Dr. Ryan Paulson DDS and the team at Grand Traverse Smile Center are pleased to provide professional and caring dental services to their patients from Traverse City MI and the surrounding communities. Our dental services include: children's, cosmetic, family, implant, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
Gum Disease Can Contribute to Serious Health Conditions
Medical research has surprised many doctors with the evidence that periodontal (gum) disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. Since heart disease is usually fatal, it’s important to treat gum disease is a serious matter. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 of 10 Americans have periodontal disease. If this were a medical affliction such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be considered an epidemic! Most dentists treat it that way. They knew gum disease would never be labeled epidemic because “no one ever dies from it.” The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not ideal – but certainly not life threatening. But that’s all changed.
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.” Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria can travel into the bloodstream – straight to the heart. Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
In Case of Emergency... Have your dentist’s contact info handy in your cell phone or keep a business card in your wallet. “If you think you need to talk to somebody, you probably do,” Dr. Messina says. In fact, more dental emergencies can be resolved over the phone than you might think (especially if you keep up regular visits). “As a patient, it’s hard to know the difference between something that needs to be treated right away and something that can wait until you get home,” he says. “That’s what we are here for.”
In Case of Emergency Overseas... If you are out of the country and absolutely in need of a dentist, Dr. Messina recommends getting in touch with the local consulate or U.S. embassy. “While talking to the concierge at the hotel is OK, ask the consulate and their employees for a recommendation,” he says. “It’s an independent recommendation and not someone who may be driving business because of a contract or to a relative.” To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
Forget Your Toothbrush? Sunscreen? Check. Phone charger? Check. Toothbrush? Oops. If you find yourself temporarily without a toothbrush, Dr. Messina says you can rinse vigorously with water to wash away some of that cavity-causing bacteria. You could also put some toothpaste on a clean washcloth or your clean finger in a pinch. When you finally get to the nearest drugstore, look for a toothbrush with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. If there aren’t any Seal products, buy the softest brush you can find. Proper Toothbrush Transport Letting your toothbrush air dry is how you keep your toothbrush clean at home, but that’s not always possible on vacation. What’s a traveling toothbrush to do? “I’m a big fan of resealable plastic bags. Keeping your toothbrush clean and out of contact with other things is more important that making sure it’s dry on vacation,” Dr. Messina says. “A bag keeps your toothbrush separate from everything else in your luggage. When you get there, pop it open and let your brush air dry.” To read the entire article visitMouthHealthy.org.
An intra-oral camera is a high-tech miniature video camera that allows you to see the inside of your mouth on a display screen. Now you can see what Dr. Paulson sees, and together you can make informed decisions about your dental care. You'll love your ability to become an active participant in the process of improving your dental health. Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
Pack an ADA-Accepted Pack of Gum Chewing sugarless gum can help relieve ear pressure during a flight - and help keep cavities at bay on vacay. Research shows that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help prevent cavities. That’s because it gets saliva flowing, which helps wash away cavity-causing bacteria. Sugarless gum with the ADA Seal is guaranteed to do the trick. When In Doubt, Brush with Bottled Water If you are in a country where the water supply is compromised - or you’re on a wilderness adventure but aren’t sure how clean the stream is - always use bottled water to brush. “Don’t use the local water to brush your teeth,” Dr. Messina says. What happens if you accidentally get local water on your toothbrush? “Get a new one if you can,” he says. “If that isn’t possible, rinse your brush well with bottled water to reduce the risk of getting sick.” To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Dr. Paulson is skilled at painless anesthesia delivery, but some people still suffer intense anxiety at even the thought of a needle or the actual treatment process. At Grand Traverse Smile Center, we offer oral conscious sedation. A small pill that we’ve provided to you is taken about one hour before your visit. You'll relax to a level of relaxation that allows you to respond to questions but mostly sleep through your entire visit. This is ideal for people suffering from dental anxiety or those who have a busy schedule and want to get all their treatment done in one visit.
Oral conscious sedation doesn’t “knock” you out like you would be for general surgery. The level of sedation is just deep enough so that you feel nothing but are still conscious. Some patients may have anxiety about dental work but also a fear that centers on losing control or not being able to perceive what’s going on around them. Conscious sedation provides a happy medium, allowing comfort and relaxation while maintaining control and understanding what’s happening.
For some people, anxiety isn’t an issue but they are highly resistant to anesthetic. They just can’t get numb. Also, when someone has extensive dental work needed but can’t spare the time to make repeated visits to the dentist, oral conscious sedation lets them get their work done in one longer visit. Years of treatment can be accomplished in just a single visit! Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
Myth 1: The consequences of poor oral health are restricted to the mouth Expectant mothers may not know that what they eat affects the tooth development of the fetus. Poor nutrition during pregnancy may make the unborn child more likely to have tooth decay later in life. “Between the ages of 14 weeks to four months, deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, protein and calories could result in oral defects,” says Carole Palmer, EdD, RD, professor at TUSDM and head of the division of nutrition and oral health promotion in the department of public health and community service. Some data also suggest that lack of adequate vitamin B6 or B12 could be a risk factor for cleft lip and cleft palate formation. In children, tooth decay is the most prevalent disease, about five times more common than childhood asthma. “If a child’s mouth hurts due to tooth decay, he/she is less likely to be able to concentrate at school and is more likely to be eating foods that are easier to chew but that are less nutritious. Foods such as donuts and pastries are often lower in nutritional quality and higher in sugar content than more nutritious foods that require chewing, like fruits and vegetables,” says Palmer. “Oral complications combined with poor diet can also contribute to cognitive and growth problems and can contribute to obesity.” Myth 2: More sugar means more tooth decay It isn’t the amount of sugar you eat; it is the amount of time that the sugar has contact with the teeth. “Foods such as slowly-dissolving candies and soda are in the mouth for longer periods of time. This increases the amount of time teeth are exposed to the acids formed by oral bacteria from the sugars,” says Palmer. Some research shows that teens obtain about 40 percent of their carbohydrate intake from soft drinks. This constant beverage use increases the risk of tooth decay. Sugar-free carbonated drinks and acidic beverages, such as lemonade, are often considered safer for teeth than sugared beverages but can also contribute to demineralization of tooth enamel if consumed regularly. To read the entire article written by Medardo Chua, please visit IDentalAccess.com Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
When it comes to personal oral hygiene, not all men are as attentive to their teeth as women. Starting with the checkup, surveys suggests men are more likely to see a dentist only in the event of a problem. So, guys, learn how to step up your oral care routine with the following tips for maintaining a healthy smile and preventing oral health problems before they start. Toothbrush Tips Brushing is just one part of keeping your mouth clean - doing so twice a day, in particular. However, the average man brushes his teeth 1.9 times a day, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). It's not enough to brush quickly and be on your way; two minutes of thorough cleaning is your most effective approach. Keep in mind you don't need to brush hard during this process. Use a soft-bristled brush such as Colgate® Slim Soft™ and brush gently at a 45-degree angle. Some helpful hints: Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, rinse it after each use and store it in an upright position to air dry. Storing it in a container actually allows microorganisms to grow on the brush, explains the American Dental Association (ADA), so it's best to avoid this method. Sports and Dental Injuries Playing contact sports can lead to trauma in unexpected places, and this includes broken, chipped or lost teeth. Wear a mouthguard when you're on the field and a helmet when you're on your bike. Ultimately, see your dentist as soon as possible after experiencing an incident to quickly assess the damage and determine what can be done to fix it. To read the entire article written by Margie Monin Dombrowski, please visit Colgate.com Grand Traverse Smile Center Ryan Paulson, DDS 928 S. Garfield Avenue Traverse City, MI 49686 (231) 935-4872 GTSmileCenter.com
You have a tooth that needs a crown. So, you visit the dentist. They take a tooth impression and place a temporary crown. Then, you wait about two weeks for the permanent crown to be made before you return to the dentist; if the fit isn't perfect, the crown goes back to the lab and you wait some more.
At Grand Traverse Smile Center, we've changed that practice. We can reduce that two-week waiting period and the two or three office visits down to just a single visit, using a new technology called CEREC™.
CEREC is a computer-aided design and milling device. It allows us to create a permanent crown in just minutes. No more waiting for a lab and no return trips to the dentist. The entire process to repair a damaged tooth takes about an hour. Our patients love it!
To make the restoration, we use a special camera to take an accurate picture of the tooth. The picture is then displayed on a computer screen, enabling us to design the restoration. The CEREC device then automatically creates the crown, inlay, or onlay. Finally, we bond the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth.
All this makes going to the dentist much easier and faster, and who really wants to spend more time in the dental chair?
