Clearwater FL Periodontist Shares: Is PERIODONTAL DISEASE CONTAGIOUS?

Friday Q & A:

Is PERIODONTAL DISEASE CONTAGIOUS?

From Perio.org:

"Research has shown that periodontal disease is caused by the inflammatory reaction to bacteria under the gums, so periodontal disease technically may not be contagious.

However, the bacteria that cause the inflammatory reaction can be spread through saliva. This means that if one of your family members has periodontal disease, it’s a good idea to avoid contact with their saliva by not sharing eating utensils or oral health equipment.

If you notice that your spouse or a family member has the warning signs of a possible periodontal problem (bleeding, red and swollen gums, or bad breath) you may want to suggest that they see the periodontist for an exam. It may help to protect the oral health of everyone in the family."

If you have any questions, please contact us 727-586-2681 or email healthysmiles@brittenperio.com

Clearwater FL Periodontist Participates in Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Dr. Todd Britten and his staff, along with many other professionals in Pinellas county, are using the month of April to focus on Oral Cancer Awareness. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, "Close to 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,650 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day."

Dr. Todd Britten and his staff participated in the 3rd Annual Oral Cancer Foundation 5K Walk/Run for Awareness on April 9th in Hurley Park at St. Pete Beach. In addition to participating in the event, he and his staff helped event organizers prepare packets for race participants. “Your dentist, dental specialist and dental hygienist are your first line of defense for early detection of Oral Cancer,” Dr. Britten stated. “We check every patient for signs of Oral Cancer. It is most common in current or past tobacco users and those that use alcohol heavily, however it may occur in non-smokers and non-drinkers.”

Dental professionals routinely perform systematic examination of the soft tissues of the mouth, including the tongue, floor of the mouth, borders of the tongue, as well as the lymph nodes surrounding the oral cavity and in the neck. “It is important to me that my staff, as well as my patients know what we are doing and why, and what they may be able to look for at home. If you have any concerns about your oral health, come see us.” Britten’s periodontal practice is located in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Britten stated he is using the month of April to review with his staff their Oral Cancer Screening protocol as well as distributing an Oral Cancer Screening handout to his patients.

The 3rd Annual Oral Cancer Foundation 5K Walk/Run for Awareness on April 9th featured free oral cancer screenings by local dental professionals as well as keynote speaker and internationally recognized storyteller Eva Grayzel. Grayzel was diagnosed at age 33 with stage IV oral cancer and given a 15% chance of survival. Grayzel also performed off-Broadway, in Tongue-Tied: A Story NOT Silenced by Oral Cancer and has written two children’s books, “Mr. C Plays Hide & Seek and Mr. C the Globetrotter.”

Dr. Britten states, “I am so grateful that we were able to participate in this important event with many other professionals in our community, as well as those touched personally by this devastating, and sometimes deadly disease.”

Todd Britten's periodontal office is located in Clearwater, Florida. For more information visit his website http://www.brittenperio.com or call 727-586-2681.

Why Choose A Dental Implant “Specialist”?

It is important to remember that with any surgical procedure, there are inherent risks that could be alleviated with experience. Dental implants are becoming a more common and desired option for tooth replacement.

Dental implants have such a high success rate (95-97% for 30+ years). This high success rate is likely due to the fact that most implants have been placed by highly skilled specialists (oral surgeons and periodontists) who completed surgical residency programs. These surgical specialists have an in-depth knowledge of surgical techniques, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of potential complications.

The comprehensive training and experience of the surgical specialists (oral surgeons and periodontists) enable them to diagnose and manage the potential complications that can occur with surgical procedures.

Some general dentists, prosthodontists, and endodontists have attended specialized training courses on surgical implant placement and have achieved very successful results placing implants for their patients. However, they may not always feel comfortable managing and treating potential complications that are routine for surgical specialists. As a result, some patients have experienced serious implant failures and complications that could have been possibly avoided if they had been treated by surgical specialists.

If you are considering dental implants or any other surgical procedure, the following questions can help you make an informed decision about your treatment and your oral health.

1) What is your specialty?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists are the only ADA recognized surgical specialists.

As periodontist, Dr. Britten specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, the placement of dental implants and bone grafts, and treatment of oral inflammation. Periodontists also perform cosmetic periodontal surgery.

Dr. Britten has received an additional three years of specialty education and surgical training beyond dental school.

2) What is the extent of your training and experience in implant placement?

Oral surgeons and periodontists will be more than willing to share their extensive training and experience with you.
If you are considering implant treatment provided by a non-surgical dentist, ask specific questions about the implant training courses they attended, such as the name of the courses, dates, duration, and sponsorship. You should also ask how many courses they attended on the management of complications and may even want to ask how many implants they have placed.

3) Ask to speak to other patients. Their experiences can be invaluable in determining if you are in good hands.

4) Speak to the staff about dental implants. If they cannot answer your questions, the office probably does not provide implant procedures on a regular basis.

5) Ask to see before and after photos of cases. Surgicals specialists have likely performed hundreds, or even thousands, of implant procedures and are usually happy to share their successful case results with you.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about dental implants at 727-586-2681 or www.brittenperio.com. ‪#‎dentalimplants‬‪#‎dentalimplantsclearwater‬ ‪#‎periodonticsandimplantdentistry‬