Preventive Dental Care

Gum Disease Can Mean Lost Teeth
Most tooth loss is due to gum disease, not decay. It can go unnoticed until the infection has reached the advanced stages to the point of losing your teeth. If you have symptoms of bleeding gums from brushing or flossing, or your teeth become loose, contact us immediately. Gum disease can be reversed with nonsurgical methods if treated in the early stages.

Beyond the Obvious Issues
It has been proven that there is a link between gum disease and life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. Dentists are taking the findings of recent medical research very seriously, as gum disease can have more of an effect on your health than just losing your teeth. The American Dental Association estimates that nearly 80% of the American population has some level of gum disease. Dentists consider these statistics evidence of an epidemic.

The American Academy of Periodontology reports, “studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.”

There Is Hope!
With advanced gum disease, surgery will be necessary. But when the infection is in the milder stages, nonsurgical methods and better dental hygiene can be used to control and reverse the condition. Both procedures are often covered by most dental insurance plans.

The Truth About Lost Teeth
The most common cause of missing teeth is gum disease, not decay. Many people think it is no big deal to lose a tooth, but the truth is, just having one missing tooth is not good. It affects proper chewing so you don’t absorb nutrients from your food like you should. It may become difficult to chew, so softer foods of higher calorie content may be favored, which result in weight gain. Your face may take on a hollowed look without the support of a full set of teeth. You speech may not always be understandable and cause embarrassment.

The best way to restore a full dental arch is with dental implants. They can replace as many teeth as you have missing. And they look natural and function as if they were your own teeth.

Defeat Gum Disease Painlessly
Periodontal, or gum disease is the main cause of tooth loss. We now offer our patients a very effective antibiotic called ARESTIN™. It is a powder of microspheres that is time released and applied at the site of infection. It painlessly kills the bacteria in the gums to allow the gums to heal and return to a healthy state.

What is Oral DNA Testing and How Can Patients Benefit from It?
With oral DNA testing, we determine a patient’s genetic predisposition to inflammatory gum infections. This also reveals the types of bacteria for more effective treatment. These quick tests are noninvasive and allow us to outline a specific treatment just for you.




Lim and Yabu  
Geraldine Lim, DDS & Eric Yabu, DDS   
4174 Park Boulevard, Suite A  
Oakland, CA 94602  
(510) 530-7000  
OaklandLaserDentist.com