Saving Hopeless Teeth
Saving damaged teeth isn't impossible anymore! Even ones with infected roots can often be treated and repaired. In the past, the only option for severely damaged teeth was extraction. Missing teeth can cause as many issues for your mouth as infected ones do. A root canal can restore a tooth by removing the pulp chamber and filling it with filling material. This is often necessary when dental decay reaches the nerve of the tooth (or the tooth has become infected), and a simple filling will not be suitable. Improved technology and modern anesthetics means root canals are often a manageable form of treatment. They no longer deserve the reputation of dread once associated with the process.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
Full-Mouth Rehabilitation
Your oral health impacts your overall well being. Gum disease has been tied to other health issues, including heart disease and stroke. A TMJ disorder can be the root cause of your headaches and shoulder pain. Chronic bad breath might indicate a more serious infection within your teeth and gums – an infection that can spread to other areas in your body. Missing, worn, and broken teeth change your bite pattern and can lead to changes in your eating habits that affect your nutritional intake. Dr. Paulson can help you address these oral health issues and many more. Ask about full-mouth rehabilitation treatment, which will help you recover a pain-free, healthy, and attractive smile.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
The Risks and Realities of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer takes one American life every hour. This unsettling statistic has remained almost unchanged for the last 40 years. With early detection, oral cancer has a 90% cure rate, which is why we treat oral cancer screenings seriously. We perform a visual inspection for oral cancer at every six-month checkup and cleaning. If our hygienist or Dr. Paulson sees anything that gives them cause for concern, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon. This screening could literally save your life!
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
Improved Athletics and Protected Teeth
Your ability to draw in a full breath increases your power and strength whether you're simply training or playing an active sport such as basketball or football. A properly fitted sportsguard aligns your jaw and improves your air capacity. The one-size-fits-all guards found in stores tend to be a sloppy fit and can even interfere with proper breathing during an active performance. We offer custom-fitted mouthguards and sportsguards. Not only will these custom guards properly align your mouth and improve your breathing capacity, they'll reduce the risk you'll accidently damage or a knock out a tooth. Within the United States, an estimated 5 million teeth are knocked out or injured every year. Don't let this happen to you! Ask us about custom-fitted mouthguards.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
Why Is Losing a Tooth So Bad?
Losing even a single tooth can cause the other teeth to shift and move around, which can affect your ability to absorb nutrients from your food if you can’t chew properly. Other bad things include: your face changing shape, often looking “sunken” and making you look older; affected speech; and favoring softer foods and more carbohydrates, causing weight gain. The best way to treat a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can replace one tooth or many. They can be made to look so natural that even a dentist has to look hard to tell the difference.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
Preventing Child Tooth Decay – the Easy Way!
Dental sealants compensate for poor brushing ability in children. Even though they try hard, children often don't do a very good job of brushing their teeth. After all, they're still learning, and their hand-to-eye coordination isn't fully developed. In fact, even adults have difficulty reaching every spot in their mouth while brushing.
Even with diligent brushing, the deep grooves in the back teeth may not be sufficiently cleaned. This results in bacteria, acids, and plaque formation, which will lead to decay. And once the tooth has decay, it is damaged permanently and will need a filling or crown.
Here's how dental sealants come into play:
- The tooth (or teeth) is cleaned and sterilized.
- A thin plastic coating is applied. This is usually white or clear in color.
- A curing light is applied to the sealant to bond it into place.
- In minutes, without shots or drills, the entire process is complete.
- It’s totally harmless.
Applying dental sealants is one of the best preventive things both children and adolescents can do to preserve their natural teeth!
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
We Do Have Good News!
For mild periodontal disease, very effective NON-surgical procedures, along with improved dental hygiene, can virtually halt the spread of the disease. This is usually covered under most dental insurance plans. Advanced gum disease requires surgical treatment. Gum surgery is never fun, but it is almost always successful in controlling the condition, and it’s also typically covered by common insurance plans.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
A Healthy Smile, A Healthy Body
People of all ages can suffer from gum (periodontal) disease. In fact, without proper dental care, the risk factors increase as we age. Recent studies have linked gum disease to a number of other diseases, which means exemplary oral health is necessary to your overall well being. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums means more than looking good and keeping your teeth; it means not leaving yourself susceptible to the additional risk of heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. The good news is that gum disease can be treated successfully, often without surgery. We want all of our patients to have exceptional oral health. Our commitment to you includes paying attention to all of your needs. So you not only look your best, but you enjoy the benefits of improved health.
Starting Early for a Lifetime of Good Oral Health
Teaching good habits early, in an environment that’s fun and comfortable, is the foundation of a great smile for life. Due to several factors, children’s teeth can be very susceptible to cavities at a young age. Young kids can’t brush well on their own, so we encourage parents to be involved in their child’s daily dental care. This ensures both thorough cleaning and the development of proper dental habits. Children also tend to “graze,” or eat small amounts throughout the day. This prolongs exposure to acid, which may cause more cavities.
A tooth that is not as clean as it should be will also lead to ongoing acid production, which can then speed up the development of cavities. The good news is that identifying poor dietary and hygiene habits, along with applying a fluoride varnish to the mineralizing teeth, can significantly reduce the chance of your child having a cavity.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
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
Intra-Oral Camera Makes You a Part of the Team
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
75% Reduction in Radiation
We reduce your exposure to X-ray radiation at our practice by 75% by using digital X-rays. Images are captured with a digital sensor and downloaded to our computer where they are immediately available to us. No more treatment delays while we wait for the film to develop. No more chemical waste to pollute the environment. In addition, with panoramic digital X-rays, we can view your entire mouth in one shot, including the upper and lower jaws, giving Dr. Paulson a better picture of your mouth.
Grand Traverse Smile Center
Ryan Paulson, DDS
928 S. Garfield Avenue
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 935-4872
GTSmileCenter.com
Saving damaged teeth isn't impossible anymore! Even ones with infected roots can often be treated and repaired. In the past, the only option for severely damaged teeth was extraction. Missing teeth can cause as many issues for your mouth as infected ones do. A root canal can restore a tooth by removing the pulp chamber and filling it with filling material. This is often necessary when dental decay reaches the nerve of the tooth (or the tooth has become infected), and a simple filling will not be suitable. Improved technology and modern anesthetics means root canals are often a manageable form of treatment. They no longer deserve the reputation of dread once associated with the process.
