn 65 and older individuals will account for 20% of our population. Age does not only affect our ability to take care of things the way we would like to, but it also presents us with … Read more
Psoriasis is a more well known autoimmune disease affecting 8 million Americans and more than 125 million individuals across the world. Psoriasis is the result of skin cells reproducing too quickly as a result of the immune response. The body is not able to shed these cells as they produce, which is why the resulting … Read more
With summer almost here, many people start thinking about whitening their teeth. Although there are certain considerations to be made, almost anyone can whiten their teeth. This month we’ll discuss the safety of tooth whitening as well as the options we provide to patients. The discoloration of teeth over time can result from exposure to … Read more
This month we’re kicking off a new blog series here at Laurel Dental! Every other month through 2019 we will be highlighting a different autoimmune disease and the impacts it has on oral health, and vice versa. Autoimmune diseases are wide ranging diseases that affect many systems of the body. Their commonality though, is that … Read more
Teeth require extraction usually for one of two reasons. Either due to extensive decay or due to bone loss resulting from periodontal disease. Considering nearly half of our adult population struggles with periodontal disease, it is unsurprising that nearly 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Combine this with the fact that about … Read more
