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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.

Knowing The Signs of Sleep Apnea

January 26, 2018

Filed under: Blog — Tags: , , — wemakeyousmile @ 7:00 pm

How do you feel whenever you wake up in the morning? Have you been told you snore loud enough to wake the dead? If you’re constantly waking up tired and snore loudly, you might have a serious problem known as sleep apnea.
At George A. Hoop, DDS, we’re treating sleep apnea with a comfortable oral appliance. You can get the relief from your snoring easily in our North Naples FL dental office or Fort Myers FL dental office. The appliance positions the jaw forward to keep the airways open at night. It’s a simple, easy alternative to the CPAP machine that you can carry with you anywhere.
Being a full-service dental office, we take pride in treating dental patients of all varieties. That’s why we offer treatments like dental implants for missing teeth and ask all of our patients about their quality of sleep during their regular checkups. We want to cover every inch of your oral health so we can improve your overall health and well-being.

So, what is sleep apnea?  

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs whenever someone experiences shallow breathing or pauses in breathing while they sleep. There are two kinds of sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue in the throat blocks the airway, while central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the brain to breathe.
It’s concerning whenever you experience breathing issues. We don’t want to scare you, but sleep apnea is a problem that unfortunately can be deadly or heighten your risk for life-threatening illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, or stroke. People with severe sleep apnea often experience pauses in breathing as often as 30 times an hour. Whenever you have these episodes, your body goes into distress and your blood pressure rises and it can stay elevated throughout the day.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

The most common sign of sleep apnea is heavy snoring or waking up gasping for air. Often people come to our office after their bed partner tells them they snore loudly. Sometimes you catch yourself snoring or gasping for air, but most of our patients don’t remember these episodes. Here are a few other symptoms of sleep apnea to look for. People with sleep apnea often:

  • Wake up with dry mouth or dry throat
  • Experience pauses in breathing
  • Feel constant fatigue throughout the day
  • Have insomnia
  • Have foggy memory
  • Experience mood changes or irritability

Treating Your Sleep Apnea

The traditional way to treat sleep apnea is with a CPAP machine. This machine comes in three different parts — the hose, mask, and the machine. The CPAP is still most common prescribed treatment out there for sleep apnea, but many patients cannot tolerate that treatment. And we’ve heard complaints from bed partners about the CPAP being too noisy. In fact, the compliance rate for the CPAP is only about 50 percent. That’s not great, especially considering the dangers of sleep apnea.
The oral appliance is small, custom and comfortable and can be taken anywhere you travel. The oral appliance is ideal for patient with obstructive sleep apnea. The device moves the lower jaw forward to make sure the airway stays open while you sleep. Our patients get used to wearing the device after the first few nights, and the treatment itself works instantly. You’ll immediately see your snoring reduced — or gone completely — and find yourself waking up actually feeling well-rested.

Sleep Better and Feel Better

You can easily treat your dental problems at our Fort Myers or North Naples dental office. We’re working with patients of dental complications and ages. Give us a call today at 239-734-7737 to get your treatment started. We’ll start by speaking with you about your issues and your smile goals.

Could Dental Sedation Options Help To Relieve Your Dental Anxiety? [QUIZ]

January 24, 2018

Filed under: Blog — wemakeyousmile @ 7:00 pm

Don’t face your fears alone – if you’d like some professional help with relieving your dental anxiety, call George A. Hoop, DDS at (239) 594-8817.
For your comfort, we offer various amenities and dental sedation options at both our North Naples, FL dentist office and our Fort Myers, FL dentist office.
Not sure if you should ask us about dental sedation? Take this quick and easy quiz!
To learn more about dental sedation and what it could potentially do for you, call George A. Hoop, DDS at (239) 594-8817. You can also use our online form to book.


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.
 

Tired of Dealing With Dental Insurance?

January 15, 2018

Filed under: Blog — wemakeyousmile @ 8:17 pm

Dental insurance is a great tool for millions of Americans. It provides access to affordable care, especially if you have a relatively healthy mouth. But dental insurance hasn’t changed much over the past few decades. They only provide about $1,000 in dental care a year, and you often have to battle with the insurance company over coverage.
At our North Naples FL dental office and Fort Myers FL dental office, we have a dental savings plan that can save you thousands of dollars on your dental care. Unlike dental insurance, our dental savings plan has:

  • No annual limits
  • No yearly deductibles
  • No waiting times
  • No discrimination against pre-existing conditions

Our dental savings plan is especially great if you need extensive dental treatment. You can receive 30 percent off on procedures like:

Additionally, we can offer 20 percent discounts on services like cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and TMJ treatments.  You can get all of this for an annual cost $420, which amounts to about $37.50.
We’d love to have you in our office. Give us a call today at 239-734-7737 to schedule your appointment. Here is a message from one of our patients talking about her experience with our dental savings plan.
 

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